Pharyngitis is a common disease that involves an inflammatory process in the lymphoid tissues and mucous membranes of the pharynx. In most cases, the disease is easily cured and ceases to bother you, but sometimes it becomes chronic. This type of pharyngitis requires taking certain measures.

Chronic pharyngitis can be classified by type:

1. Catarrhal. It usually affects smokers with many years of experience and those who constantly have to inhale harmful gases. A characteristic symptom is swelling of the mucous membrane. In rare cases, mucus appears on the back of the throat.
2. Hypertrophic. The mucous membrane and lymph nodes increase in size. Mucus accumulates, which causes bad breath and cough.
3. Atrophic. The condition of the mucous membrane is seriously deteriorating, it is becoming thinner. The mucus that forms hardens, makes it difficult to swallow, and comes off when you cough.

Attention:when the disease takes an acute form, the symptoms become more pronounced. The cough gets worse and it hurts to swallow. Possible fever and enlarged lymph nodes.

Provocateurs of the development of chronic pharyngitis

Acute pharyngitis becomes chronic not only due to untimely provision of medical care or its ignoring. A change in the stage of the disease can be provoked by other factors:

• smoking and alcohol abuse;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• abuse of vasoconstrictor sprays and drops against the runny nose;
• removal of tonsils;
• constant consumption of foods that irritate the throat (hot, cold, spicy, sour);
• allergic reaction;
• diseases of the nasopharynx (tonsillitis, etc.);
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which acid rises up and onto the mucous membranes.

Important:Chronic pharyngitis is also provoked by unfavorable environmental factors. These include gases, dry air, etc. People living in desert and steppe climates are susceptible to upper respiratory tract diseases.

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis has the same symptoms as acute pharyngitis (fever and sudden deterioration in health are exceptions). The only difference is that in the first case they are expressed weaker, but are constantly felt.

Signs of chronic pharyngitis include:

1. Dry cough. It can be both frequent and rare. Sometimes with chronic pharyngitis it is paroxysmal in nature.
2. Feeling of dryness in the mouth. This symptom is observed in patients with chronic pharyngitis, even if salivation is normal.
3. Thirst. The sensation may be present even after drinking drinks.
4. Unpleasant sensation in the throat. “Lump”, object, soreness, pain – all this characterizes this symptom.

Attention:with chronic pharyngitis, the patient is bothered by mucus on the back wall of the larynx. Consequently, he periodically swallows it.

Diagnosis of chronic pharyngitis

Seeing a doctor to determine an accurate diagnosis is necessary, since the symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are similar to those of other diseases. Diagnosis of the disease will involve an examination in the office of an ENT doctor. The specialist takes into account complaints and performs pharyngoscopy.

Important:in some cases, it is necessary to obtain a pharyngeal swab in order to determine the causative agent of the disease.

Treatment of chronic pharyngitis

The first measure that should be taken during treatment is the elimination of all irritants. Alcohol and cigarettes are contraindicated. It is also necessary to limit exposure to toxic gases.

As for nutrition, preference should be given to a gentle fortified diet. Eat neutral foods (no acids, hot spices, etc.). Dishes should be either room temperature or warm. All fruits can be consumed except allergens and sour citrus fruits.

Drug treatment

There are several groups of medications that can be used to treat chronic pharyngitis:

1. 1. Lozenges. Faringosept, Doctor Mom, Septolete, Septogal and Falimint eliminate pain and facilitate the swallowing process. There is no specific frequency of use - it is recommended to dissolve one tablet if discomfort occurs in the throat. If the instructions indicate a maximum daily dose, it must be taken into account.

To relieve inflammation in the throat, a product based on dry plant extract and essential oil, Sage lozenges from Natur Product, has proven itself to be effective. Sage lozenges from Natur Product is a combined preparation containing a complex of biologically active substances¹.

It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and expectorant effects, and also has astringent properties¹.

Sage lozenges from Natur The product has a herbal composition with few side effects¹´².

Sage lozenges from Natur The product is manufactured in Europe in accordance with international production quality standards¹.

THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. BEFORE USE, YOU MUST CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST

1. Instructions for medical use of the drug Sage lozenges

2. Allergic reactions - according to the instructions for medical use

1. 1. Solutions. You need to gargle with a solution of Chlorhexidine, Chlorophyllipt, Furacilin, Iodinol or Miramistin once or twice a day. Each drug has individual instructions for creating a solution attached to it.

1. Anti-cough medications. Stoptussin (dosage depends on body weight) and Sinekod (fifteen milliliters three times a day) are suitable medications that suppress coughing attacks. Neo-Codion, Tercodin and Codelac should be taken one tablet three times a day.

Important:Along with the necessary medications, you can purchase vitamin complexes at the pharmacy. Their use will have a positive effect on the immune system, and will also help restore the body after taking medications.

Video - What is pharyngitis and how to treat it?

Treatment of pharyngitis with folk remedies

You can improve your well-being with chronic pharyngitis using folk remedies:

1. Blackberry. A decoction of its leaves (one hundred grams per liter of water) is suitable for inhalation. The fruits can be consumed in their pure form.
2. Cocoa butter. It must be mixed with milk and honey. Half a teaspoon of butter per glass of milk will be enough.
3. Salt compress. Sea salt needs to be heated in a frying pan so that it is warm. Next, you should wrap it in gauze and wrap a compress around your neck. The holding time is a quarter of an hour. It is advisable to apply a compress before going to bed. After exposure, you need to wrap your neck with a terry towel.
4. Honey compress. It needs to be prepared in almost the same way as the previous one, only in this case the honey is heated in the microwave. You need to put cellophane between the honey and gauze so as not to get dirty. The holding time is twenty minutes. It is recommended to use once a day.
5. Gargling with herbs. Sage and chamomile are suitable options. They must be used dry. Add a large spoonful of herb to a glass of boiling water, cool, strain and gargle. For best results, you need to repeat the procedure five times a day.

Video - How to treat pharyngitis with folk remedies

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy– a suitable method for treating chronic pharyngitis. It involves these procedures:

• electrophoresis;
• magnetic therapy;
• ultraviolet;
• inductothermy.

All of the above treatment measures are universal. They can be taken for any form of chronic pharyngitis if they are approved by the treating ENT doctor. Treatment methods suitable for certain types of disease are listed in the table.

Form of the disease	Method of treatment
Catarrhal	The main measure is to clear the throat of mucus. Firstly, it is necessary to rinse with antiseptics (one Furacilin tablet in a glass of water three times a day). Secondly, you need to lubricate your throat with Lugol's solution in glycerin. Thirdly, it is advisable to use sprays (irrigation with Kameton several times a day)
Hypertrophic	It is necessary to cauterize the lymphoid tissue in a hospital setting. Usually the process is carried out by cryotherapy or electrocoagulation
Atrophic	Inhalation of special enzymes or potassium solution is required. The doctor selects drugs that improve the process of mucus secretion

If the disease was caused by pathogenic bacteria, antibiotic therapy is required. Penicillins, cephalosporins and macrolides are suitable. The dosage is determined by a specialist.

Important:Don't expect quick results. Treatment of chronic pharyngitis is a long process.

Prevention of chronic pharyngitis

In order to prevent the occurrence of chronic pharyngitis, you need to follow simple rules:

1. Start treatment only after visiting your doctor's office. Consultation with a specialist before using the medications you have chosen is necessary.
2. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Alcohol-containing drinks irritate the walls of the throat, and cigarette smoke has a detrimental effect on the entire respiratory system.
3. Eat right. Monitor the temperature of food and do not get carried away with foods that irritate the mouth and throat.
4. Use vasoconstrictors for runny nose only when necessary. These medications are addictive. Abuse of them is fraught with deterioration of the mucous membranes.
5. Use protective masks and respirators if it is not possible to limit exposure to harmful gases. This is especially important for those who have to work with hazardous substances.
6. Humidify the air in your home. If you live in a dry climate, use humidifiers.

