Complications after angina in adults and children: signs, treatment
The content of the article:
- Consequences of angina
-
Possible complications of angina
- Paratonsillar abscess
- Otitis
- Lymphadenitis
- Sepsis
-
Complications on the kidneys after tonsillitis
- Pyelonephritis
- Glomerulonephritis
-
Joint damage
Rheumatoid arthritis
-
Complications on the heart after angina
- Myocarditis
- Endocarditis
- Video
Complications after angina in adults and children occur very often, especially when the course of taking antibiotics has been interrupted. The main causative agent of purulent tonsillitis (acute tonsillitis) is group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (pyogenic streptococcus). These are gram-positive bacteria that are very dangerous to the body as they can destroy red blood cells. In the course of their life, these microorganisms secrete a number of poisons and toxins, which cause the development of unpleasant symptoms.
In case of untimely or inadequate treatment of angina, early and late complications may develop
Tonsils are lymphoid organs with a large number of blood and lymphatic vessels, therefore, if there is an inflammatory process in them, pathogenic microbes with blood and lymph flow spread very quickly throughout the body and cause complications in both adults and children.
Treatment for bacterial sore throat should include antibiotics. But if you do not start taking them on time or stop therapy ahead of time, then the disease becomes chronic. Together with the blood flow, streptococcus moves, causing inflammatory processes in other organs and tissues.
Consequences of angina
The following consequences of angina are distinguished:
- early (purulent): usually develop during the illness, on the 4-6th day after its onset, they are caused by the spread of the inflammatory process to nearby organs and tissues;
- late (non-purulent): appear 10-30 days after stopping the disease; pose a serious danger and can lead to disability of the patient.
Possible complications of angina
Paratonsillar abscess
Refers to the early complications of acute tonsillitis. With paratonsillar abscess, the inflammatory process affects the subcutaneous fatty tissue of the pharynx.
Paratonsillar abscess is one of the early complications of angina.
This is a rather serious disease in which the patient has symptoms such as:
- severe sore throat, in which it is impossible not only to eat, but also to open the mouth;
- spasms of the chewing muscles;
- change in the relief of the neck (the patient always tilts his head towards the inflammatory process);
- bad breath;
- increased salivation;
- lymphadenitis;
- weakness, headache;
- increased body temperature.
For the treatment of paratonsillar abscess, antibiotics, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used, in addition, local therapy can be prescribed. In severe cases, surgery is necessary.
Otitis
Otitis media is also one of the earliest and most common complications of angina in children and adults. In this case, the infection spreads to the middle ear, causing an acute inflammatory process that can progress to the salivary gland or outer ear. Moreover, in addition to the symptoms of acute tonsillitis, the patient develops:
- severe shooting pain in the ear (most often in one), radiating to the temple, teeth or pharynx;
- ear congestion;
- purulent discharge from the ear.
Otitis media develops when an infection enters the middle ear
With the progression of the disease, a breakthrough of the tympanic membrane occurs.
Otitis media is treated with antibiotics in the form of tablets, suspensions, injections and ear drops. They also take pain relievers and antipyretic drugs.
Lymphadenitis
With lymphadenitis, inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs. An infection from the primary focus affects the lymph nodes, resulting in symptoms such as:
- enlargement and soreness of the lymph node;
- increased body temperature;
- general weakness and malaise.
The disease is treated with antibiotics, with a purulent abscess, surgical intervention is necessary.
Sepsis
This complication is quite rare, but requires immediate medical attention, as it can be fatal. Why is it developing? With this pathology, pathogens enter the patient's bloodstream, causing inflammation not in any particular organ, but throughout the body.
This disrupts the work of the heart, kidneys and respiratory system. The patient may be unconscious. Treatment is carried out in the intensive care unit.
Complications on the kidneys after tonsillitis
The first signs of kidney disease appear a few days after a sore throat. This is a fairly common complication of the disease, the causative agent of which is streptococcus.
Pyelonephritis
With pyelonephritis, a patient may experience the following symptoms:
- severe back pain;
- an increase in body temperature up to 38–40 ° C;
- dry mouth, nausea and vomiting;
- general weakness and sweating;
- clouding of urine and impaired urination;
- blood in the urine (in some cases).
A few days after the illness, symptoms of kidney disorders may appear - pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis
Treatment is carried out in a hospital. In the complex therapy of the disease, antibiotics, corticosteroids, diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis is classified as an autoimmune disease, which is triggered by infection. In this case, the body's immune cells begin an attack on the kidney parenchyma. The disease is characterized by such signs as:
- intense pain in the kidney area;
- discoloration of urine (it becomes brown);
- increased blood pressure (in some cases - up to critical levels);
- an increase in body temperature up to 38–39 ° C;
- an increase in the daily amount of urine.
In the treatment of glomerulonephritis, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, antispasmodics are used.
Joint damage
This complication of sore throat can appear 2-4 weeks after the transferred tonsillitis. It is less common than heart and kidney damage, but it is difficult to treat. In some cases, a person becomes disabled.
Rheumatoid arthritis
In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks healthy tissue and causes many unpleasant symptoms. This is an autoimmune disease that is almost impossible to get rid of.
The consequences of ineffective treatment of angina can manifest itself in the form of joint damage.
The following symptoms are characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis:
- shooting pain in the joints of the leg or arm;
- the affected joint is limited in movement;
- body temperature rises;
- the joints are deformed (in the later stages of the disease).
Treatment of rheumatism is very long and includes the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids and chondroprotectors.
Complications on the heart after angina
Often among the late complications of tonsillitis there are heart diseases, the causative agent of which is pyogenic streptococcus or staphylococcus.
Myocarditis
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium) and is characterized by symptoms such as:
- arrhythmia (violation of the normal rhythm of the heart);
- shortness of breath, worse after exercise;
- blue nasolabial triangle;
- tachycardia (heart palpitations);
- pain in the region of the heart;
- swelling of the limbs resulting from stagnant processes.
Complications of the heart are among the most dangerous, and when they develop, hospitalization is usually required
This is a rather serious disease that requires treatment by qualified specialists in a hospital setting.
Endocarditis
Refers to the number of dangerous late complications of angina. In 30% of cases, despite treatment, endocarditis is fatal because the heart valves are damaged. The patient has symptoms that resemble myocarditis:
- dyspnea;
- violation of normal breathing as a result of stagnant processes, it is manifested by suffocation and can be complicated by pneumonia;
- increased body temperature (this symptom is a specific sign of endocarditis and distinguishes it from myocarditis);
- weakness;
- chest pain radiating to the left arm;
- rapid weight loss.
Treatment of the disease is carried out in a hospital. In addition to antibiotics, hormones, diuretics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
Angina is a very serious disease, the wrong treatment of which can lead to serious consequences. But this can be avoided if, in the event of a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, an increase in body temperature, consult a doctor in time and clearly follow all his recommendations.
Video
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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