Antibiotics for laryngitis in adults and children
The content of the article:
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Antibiotic treatment for laryngitis
- Cephalosporins
- Protected penicillins
- Macrolides
- Fluoroquinolones
- General principles of antibiotic use
- Possible complications
- Video
Antibiotics for laryngitis in adults and children are prescribed for bacterial lesions of the laryngeal mucosa. In the absence of adequate treatment, complications may develop, namely, phlegmon of the neck, stenosis of the larynx, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.
Antibiotics are prescribed for the bacterial form of laryngitis
With laryngitis, the patient complains of discomfort or sore throat, dryness and perspiration, cough, fever.
The disease develops when pathogenic bacteria enter from the environment through the upper respiratory tract, as well as with blood flow from acute and chronic foci of infection of neighboring organs. This is facilitated by a local or general decrease in immunity, somatic diseases of the respiratory, digestive and endocrine systems, bad habits, surgical interventions and trauma to the larynx.
The development of acute inflammation of the larynx is based on a violation of the outflow of lymph and a change in local water metabolism. Edema of the mucous membrane can be in any part of the organ. The rapid spread of inflammation causes acute laryngeal stenosis and is often life threatening.
Antibiotic treatment for laryngitis
Antibiotics for laryngitis are prescribed for an acute bacterial form, exacerbation of a chronic course or a protracted, complicated course of the disease.
What kind of drug is needed, only the doctor decides, depending on the alleged or identified bacterial agent. To do this, before treatment, he takes a swab from the oropharynx and directly from the mucous membrane of the larynx for microscopic, bacteriological and, if necessary, cytological examination.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics are active against the most common causative agents of laryngitis, in particular - staphylococci
It is the bacteriological culture that makes it possible to clarify the type of pathogen and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics. The readiness of the analysis is on average 6 to 14 days, so the decision to prescribe systemic antibiotic therapy is made on the basis of clinical data and the patient's condition:
- the presence of diffuse edema of the laryngeal mucosa and infiltration;
- severe intoxication;
- lack of effect from local therapy for 4–5 days;
- accession of purulent discharge or inflammation of the lower respiratory tract.
The drugs of the first line of antibiotic therapy for laryngitis are:
- cephalosporins: Ceftriaxone, Suprax;
- protected penicillins: Amoxiclav, Augmentin;
- macrolides: Sumamed, Macropen;
- fluoroquinolones: Levofloxacin, Ofloxacin.
The names of antibiotics for laryngitis can be different, but the active ingredient is the same. These drugs are called generics. For example, the drugs Sumamed and Azithromycin.
Most often, antibiotics are prescribed in the form of tablets, less often - as part of emulsions along with hydrocortisone.
Before use, a special test is made to exclude the presence of an allergic reaction to the medicine.
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins are highly active against staphylococci, all types of streptococci and anaerobic bacteria.
Suprax - III generation cephalosporin
Suprax belongs to the third generation cephalosporins. It is active against pneumococcus, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, gonococci. It is prescribed once a day for 7-10 days.
Protected penicillins
Protected penicillins are highly effective against streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, gonococci, diphtheria bacillus.
Augmentin and Amoxiclav are among the protected penicillins
Augmentin, like Amoxiclav, is a combined broad-spectrum antibiotic (amoxicillin) with a beta-lactamase inhibitor (clavulanic acid). Medicines containing clavulanic acid have a destructive effect on microorganisms resistant to other penicillins and cephalosporins.
Augmentin is active against corynebacteria, enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, gonococci, bacteroids, fusobacteria. Depending on the selected dosage, the drug should be taken 2 or 3 times a day. Augmentin has low toxicity and is generally well tolerated.
Macrolides
Macrolides have a predominantly bacteriostatic effect. Their activity extends to gram-positive cocci (streptococci, staphylococci) and intracellular bacteria (mycoplasma, chlamydia).