Important:Carefully monitor your health and strengthen your immune system. The likelihood of chronic pharyngitis in healthy people is lower than in those who suffer from various diseases.

Chronic pharyngitis is an inflammatory process in the area of ​​the lymphoid apparatus of the pharynx, occurring in the mucous tissues, leading to severe sore throat and other unpleasant consequences. If the acute form is not treated, over time it becomes chronic, and it becomes extremely difficult to get rid of it, however, with the help of properly selected therapy, its manifestations can be minimized. You should know everything about the symptoms and treatment of chronic pharyngitis in adults.

We can talk about the disease becoming chronic when no improvement is observed with treatment for several weeks. Over time, symptoms may weaken, but during exacerbations they may intensify. There are several types of chronic pharyngitis, depending on the degree of development and the nature of the inflammatory process in the mucous tissues.

There are several reasons for the transition from acute to chronic; this usually does not happen on its own. It is usually recommended to pay attention to the following:

• inhalation of dirty, dusty, too dry air, which negatively affects the condition of the nasopharyngeal mucosa;
• smoking, alcohol abuse;
• diseases of the digestive system, in which the acidic contents of the stomach can rise up the esophagus and damage the mucous membrane.

Incorrect treatment during the acute phase of the disease can also provoke a transition to the chronic form of pharyngitis.

The ICD-10 code for this disease is J31.2. Typically, such information is required exclusively by specialists; in the registry, chronic pharyngitis is included together with rhinitis and other chronic inflammatory diseases of the tissues of the nasopharynx.

Chronic catarrhal pharyngitis

In the catarrhal form of this disease, there is no discharge of pus; most often it occurs in smokers, workers in hazardous industries, and people who live in heavily polluted air.

With this form, there is always a strong sore throat and a feeling of a foreign body. There may be a burning sensation when breathing, especially if the air is too hot or cold.

Chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis

The main symptom of this form of the disease is thickening of the mucous membrane of the throat, as if it swells. The patient generally experiences severe soreness and a feeling of dryness in the throat. In this case, purulent discharge of a rather viscous nature begins to form on the back wall.

Chronic granulosa pharyngitis is also characterized by the appearance of ulcers on the wall of the throat, on the inflamed mucosa. Due to large accumulations of pus in the throat, the patient usually has a strong bad breath.

Chronic atrophic pharyngitis

This stage is usually called the final stage of a chronic disease. At this stage, sclerosis of the mucous membrane occurs, secretions that accumulate on the wall of the throat, become extremely viscous and form a crust, which provokes the sensation of a foreign body in the patient.

When you cough, bits of crusty discharge may begin to come out. The cough is dry, may get worse at night, and is accompanied by a sore throat that gets worse when swallowing. During exacerbations of chronic subatrophic pharyngitis, the temperature may rise. The cervical lymph nodes are also often enlarged.

Important! Due to pharyngitis, the patient's voice may also change; it may become hoarse and sound a little dull.

If any of these symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor and begin treatment as soon as possible. The diagnosis is usually not made solely by symptoms; an examination by an otolaryngologist is required, sometimes a scraping is taken, and other studies are performed.

Without treatment, this disease can lead to serious consequences. In addition, the constant presence of an inflammatory process in the throat increases the likelihood of an increase in the frequency of colds and other inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx.

Is it possible to cure chronic pharyngitis?

It is extremely difficult to completely get rid of this disease and its consequences, it is almost impossible. However, with properly selected therapy, it is possible to achieve remission, in which the manifestations of acute chronic pharyngitis will almost disappear. It is important to consider that in this case much depends on the efforts of the patient himself. It is important to strictly follow your doctor’s instructions and not skip procedures or medications.

At the same time, in order to completely get rid of the manifestations of the chronic form, it is often important to eliminate the cause of its occurrence. The patient needs to get rid of bad habits, treat diseases of the digestive system, change living conditions, for example, buy a device for humidifying the air if the reason is increased dryness.

Important! This disease should be treated under the supervision of an otolaryngologist.

How to cure forever

To get rid of most of the manifestations of this disease, you need to completely get rid of the factors that provoke it. In addition, you need to engage in full-fledged therapy for the disease, under the supervision of a doctor.

There are enough treatment methods; various drugs and physiotherapy can be used for therapy. It is acceptable to use some traditional methods, but you should be careful with them.

Hardening the throat for chronic pharyngitis is a controversial technique, the effectiveness of which has not been proven. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it; it is better to immediately turn to conservative treatment. It is better not to further irritate diseased mucous tissues of the nasopharynx.

In general, for chronic pharyngitis, treatment at home is acceptable; observation in a hospital setting is usually not required. However, physical therapy appointments may be required.

Drugs

Depending on the causes and symptoms of the disease, different medications may be required for treatment. The following groups of medications are usually used:

1. Local antibacterial therapy. Systemic antibiotics in tablet form are usually not required; specialized antibacterial sprays are used. These include Bioparox, Imudon, IRS - 19.
2. Anti-inflammatory painkillers. Typically used in the form of sprays and lozenges. The most commonly used tablets are Grammidin, Yox spray, Faringosept, Hexoral and their analogues.

While taking medications, it is advised to switch to a diet that does not contain food that irritates the mucous membranes. It is not recommended to eat foods that are too hot or cold, or foods that are too spicy or sour. You also need to drink a lot of liquid, preferably plain clean water. In case of exacerbations, bed rest is recommended.

How to gargle

The most common recipe for rinsing is a saline solution; it is advisable to use sea salt to make it. For one glass of warm water, take one spoon of salt, and rinse up to three times a day.

You can also use a light infusion of chamomile, this remedy will help soothe a sore throat. Take one spoon of dried herb per glass of boiling water; before rinsing, you need to cool the infusion.

Treatment with folk remedies

Traditional recipes are also effective in the fight against pharyngitis, the main thing is not to warm a sore throat, high temperatures provoke bacterial activity. It is also worth remembering that it is difficult to completely overcome the disease with the help of folk remedies; they can only represent auxiliary therapy.

The most useful and safe folk remedy for pharyngitis, which will help soften a cough and relieve severe pain, is milk with honey. The milk should be warmed up a little, do not make it too hot. In a glass of milk you need to dilute one spoon of honey, you can add a little cream. You should drink this drink at night.

By combining different products you can achieve the best effect. If your condition worsens, you should consult a doctor.

Types of chronic pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is a common disease of the pharynx today. According to statistics, about 40 percent of patients who seek help from an ENT doctor suffer from pharyngitis. This disease is rare in women and children.

Causes and mechanisms of disease development

How to treat chronic pharyngitis in adults? Is it possible to cure chronic pharyngitis forever? How difficult and is it possible to properly treat chronic pharyngitis at home (see Treatment of pharyngitis with folk remedies in adults)? How can chronic pharyngitis be treated efficiently and inexpensively?

To answer these and other pressing questions, it is necessary to understand how this disease occurs.

The reasons for the development and chronicity of pharyngitis are as follows:

• complication of an acute process due to inadequate therapy;
• inhalation of cold, dusty air on the street or in work areas;
• permanent influence of chemical irritants (tobacco smoking, strong alcohol, very hot food and/or drinks);
• improper breathing (inhalation mainly through the nose);
• the use of vasoconstrictor drugs for the treatment of chronic runny nose not according to indications and/or for a longer period than prescribed by the doctor;
• pharyngitis as a symptom of other diseases, namely metabolic disorders, reflux esophagitis and some others;
• when the disease is supported by the presence of inflammatory discharge from the nasopharynx or paranasal sinuses.

Pharyngitis occurs when both viruses or adenoviruses multiply, as well as microbes from the cocci group (including staphylococci and streptococci), as well as pathological yeast fungi (from the genus Candida). Another possible way of developing this unpleasant disease is the spread of infection along the length (dental diseases, sinusitis, rhinitis, etc.)

Examination by an otolaryngologist for pharyngitis

On what basis is the diagnosis of “pharyngitis” made today?

In the process of interviewing the patient, you can find out the following symptoms characteristic of chronic pharyngitis in an adult:

• discomfort;
• dryness and sore throat;
• difficulty swallowing;
• feeling of something extra in the throat;
• pain that occurs during the so-called “empty” swallow.

To assess the severity of the disease and its characteristics, the ENT doctor examines the patient’s mouth, throat and pharynx, as we can see in the corresponding photo. If necessary, pharyngoscopy can be performed. To determine the exact cause of the disease, a special study is done in a microbiological laboratory.

Differential diagnosis is carried out mainly with chronic tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils):

Signs for differential diagnosis	Chronic sore throat	Chronic pharyngitis
Localization of the inflammatory process	Tonsils and oropharynx	The back of the pharynx, tonsils may be absent if the disease develops after their removal
History of the disease	Frequent sore throats, possibly an indication of rheumatic pain	One of the causative factors of pharyngitis (see above)
Pain when swallowing	Moderate, with exacerbation strong	Rawness, soreness, discomfort, pain during an “empty” sip.
Pharyngoscopy	Typical picture of chronic tonsillitis	Typical picture of chronic pharyngitis

Types of chronic forms of pharyngitis

Subatrophic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis can be:

• catarrhal;
• hypertrophic;
• atrophic.

An intermediate form may be subatrophic pharyngitis. Of particular note is pharyngitis in older people, which is associated with an age-related decrease in local immunity, as well as fungal forms, which are often associated with chemotherapy for cancer.

The peculiarities of the course of each form of the disease determine the doctor’s tactics when choosing certain means and methods of therapy.

Modern aspects of therapy: how to cure chronic pharyngitis once and for all

So, let’s try to answer the question of how to treat pharyngitis, the chronic nature of which significantly reduces the quality of life of patients, because in every fourth patient the disease is susceptible to chronicity. It would seem that many procedures, for example, irrigation and inhalation, are quite feasible at home, decoctions of medicinal herbs for rinsing can be prepared with your own hands, but it is necessary to take into account that treatment should be carried out under the constant supervision of specialists who know exactly how to treat patients diagnosed with pharyngitis chronic".

Self-medication is out of the question here, since the choice of medicine cannot always be made correctly, guided by the affordable price or by independently studying the indications for use in the drug instructions.

Only if you carefully follow all your doctor’s prescriptions can you say that chronic pharyngitis is curable. The prognosis is all the more favorable the earlier the correct diagnosis of “chronic pharyngitis” is made and a list of measures is determined, which will allow a timely decision on how to cure the disease in each specific case.

Drug treatments

At the present stage of development of therapeutic methods of treatment, it is quite possible to say that in most cases the diagnosis of “chronic pharyngitis” is curable, especially if the patient himself is determined to get rid of the disease and eliminate the constant source of infection in the body.

Currently, it is very important to correctly and timely prescribe antibiotics, taking into account the sensitivity of microbes to them. In addition to eliminating pathogenic microorganisms, it is necessary to repopulate normal microflora, otherwise dysbacteriosis may occur, which will contribute to relapses of pharyngitis.

Preference is still given to local forms of medicinal substances, which allows them to be delivered to the site of chronic inflammation without saturating the blood and the entire body, which is usually not necessary.

Some remedies for topical treatment of pharyngitis

It is also necessary to stimulate the activity and enhance the activity of cells of the immune system and its other factors, which is especially important in elderly patients. Once again, it is worth noting that if you have been diagnosed with “chronic pharyngitis,” only a competent specialist should decide how to treat this disease, otherwise it is quite difficult to get rid of it.

So, medications for the treatment of pharyngitis belong to several main groups:

• antibiotics;
• antiseptics;
• herbal preparations;
• probiotics;
• means that improve general and local immunity;
• antifungal agents;
• antiviral;
• corticosteroids;
• adaptogens.

Sprays and aerosols

Methods of administration of therapeutic agents:

1. Inhalations.
2. Irrigation.
3. Aerosol therapy, including using a nebulizer.
4. Sprays.
5. Rinse.
6. Tablets and lozenges.

Intravenous laser irradiation of blood

Non-drug treatments

In identifying the disease “chronic pharyngitis” and developing a plan for how to treat it, the use of non-drug treatment methods, in particular physical factors, sanatorium-resort treatment, where there are ample opportunities for the prevention and treatment of the underlying disease and general improvement of the body, is important.

Physical factors in pharyngitis produce a whole range of influences:

• prevent the spread of inflammation;
• relieve tissue swelling;
• improve their nutrition;
• strengthen immunity;
• have a healing effect;
• help eliminate chronic infection;
• reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

Types of physiotherapeutic interventions that are preferable to choose for chronic pharyngitis:

• short wavelength ultraviolet irradiation (SWI);
• use of low-energy lasers locally and intravenously;
• ultrasound therapy;
• medicinal electrophoresis;
• alternating magnetic field.

Salt caves

Visits to the so-called “salt caves” have proven themselves to be excellent, helping to eliminate discomfort in the throat, freeing breathing, alleviating the chronic runny nose that such patients often have. Special reflexology techniques, which can be performed by an appropriate specialist, help reduce the negative impact of a chronic source of infection on the immune system.

In addition, it is necessary to give up all bad habits that aggravate the course of the disease, such as smoking, drinking strong alcohol, eating too hot food or drinks. It is important to sanitize other foci of infection, especially those located in the immediate vicinity (dental diseases, sore throats, sinusitis, rhinitis).

The video in this article will help you understand what “chronic pharyngitis” is and how to treat it correctly, timely and efficiently, avoiding relapses.

Pharyngitis is an infectious disease, the source of inflammation of which is localized mainly on the pharyngeal mucosa, often spreading to the lymphoid apparatus. The main symptoms of the disease at the initial stage are similar to the symptoms of a common cold. There are acute and chronic stages of the disease.

Chronic pharyngitis is characterized by a slow course of the disease and includes periods of exacerbation and remission.

Often, an exacerbation occurs against the background of a decrease in local and general immunity, for example, as a result of viral diseases or severe hypothermia.

Treatment of chronic pharyngitis in adults is determined by the form of the disease, the general condition of the patient and the presence of accompanying symptoms.

Reasons

The causes of pharyngitis may vary. There are several main factors that provoke the development of the inflammatory process:

• systematic inhalation of heavily polluted or dusty air;
• prolonged exposure to extremely low temperatures (inhalation of air whose temperature is below 20 degrees);
• presence of such a bad habit as smoking;
• excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• improper or untimely treatment of various inflammatory processes of the nasopharynx.

Also among the main factors provoking the occurrence of chronic pharyngitis is the presence of pathologies of the digestive system. In this case, stomach contents (gastric juice and gastric enzymes) may be thrown into the pharynx (reflux), irritating the mucous membrane and causing inflammation.

Symptoms

To find out how to cure chronic pharyngitis, you need to understand that the treatment of the disease is determined by its form. There are pharyngitis in hypertrophic, atrophic, subatrophic forms, as well as acute and catarrhal nasopharyngitis. Moreover, both during remission and during exacerbation, the symptoms of the disease will be determined by the type of pharyngitis.

With chronic pharyngitis in a hypertrophic form, the mucous membranes in the throat become thickened, as well as an increase in the amount of lymphoid tissue. The patient experiences the following symptoms:

• feeling of a foreign object in the throat, dryness;
• pain when swallowing food or drinks;
• the presence of difficult to cough up purulent viscous secretion in the throat;
• the presence of an unpleasant odor from the nasopharynx;
• dry annoying cough.

The atrophic form is characterized by the following symptoms:

• the occurrence of constantly worsening sclerosis of the nasopharyngeal mucosa;
• development of a suffocating cough;
• the presence of purulent dry crusts on the surface of the pharynx.

The chronic form of subatrophic pharyngitis also has quite serious symptoms and is accompanied by pain when coughing, dryness in the nasopharynx, and the sensation of a foreign object.