Sumamed is a macrolide with a mainly bacteriostatic effect
Sumamed is highly active against many aerobic bacteria, intracellular parasites and bacteroids. The drug creates high tissue concentrations and low toxicity. Sumamed is prescribed within 3 days. With longer therapy, antibiotic-associated diarrhea may develop.
Fluoroquinolones
The use of fluoroquinolones is indicated for exacerbation of chronic laryngitis. They are effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hemophilic and Escherichia coli, gonococci, mycoplasmas, chlamydia, many strains of staphylococci, and anaerobes.
Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone
Levofloxacin can be active against microorganisms resistant to macrolides, penicillins and cephalosporins.
General principles of antibiotic use
The dose of the drug and the frequency of use should not change independently during treatment, especially to the lower side. Many patients, feeling relief from the condition, often reduce the dosage or cancel the remedy. This is unacceptable, as it can lead to the development of complications or the transition of an acute process to a chronic one.
With antibiotic therapy, the general principles of its conduct should be observed
It is important to maintain breaks between doses of the drug, so that a constant concentration of the active substance is maintained in the blood during the day.
If you miss an appointment, you should take the missed dose as soon as possible and withstand the next necessary break.
The duration of therapy is determined by a specialist. Long-term antibiotic treatment can lead to severe side effects from the digestive system, as well as the development of bacterial resistance to the drug and the overgrowth of insensitive microorganisms. The duration of taking an antibacterial agent is on average 7-14 days. It depends not only on the alleged pathogen and the general condition of the patient, but also on the selected medicine, since there are drugs that have limitations on the duration of use.
If you experience any side effects or an allergic reaction, you should immediately consult a doctor.
With laryngitis in children, antibiotics are prescribed extremely carefully, only by the attending pediatrician or ENT. Self-medication can be dangerous due to the many side effects. There are special oral medications for children.
The effectiveness of an antibiotic for laryngitis is assessed by the clinical manifestations of the disease within 72 hours from the start of treatment. The lack of effect of the therapy may be due to several points:
- the antibiotic does not work on this pathogen, and it must be replaced;
- late start of treatment;
- low dose of the drug;
- insufficient duration of therapy;
- joining superinfection;
- insufficient blood supply to the affected area.
It is also recommended to carry out local antibacterial therapy in the form of endolarigial injections of emulsions with hydrocortisone, peach oil and an antibacterial drug: erythromycin, streptomycin, gramicidin C, amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and others.
After receiving the results of bacteriological culture, the specialist will advise you to continue taking the selected antibiotic or replace it with another remedy.
Against the background of antibiotic therapy, it is recommended to use drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora, or eubiotics: Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Acipol. The acidophilic lactobacilli or bifidobacteria contained in them prevent the development of intestinal dysbiosis, normalize the general metabolism and increase the body's immune reactivity. The duration of the course is on average 14 days.
Antifungal drugs are prescribed to prevent the development of candidiasis.
Expectorants and mucolytic agents are shown to dilute and remove viscous sputum from the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract: Mukaltin, Pertussin, Bromhexin, Ambroxol.
In order to reduce tissue edema, antihistamines and corticosteroids are used.
In addition to antibiotic therapy, inhalations with mineral water or bronchodilator solutions are indicated.
An important role is played by rinsing with antiseptic solutions, inhalation with mineral water or bronchodilator solutions (Berodual). Inhalation with a nebulizer is especially useful for laryngeal stenosis due to tissue edema. In addition, such anti-inflammatory therapy prevents the spread of infection to the bronchi.
Possible complications
In the absence of adequate treatment, it is possible to develop laryngeal stenosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, mediastinitis, phlegmon of the neck, sepsis.
The use of antibiotics must be taken with great responsibility. Effective and fast treatment of laryngitis is possible with timely referral to a specialist.
Video
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Alina Ervasova Obstetrician-gynecologist, consultant About the author
Education: First Moscow State Medical University. THEM. Sechenov.
Work experience: 4 years of work in private practice.
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