The acute stage of nasopharyngitis is accompanied by discomfort and sore throat; significant hyperthermia (above 38 degrees) and poisoning of the body with waste products of viruses or bacteria (intoxication) are often observed.

Drug therapy

Treatment of chronic pharyngitis takes longer and requires a special approach, compared to therapy for the acute stage of the disease. The fundamental approach to treating this disease is to eliminate the cause that caused the inflammation. Whereas in the chronic form of the disease it is extremely difficult to determine the causes.

Patients are often interested in how to treat chronic pharyngitis and whether it can be cured completely? Doctors agree that it is not only possible, but also necessary to treat this form. Moreover, most often this can be done outside the hospital, strictly following the specialist’s instructions. The attending physician, based on examination of the patient, history taking, test results (blood, urine) and other diagnostic measures, will select adequate and effective treatment.

Most often, therapy for chronic pharyngitis includes drugs and procedures such as:

• Treatment with antimicrobial and antiviral drugs depending on the causative agent of the disease. So, if pharyngitis is caused by a bacterial infection, then treatment is carried out with antibiotics (Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Sumamed). If the cause of the disease is viruses, then the patient should use antiviral drugs (Groprinosin, Arbidol, Amiksin, Ingavirin).
• Sometimes the cause of pharyngitis can be an allergic reaction of the body to dust, wool, certain foods, strong odors, etc. In this case, it is necessary to exclude the cause of the allergy and simultaneously use antihistamines (Loratadine, Suprastin, Diazolin, Zodak).
• At elevated body temperature (above 38 degrees), it is necessary to use antipyretic drugs. The most commonly used drugs are those based on ibuprofen (Nurofen, Ibuprofen) and paracetamol (Efferalgan, Paracetamol, Grippostad, Coldrex), which not only reduce the temperature, but also have an analgesic effect for severe sore throats.
• Hoarseness in the throat can be reduced with the help of antiseptic drugs available in the form of lozenges, lozenges, sprays (Ingalipt, Hexoral, Chlorophyllipt, Collargol, Septolete).
• Gargling with antiseptic solutions (Chlorhexidine, Chlorophyllipt), which help moisturize the throat mucosa, liquefy viscous secretions, exfoliate and remove crusts.
• Steam inhalations and nebulizer inhalations also have a positive effect, improving the general condition of a patient with pharyngitis. To carry out the procedure, antiseptic (Dekasan), alkaline (Borjomi) solutions are used, as well as saline solution to moisturize the pharyngeal mucosa.
• If chronic pharyngitis is diagnosed, treatment can be supplemented with physiotherapeutic procedures. This can be electrophoresis, ultra-high frequency therapy (UHF), ultrasound therapy.
• In the treatment of sluggish pharyngitis, it is advisable to use vitamin complexes and drugs to strengthen the immune system (Undevit, Virum, Duovit, Imudon, IRS-19).
• A proper diet, excluding salty, spicy, sour, very hot and cold foods will help to quickly cure a chronic disease.

Traditional medicine recipes

It is known that in order to completely cure chronic pharyngitis, it is necessary to use a whole range of various medicinal and physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as traditional medicine recipes.

Important! Treatment of pharyngitis using traditional medicine methods should be carried out exclusively in combination with drug therapy and under the supervision of a doctor.

The most effective traditional medicine recipes for the treatment of pharyngitis include:

• A medicine based on garlic and honey. It’s easy to prepare: chopped garlic (a couple of medium-sized cloves) is mixed with 30 grams of honey. Take this remedy 5 ml three times a day until complete recovery.
• Infusion of spruce and fir buds. To prepare the solution, the indicated ingredients are poured with boiled water at the rate of a kilogram of dry matter per one and a half liters of liquid. The resulting mixture is brought to a boil and cooked for twenty minutes. The broth is infused for at least an hour, filtered, a glass of honey and a drop of propolis tincture are added. Take one tablespoon three times a day.

Important! Before using any traditional medicine recipe used to treat pharyngitis, make sure that you do not have an individual intolerance to each of the components that make up the drug.

• It is known that one of the most effective procedures in the treatment of pharyngitis is rinsing. They use a mixture of herbs: chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, linden flowers and eucalyptus, which are poured with boiling water (one part of dry matter to ten parts of liquid) and infused for half an hour. In addition to rinsing, this decoction can be used in the form of tea.
• Also, to treat the inflammatory process in the pharynx, rinsing using ordinary soda or saline solutions (5 grams of salt or soda per 200 ml of warm boiled water) is effective.

Pharyngitis is a disease in which the mucous membrane of the throat becomes inflamed due to a viral or bacterial infection.

In most cases, pharyngitis is a consequence of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections or sinusitis; typical symptoms of the disease are:

• Sore and sore throat;
• Hoarseness and dry cough;
• Increased body temperature;
• Swelling and redness of the mucous membrane of the posterior wall of the larynx;
• Enlarged lymph nodes.

Pharyngitis is a very unpleasant disease in itself. But if left untreated, it will become chronic and cause even more trouble. Therefore, it is important to quickly cure it and prevent complications. What means and methods can be used for this?

What remedies can quickly cure acute pharyngitis?

Important to know!

It must be said right away that if you need to cure acute pharyngitis quickly, then you should start treatment as early as possible, at the very first symptoms. Then the disease can be overcome in 2-3 days.

If you delay treatment, acute pharyngitis will turn into chronic - it will no longer be possible to defeat it so quickly. And perhaps he will remain forever.

For express treatment at home, you can and should use the following products:

• Medicinal herbs - decoctions and infusions will be prepared from them to quickly cure a sore throat;
• Products for preparing large quantities of warm, softening drinks - fruits, berries, tea, milk, honey;
• Fresh white cabbage - for compresses;
• Medications with mucolytic effects.

If pharyngitis is caused by bacteria, then it will have to be treated with antibiotics, otherwise it will inevitably turn into chronic pharyngitis.

But it is advisable to start taking antibacterial drugs only on the 3rd day, if it was not possible to quickly cure a sore throat by other means.

How to cure a sore throat at home - recipes

The main goal of treatment is to prevent acute pharyngitis from becoming chronic, and to eliminate unpleasant symptoms that bother the patient. First of all, you should soothe the sore throat, relieve redness, swelling and pain. To do this you can use:

1. Chamomile.
2. Calendula.
3. Sage.
4. St. John's wort.
5. Eucalyptus leaves.

You can brew any of the herbs separately and use them as a gargle. Or you can prepare a mixture and brew it. Drinking and rinsing from these medicinal plants have an antiseptic, anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effect, chamomile soothes, and St. John's wort can be classified as a natural antibiotic.

Next, you can brew tea from raspberry, currant, blueberry and lingonberry leaves. A handful of fresh leaves or a tablespoon of dry leaves are poured with 1.5 cups of boiling water, covered and left for about 45 minutes. Then filter, add honey and drink in small sips throughout the day.

Cabbage is a well-known folk remedy for all diseases in which an inflammatory process develops. For pharyngitis, you can squeeze the juice out of it and drink it, heating it to 40 degrees. If it becomes chronic, it is better to make compresses on the throat from steamed cabbage leaves and honey.

During any infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract, you need to drink as much as possible. First, a warm drink will soothe your throat and dry cough. And secondly, it speeds up the removal of microorganisms and toxins from the body along with sweat and urine. If the disease is accompanied by fever, drinking plenty of fluids will prevent dehydration.

What to drink at home?

What can you drink at home? Compotes, fruit drinks, jellies, infusions and a variety of teas. To prepare berry juice you need:

• Take 50-100 g. lingonberries, cranberries, black and red currants, raspberries - you can use assorted berries, or just one type, total amount 500 g;
• Wash the berries, place in a glass container and crush, or use a blender for this;
• Pour 1.5 liters of boiling water over the berry puree, stir, cover and let it brew;
• Strain the warm fruit drink, squeeze out the pulp, add honey, drink throughout the day, warming it up.

Don’t forget about ready-made pharmaceutical products. For sore throat and dry cough caused by pharyngitis, mucolytic drugs are most effective. They relieve irritation and thin mucus, facilitating their removal. This:

1. Acetylcysteine, better known as ACC powder for preparing a warm medicinal drink.
2. Bromhexine is a combined-action drug in the form of syrup that can be used to treat both dry and wet cough.
3. Ambroxol, an analogue of Bromhexine, also effectively relieves the main symptoms of pharyngitis.

What else can you do? If there is no high temperature and blood pressure is normal, a sore throat and cough will be cured very quickly by inhalation for a sore throat - inhaling hot steam. Hot steam itself will only warm the throat, but will not eliminate inflammation. Therefore, medications must be added to water for inhalation.

It is recommended to use baking soda with iodine, pine buds, which must first be brewed with boiling water and infused, eucalyptus or fir oil, rosemary, thyme. For bacterial pharyngitis, steam inhalation with the addition of an oil solution of chlorophyllipt will help.

Chlorophyllipt is a plant-based drug, it has excellent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and is able to destroy staphylococci and streptococci. In the treatment of ENT diseases, it is used not only for inhalations. At the pharmacy you can buy a spray for irrigating the larynx and lozenges - this product is very affordable.

Naturally, if you want to quickly get rid of a sore throat and not spend long days and weeks in bed, you should stop smoking during treatment. You need to rest more, not get too cold and follow a high-calorie but gentle diet: food should be at room temperature, not spicy, not salty or sour, so that it is easy to swallow without disturbing the sore throat.

In the video in this article, a specialist will tell you in detail how to get rid of annoying pharyngitis.

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane of the pharynx. There are acute and chronic forms of the disease.

Symptoms of acute pharyngitis

The clinical picture of the acute form of the disease is expressed:

What you need to know: with acute pharyngitis, the pain is especially strong at the moment of the so-called “empty throat”, i.e. when swallowing saliva. The pain often radiates to the ears.

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis

Patients with this form of the disease complain of a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, or a so-called “lump,” and they also complain of scratching, dryness and soreness in the throat.

Because of this feeling, patients develop a persistent, non-productive cough, during which they try to cough up stubborn mucus that has accumulated in the back of the throat. Patients experience hoarseness and voice fatigue.

Such symptoms are characteristic of catarrhal and hypertrophic pharyngitis. In the atrophic form, the patient experiences painful pain, combined with severe dryness. Purulent crusts form on the back wall of the throat.

The same atrophic processes can simultaneously occur in the nose and nasopharynx.

What factors provoke the disease

Causes of acute pharyngitis

This form of the disease, in the vast majority of cases, is combined with acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, which occurs with influenza, ARVI, catarrhal conditions, and some infectious diseases.

Viruses that cause strep throat include:

An isolated lesion occurs when the irritant acts directly on the mucous membrane of the pharynx. This occurs when inhaling frosty air, eating excessively cold or, conversely, excessively hot food, burns of various origins, smoking, including passive smoking.

According to the nature of origin, acute pharyngitis is:

Causes of chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis occurs with prolonged exposure to certain irritants on the mucous membrane of the pharynx. If, in acute pharyngitis, the cause that caused it is not completely eliminated, one form of the disease smoothly passes into another.

Factors that provoke the acute form of the disease can be local or general.

Local factors include:

General factors:

The activity of the pharyngeal mucosa is adversely affected by harmful climatic and industrial factors, such as:

By the nature of changes in the mucous membrane, catarrhal, hypertrophic and atrophic forms of chronic pharyngitis are determined. The combination of certain inflammatory signs indicates a mixed form of pharyngitis.

Diagnosis of pharyngitis

For this purpose, pharyngoscopy is performed - a visual examination of the mucous membrane of the throat.

If difficulties arise in determining the nature of the origin of pharyngitis, a throat swab is taken for bacteriological or virological examination.

In what cases is the diagnosis of acute pharyngitis made?

When examining the throat, in these cases, hyperemia of the mucous membrane and palatine tonsils is revealed. Areas of mucopurulent plaque can be seen on them. Individual follicles, on the back wall of the pharynx, look like red grains. The small tongue is swollen.

Acute pharyngitis is differentiated from catarrhal tonsillitis.

What you need to know: for some infectious diseases, such as: measles, measles rubella, scarlet fever, acute pharyngitis may be one of the first manifestations .

When is the diagnosis of chronic pharyngitis made?

The mucous membrane of the posterior pharyngeal wall, in these cases, is thinned, dry, pale and glossy, as if a thin layer of varnish had been applied to it. “Islands” of mucus are often visible on it, which, when drying out, subsequently turn into crusts.

Differentiating chronic pharyngitis with a number of neuralgia, and such syndromes as Plummer-Vinson, Sjögren, Eagle syndrome, is necessary in cases where persistent sore throat does not respond to conventional treatment.

Treatment of pharyngitis

Drug therapy for acute pharyngitis

To treat this form of the disease, antiseptics are widely used, which are indicated for gargling (chlorophyllipt, iodinol, etc.)

To irrigate the throat, various aerosols are used, which contain drugs with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects (inhalipt, hexaspray, stopangin, etc.)

The back wall of the pharynx is lubricated with a 3-5% solution of lapis or protargol. This reduces swelling and reduces inflammation. Antiseptics can be used in the form of absorbable lozenges and tablets (hexalyse, pharyngosept, strepsils, etc.)

Gargling with the hypertrophic form of pharyngitis is recommended with solutions:

To influence the mucous membrane of the pharynx with areas of hyperplasia, laser coagulation and cryodestruction are used, and electrocautery is used for cauterization.

To remove, by rinsing, mucous secretions and crusts from the surface of the pharynx. atrophic pharyngitis use an isotonic solution or a 1% NaCl solution, adding a few drops of a 5% iodine solution. The ratio of liquid and iodine should be 200/4-5 drops. If this procedure is done regularly and for a long time, the manifestations of pharyngitis can be significantly mitigated.

Lubricate the back wall of the pharynx and palatine tonsils with 1% Lugol's solution.

For oral administration, iodine preparations and vitamin A are prescribed.

What you need to know: in case of atrophic pharyngitis, the use of agents with a drying effect and those that inhibit the secretion of glands should be avoided. This applies to sodium bicarbonate solution, eucalyptus and sea buckthorn oil.

Atrophic pharyngitis is treated using novocaine blockades. Biostimulants, such as vitreous body, aloe, and traumeel, are added to a syringe with a solution of novocaine. An injection of such a cocktail is made submucosally into one and the other lateral part of the posterior pharyngeal wall. After a course of treatment, which is 8-10 procedures, patients experience a noticeable improvement in their condition.

At catarrhal pharyngitis Long-term rinsing with antiseptic and alkaline solutions is indicated. You can reduce dryness and sore throat with oil and alkaline inhalations.

The pharyngeal mucosa is lubricated with a 2.5% solution of silver nitrate. The product has a drying effect, which is very useful for this form of the disease.

Non-drug treatment of pharyngitis

Traditional medicine offers several effective recipes and a number of natural antiseptics for treating the disease.

You should gargle with infusions:

These infusions can be used for inhalation.

It is also recommended to gargle with potato juice. It has a good softening and enveloping effect. The juice should be warm and freshly prepared.

Warm milk with honey will be very useful, to which you should add a small piece of butter and 0.5 tsp. soda You need to drink it one glass, three times a day in small sips.

Garlic with honey

Place half a glass of peeled and finely chopped garlic into a paste-like state in an enamel pan. Pour buckwheat honey here so that it completely covers the garlic. Place the pan in a container of water and heat the mixture in a water bath for 25 minutes. The garlic-honey mixture must be stirred constantly. The garlic should become very soft.

Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool with the lid closed. Then put the pan back in the water bath and heat the mixture, stirring, for another 30 minutes. Cool, filter. The resulting garlic syrup is stored in the refrigerator. Take one teaspoon every hour, slowly dissolving it like candy.

What you need to know: Garlic syrup is an effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent.

What should be the regimen of a patient with pharyngitis?

Persons with this problem should:

• avoid hypothermia and prolonged stay in damp rooms;
• avoid temperature changes;
• completely eliminate contact with irritants: dusty and polluted air, tobacco smoke;
• do not eat too hot or too cold food;
• don't strain.

For uncomplicated pharyngitis, patients are shown a general regimen.

The following foods that irritate the pharyngeal mucosa are excluded from the diet of a patient with pharyngitis:

Food should be warm and well chopped.

Which doctor should I contact?

Pharyngitis is treated by a doctor - an otorhinolaryngologist. In case of a chronic course of the disease, the patient should undergo examination by doctors: a neurologist, a dentist, etc. Consultations with these specialists are necessary to identify the main cause, which is a supporting factor for pharyngitis.

Prevention of pharyngitis

Includes:

What you need to know: the disease at an early stage is much easier to treat, therefore, without knowing the nature of pharyngitis, you should not prescribe treatment yourself; let a doctor do it. You will only complicate the course of the disease and complicate the healing process.

In the video - treatment of pharyngitis in adults using traditional methods

• Classification of species
• Causes of the disease
• What are the symptoms?
• Consequences
• How is diagnosis made?
• How to treat pharyngitis?
• Recommendations
• Traditional medicine
• Prevention of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane, as well as the lymphoid tissue of the pharynx. In acute pharyngitis, diffuse inflammation is observed, manifesting itself in the form of an independent disease or accompanying other ENT diseases. If irritants and provoking factors are not eliminated for a long time, acute pharyngitis becomes chronic, which is often combined with damage to the nasal mucosa (rhinitis). This type of disease is called nasopharyngitis.

Most common acute pharyngitis covers all parts of the pharynx(oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx), which occurs due to the rapid migration of bacteria and viruses.

Chronic pharyngitis can be expressed in one of the departments, often having a descending nature, which is caused by locally occurring pathological changes in tissues and blood vessels.

Pharyngitis is more common among middle-aged and older adults. In children, the acute type of the disease occurs mainly. Due to the high susceptibility to provoking factors, chronic pharyngitis is more often observed in men.

Due to decreased immunity, acute pharyngitis also occurs in pregnant women.

Acute pharyngitis includes viral, bacterial, fungal and non-infectious (allergic, traumatic, physicochemical) forms of the disease.

Chronic pharyngitis can be:

1. Atrophic. It is characterized by thinning of the pharyngeal lining, a decrease in the number of mucous glands, and often accompanies atrophic rhinitis.
2. Catarrhal. Simple pharyngitis with diffuse hyperemia, swelling of the pharynx, dilation of small veins, hypersecretion of mucous glands.
3. Hypertrophic. Includes hyperemia, thickening of the mucous membrane, the formation of outgrowths, cysts or depressions, which occurs as a result of the replacement of columnar epithelial cells with cubic ones.

Among hypertrophic pharyngitis, granulosa (growth of granules on the back wall of the pharynx) and lateral (enlargement of the lateral part of the pharynx in the form of red ridges) are distinguished.

About 70% of cases of acute pharyngitis occur due to the penetration of viruses into the tissues of the pharynx, and 30% due to infection by bacteria, fungi and under the influence of non-infectious factors.

Routes of infection– airborne, through food, from other sources of infection in the body by hematogenous and lymphogenous routes.

The most common acute pharyngitis is caused by the following diseases:

• Flu.
• Infectious mononucleosis (in children).
• Measles.
• Scarlet fever.
• Parainfluenza.
• ARVI (rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses).
• In immunodeficiency states, acute pharyngitis can also be caused by cytomegalovirus, Coxsackie virus, and herpes simplex virus.

After the initial infection, the weakened body is affected by bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci, neisseria, influenza, and candida fungi. It is also possible that the throat can become infected with specific pathogens such as yersiniosis, gonorrhea, leptotrichosis, etc.

The main cause of chronic pharyngitis is sluggish infectious diseases combined with low immunity and a number of provoking factors.

Often, a chronic disease develops due to improper treatment of acute pharyngitis, as well as in case of non-compliance with the terms of therapy.

In people subject to high sensitization of the body, chronic pharyngitis can be allergic in nature, and in workers in hazardous industries, the disease becomes the result of damage to the throat by chemical vapors.

Risk factors for the development of acute and chronic pharyngitis:

• the presence of foci of infection in the body (caries, tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis);
• low immunity;
• smoking;
• unfavorable environmental conditions;
• alcoholism;
• vitamin deficiencies;
• harmful working conditions;
• stress;
• high stress (mental, physical);
• hypothermia;
• eating food that is too cold or hot;
• kidney and blood diseases;
• diabetes mellitus

Acute pharyngitis develops in children or adults 1-2 days after hypothermia, infection with viral diseases and is expressed by the following symptom complex:

• sore throat;
• pain, discomfort in the tonsils and pharynx;
• discomfort when swallowing, feeling of the presence of a foreign body;
• dry cough;
• often – a painful “barking” cough at night;
• thirst;
• increased temperature (usually up to 37.5 degrees);
• lacrimation;
• visually: severe redness of the throat;
• ulcerations on the oral mucosa;
• frequent combination of pharyngitis with tonsillitis, rhinitis.

Unlike tonsillitis, acute pharyngitis is diffuse in nature, covering not only the tonsils, but the entire pharynx. If pharyngitis is caused by a viral disease, the symptoms may be “blurred” against the background of signs of the underlying disease (measles, flu, etc.) - high body temperature, shortness of breath, body and joint aches, rash, intoxication.

With chronic pharyngitis, a long course of the disease is observed with periodic exacerbations followed by remissions.

The catarrhal form is characterized by:

• dry throat mucosa;
• burning in the tonsils;
• increased discomfort when going out into the cold or when smoking;
• shine of the surface of the oropharynx during examination;
• swelling, slight thickening of the pharyngeal mucosa;
• sometimes - by the visible presence of mucus on the throat.

In the hypertrophic form of chronic pharyngitis, the clinical picture and sensations of the patient may be similar to the catarrhal form, but are often supplemented by accumulations of pus and bad breath.

During pharyngoscopy it is noted:

• thickening of the mucous membrane;
• thickening of certain areas of the larynx;
• the appearance of bright red spots, swelling of ridges, granules on the back and side walls of the larynx;
• a general increase in the volume of lymphoid tissue (due to the proliferation of connective cells and blood vessels).

Atrophic pharyngitis boils down to the appearance of a painful cough and severe dryness of the throat, itching and irritation in the throat. Upon examination, areas of a yellowish color are visible instead of the normal pinkish ones. Often there are areas covered with mucus or crusts, as well as “varnished”, shiny areas.

An unpleasant consequence of acute pharyngitis is its chronicity. Among other things, complications of an untreated disease often include laryngitis (further “deepening” of inflammatory processes in the larynx), damage to the vocal cords, purulent tonsillitis, otitis and sinusitis, tracheitis, bronchitis. Dangerous consequences of pharyngitis are neck phlegmon and retropharyngeal abscess.

Children often develop swelling of the larynx with muscle spasms and suffocation. A long-term source of infection in the body can provoke kidney disease (for example, glomerulonephritis), rheumatism, myocardial and brain damage.

The main diagnostic method is pharyngoscopy, during which the doctor notes the main symptoms of the disease and characteristic clinical signs.

From laboratory tests the following are used:

• bacterial analysis of a smear taken from the surface of the larynx;
• virological examination of discharge from the oropharynx;
• detection of antibodies to certain infectious agents in the blood;
• general blood test.

Differential diagnosis diagnosed with laryngitis, catarrhal tonsillitis, diphtheria. Chronic pharyngitis must be distinguished from some syndromes that occur with neuroendocrine, autoimmune diseases and anemia, from inflammation of the salivary glands and damage to the vagus nerve.

Diagnosis and treatment are carried out by an ENT doctor.

Therapy for acute pharyngitis comes down to eliminating the factors that provoke the development of the disease, as well as strengthening the general health of the patient.

In general, the course of therapy consists of the following measures:

• A gentle diet.
• Antiviral agents to reduce the course of the underlying disease (interferon preparations, cycloferon, arbidol, anaferon, etc.).
• Antibacterial therapy– systemically (sumamed, azithromycin, clarithromycin, flemoxin, framycetin), locally – aerosols (bioparox, hexoral, tantum-verde, octenisept), rinses or lozenges with antiseptics (sebedin, chlorhexidine, ambazon, thymol, strepsils, drill, neo - sore throat).
• Gargling with infusions of chamomile, sage, and soda solution.
• Local preparations with iodine (may be contraindicated in children) - iodinol, vocadine.
• Antisensitizing, antihistamines - for allergic pharyngitis.
• During pregnancy and childhood, treatment is strictly controlled by a doctor. Mainly, herbal and other natural remedies and preparations are used, as well as warm drinks, alkaline mineral waters, inhalations with plant infusions, rinsing with rotokan, romazulan, aquirin, malavit.

Therapy for chronic pharyngitis is long-term; Without eliminating smoking, the influence of harmful chemical compounds, and eliminating a persistent infection, treatment may be useless.

The doctor prescribes the following methods of therapy:

• Gargling and treating the throat with astringents for the hypertrophic type of pharyngitis (oak bark, bismuth nitrate, silver nitrate, Burov's liquid). Cauterization of side ridges or granules with an electrocoagulator, cryotherapy, acids, or galvanocaustics.
• For atrophic pharyngitis, irrigation and lubrication of the throat with a solution of Lugol with glycerin, rinsing with “Yox”, injection of a solution of proserin into the mucous membrane of the pharynx, treatment of the oropharynx with protargol, collargol are used.
• To increase immunity - vitreous and aloe extract (injections), Immunal, Amiksin (orally). Locally – IRS-19, propolis, imudon, essential oils of plants.
• To stimulate tissue regeneration processes - vitamin A, B vitamins.
• For severe pain in the throat - novocaine blockades, painkillers, NSAIDs.
• Hot foot baths, mustard plasters and vodka compresses on the throat (if body temperature is not elevated), drinking milk with honey and butter.
• Inhalations using alkaline, oil, herbal preparations, proteolytic enzymes.
• Physiotherapy - inductothermy, laser therapy, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis with vitamin preparations, paraffin applications on the neck.

When treating any form of pharyngitis, smoking cessation is mandatory.

If you do not stop inhaling cigarette smoke, the prognosis for recovery is greatly worsened. With chronic pharyngitis, you should not eat too hot, spicy foods, or overuse food, which can lead to local hypothermia of the larynx.

The patient's diet should include as many healthy, vitamin-rich foods as possible.– vegetables, fruits, cereals, fermented milk foods. In winter, it is recommended to use humidifiers so as not to provoke further drying of the nasal and oral mucosa.

For acute pharyngitis, gargling with this infusion will be useful: mix 10 g of calendula flowers, plantain leaves, sage and chamomile flowers. Brew 1 spoon of the mixture with boiling water (250 ml), let it brew.

Rinse at least 6 times a day for adults and children. Infusions of birch or barberry leaves, viburnum and aspen bark, St. John's wort herb, and lemon balm can also be irrigated and gargled, as well as taken orally. These herbs have anti-inflammatory and regenerating effects.

For atrophic and hypertrophic types of chronic pharyngitis, propolis tincture helps well. Combine 1 spoon of tincture and 2 spoons of glycerin or peach oil. Use a gauze pad to lubricate the throat every day.

Basic measures to prevent the disease:

1. Increasing the protective properties of the immune system.
2. Hardening.
3. The use of means to strengthen local immunity for preventive purposes.
4. Timely treatment of rhinitis, sinusitis.
5. Control of indoor air humidity levels.
6. Sanitation of other foci of indolent infection.
7. Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.
8. Limiting the influence of risk factors.

Doctors call pharyngitis an inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa of various etiologies. The pathology can occur in acute or chronic form, which, due to the influence of various factors, is diagnosed in the majority of the adult population and is determined by the prevalence of the question of which doctor treats pharyngitis. In children and adolescents, doctors identify an acute form of inflammation of the mucous membrane of various parts of the pharynx, which in most cases is viral or bacterial in nature.

Based on the anatomical structure, doctors distinguish the upper part of the pharynx (nasopharynx), middle (oropharynx) and lower part (hypopharynx). Typically, the acute form of the pathology spreads to all parts of the pharynx and tends to migrate, while the chronic course is characterized by localization in one of its parts.

Etiology of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is treated by a doctor who considers the following to be the main causes of the inflammatory process::

• cold air;
• breathing through the mouth;
• inhalation of chemicals;
• Doctors consider smoking to be the main predisposing factor for the development of chronic pharyngitis;
• introduction of pathological microflora (streptococci, staphylococci);
• infectious diseases;
• fungal infections of the pharynx;
• consequences of mechanical impact (trauma);
• allergy;
• ingestion of chemicals.

If you have pharyngitis, consult an otolaryngologist, and in the case of children, this issue is dealt with by a pediatrician. Experts consider it necessary to prescribe antibiotics to prevent the spread of inflammation to the lower parts of the respiratory system.

Clinical picture

The symptoms of acute and chronic forms of pharyngitis are somewhat different. A highly qualified ENT doctor (otolaryngologist) will make a preliminary diagnosis and establish the clinical form of the pathology based on a visual examination and subjective complaints of the patient.

Acute form of pharyngitis

Acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa begins suddenly and is characterized by the following symptoms:

• sore throat;
• dryness and discomfort;
• pain when swallowing, especially without the presence of any food or liquid;
• general malaise and slight rise in temperature;
• the posterior wall of the pharynx is hyperemic;
• enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes.

Pharyngitis is treated by a doctor at home, but on the condition that the patient strictly follows his recommendations and fulfills all instructions.

Chronic pharyngitis

The chronic course of the inflammatory process of the pharyngeal mucosa is not expressed by pronounced symptoms and has practically no effect on the general condition of a person, however, some of its manifestations cause significant discomfort. So, signs of chronic pharyngitis

• constant feeling of a lump in the throat;
• the desire to cough is present all the time;
• there is a dry cough of a superficial nature;
• the formation of a large amount of mucous secretion on the back wall of the pharynx.

Chronic pharyngitis usually develops as a result of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, long-term pathologies of the nose and ears, or frequent smoking.

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the tissues and mucous membrane of the pharynx (from Lat. pharynx - pharynx). Occurs as a result of inhaling air that is very hot, cold, or contaminated with chemicals. Contact with the mucous membrane of viruses, fungi (candida), and other pathogens provokes infectious pharyngitis. For treatment of pharyngitis, you should contact otorhinolaryngologist.

The disease can occur as a result of infection from adjacent areas (rhinitis, caries) or injury to the protective surface of the mucosa during surgical procedures (surgery or removal of a foreign body).

The disease can occur in an acute form or in a chronic form, when periods of remission and exacerbation alternate. When separating pharyngitis from tonsillitis, doctors sometimes use the term “tonsillopharyngitis” when the nature of the disease is mixed.

Symptoms

The acute process develops quickly immediately after exposure to irritating factors and is manifested by a sore and sore throat, dry, exhausting cough, stuffy ears, fever up to 37.5-38o C, sometimes higher. If the disease develops as a complication of other infectious pathologies (ARVI, influenza, measles), then their signs (rash, difficulty breathing, intoxication) are added to the main symptoms.

Acute pharyngitis should not be confused with tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils), which is accompanied by pain when swallowing, high fever, and swelling of the cervical lymph nodes.

Pharyngitis is characterized by inflammation spreading deeper, spilling onto the walls of the pharynx and manifestations of the above characteristic symptoms. An ENT doctor must determine the causes of inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa, the nature of the pathology, and select a course of treatment.

Diagnostics

Pharyngitis is not a difficult process to diagnose, but the same cannot be said about the treatment process. After examining the patient’s mouth and throat, the doctor sends him for examination:

• bacteriological (virological);
• pharyngoscopy;
• detection of antibodies in the blood.

The main difference between pharyngitis and tonsillitis is the appearance of symptoms that are not characteristic of a sore throat: runny nose, conjunctivitis, dry cough.

Types of inflammation of the pharynx, depending on:

Spicy:

• viral (often provoked by rhinovirus);
• fungal (caused by fungi such as Candida);
• bacterial (causative agent - mainly streptococci);
• traumatic (cause - mechanical, chemical or thermal damage to the mucous membrane);
• allergic (occurs from exposure to an allergen) pharyngitis. It develops rapidly with clearly visible symptoms.

Purulent pharyngitis is considered a dangerous form of the disease. The appearance of pus on the back wall of the pharynx precludes any self-medication. It is necessary to include antibiotics, which can only be selected by a doctor.

Chronic pharyngitis

Classification depending on changes in the mucosa:

• catarrhal (thickening and redness of the membrane, enlarged lymph nodes);
• granulosa (cluster of bright red granules),
• lateral (inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the lateral wall),
• atrophic (thinning, dryness, atrophy of the membrane),
• hypertrophic (significant damage to the structure - nodes and compactions) pharyngitis.

The subatrophic appearance is caused by digestive and nasopharyngeal disorders. This severe form of the disease (the last stage of pathology) leads to atrophy of the laryngeal mucosa after prolonged chronic pharyngitis.

Sclerosis of all protective layers of the larynx progresses and the mucous layer is replaced by atrophied connective tissue with the walls of the pharynx drying out and dense crusts forming. This causes painful and unpleasant symptoms.

Due to thickening of the walls, narrowing of blood vessels, a decrease in their number and atrophy of nerve endings, the swallowing process is disrupted.

Impaired pharyngeal reflexes lead to a serious impairment of quality of life (refusal of food due to difficulty and pain when swallowing) and the risk of developing cancer.

The patient must register with an otolaryngologist and have a mucosal biopsy done at least once a year. To prevent such complications, it is necessary not to shy away from treating diseases of the larynx and not to let chronic tonsillitis take its course. Treatment of atrophic pharyngitis is possible only to relieve symptoms; in the later stages, complete cure becomes unattainable.

The treatment process, which can be carried out on an outpatient basis, includes:

• exclusion from eating foods that irritate the walls of the throat (spicy, sour, too hot or cold);
• alcohol ban, smoking cessation;
• abundant drinking regimen (1.5-2 l/day) fruit drinks from berries, herbal decoctions;
• rinsing with solutions of Furacilin (iodinol), salt, soda with vegetable oil, antiseptic;
• irrigation of the pharynx with Ingalipt (Cameton), etc.;
• inhalation (soda with vegetable oil);
• lubrication (Lugol's solution in glycerin);
• antipyretic medications (Paracetamol, Aspirin);
• taking medications: antihistamines, with Lysozyme (Interferon), vitamin and mineral complexes;
• use of antibiotics (for bacterial pathogens) only as prescribed by a doctor (penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides).

Frequent relapses and inadequate treatment aggravate the chronic disease. Aggravating factors contribute to its transition to a more severe stage:

• long stay, work in a dusty, dry room;
• the need to breathe through the mouth when nasal breathing is impaired;
• frequent use of nasal sprays and drops;
• smoking (including passive smoking);
• chronic pathologies in the oral cavity (gums, teeth), nasopharynx (tonsils);
• hormonal disorders associated with pathologies of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland;
• excessive passion for spicy, sour, too hot/cold foods, strong alcohol;
• some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, hematopoietic system;
• congenital predisposition.

It takes a long time to treat, since without getting rid of these pathologies, complete restoration of the mucous membrane is impossible.

For more information about the treatment of pharyngitis, watch the video:

In the hypertrophic form, the lymphoid tissue on the walls of the pharynx is cauterized with cold, using cryotherapy, or with electric shock, using electrocoagulation. Treatment is aimed at eliminating dry walls and increasing mucus secretion. Physiotherapeutic procedures have a positive effect on mucosal restoration: ultraviolet irradiation, electrophoresis, laser, magnetic therapy, inductothermy.

With a subatrophic degree, long-term treatment is necessary, repeating courses 2-3 times a year and correcting concomitant pathologies in order to achieve an improvement in the condition of the throat mucosa: thin the mucus, increase the activity of the glands in order to at least partially restore the atrophying tissue.

Seeing a doctor in the early stages of the disease will greatly improve your chances of recovery.

Which doctor treats pharyngitis

Self-treatment of pharyngitis is not recommended; this requires qualified assistance from a specialist. An examination by an otorhinolaryngologist, a smear from the oropharynx for flora with determination of sensitivity to antibiotics and bacteriophages, and, if necessary, a consultation with a gastroenterologist are necessary. You can make an appointment with these specialists through a therapist.

Pharyngitis in children

Chronic pharyngitis is rarely observed in children. But the acute process of this pathology, due to the weakness and imperfection of the immune system, develops more rapidly and more often in children than in adults.

The cause may be viruses or bacteria. On the 2-3rd day after infection, hoarseness, cough, nasal congestion or runny nose, eye irritation, tearing, and a rash may occur. The child complains of dryness, sore throat, pain when swallowing.

Unlike a sore throat, with pharyngitis the inflammation does not affect the tonsils, but affects the back wall of the throat. There is a low temperature, swelling in the neck, swelling of the soft tissues of the throat.

With bacterial pharyngitis, in addition to a sore throat, the following may occur:

• swelling and redness of the throat;
• white-yellow spots on the tonsils;
• unpleasant breath odor;
• headache;
• abdominal pain, nausea;
• red rash on the chest, abdomen, rough to the touch.

Leave it to the doctor to find out the type of pathogen, and you should contact him as soon as possible. An initial examination will allow you to make a preliminary diagnosis. To clarify the type of pathogen, the doctor will take a throat swab, which will allow you to select an effective antibiotic if necessary.

Different types of pharyngitis are treated with specific medications.

You should not give your child medications, especially antibiotics, on your own.

Parents at the onset of the disease can be helped by universal home methods that will not harm and will alleviate the child’s condition before seeing a doctor.

Fresh garlic successfully fights viruses and fungi. You can add chopped garlic to food, tomato juice. To relieve pain symptoms, give your child warm soups and broths, oatmeal, potatoes, first crushed in a blender. Frozen popsicles and yoghurts soothe the pain.

Frequent gargling with a saline solution is recommended if the child knows how to do this (2 teaspoons of salt per 1 glass of warm water). Rinses and sprays can be purchased at the pharmacy. You can give herbal teas (coltsfoot, mint, plantain) with honey.

If your child has a stomach ache, distress, or vomiting, give your child fluids (sip small sips) at all times to avoid dehydration.

After reaching 17-18 years of age, the incidence of pharyngitis decreases sharply.

Sore throat is a serious and insidious disease that affects both children and adults. People who are ill do not always know who treats a sore throat - an ENT specialist or a therapist. To understand which doctor to contact first, you need to know the main signs of this disease.

By sore throat, patients often understand any disease that causes a sore throat. Doctors also think about this diagnosis when they notice white deposits in the oropharynx. It is in this area that the palatine tonsils are located - special organs that are a collection of lymphoid tissue. Their task is to combat microorganisms that penetrate through the upper respiratory tract. The inflammatory process in the palatine tonsils leads to the development of a disease called tonsillitis.

In this case, the patient will experience the following symptoms:

• Sore throat when swallowing.
• Redness of the throat, enlargement of the tonsils and the appearance of a white coating on them.
• Increase in temperature.

However, not every tonsillitis is a sore throat.

By sore throat itself, therapists and ENT doctors most often mean tonsillitis caused by a bacterium - group A β-hemolytic streptococcus. However, it can also be viral - for example, with infectious mononucleosis. Pediatricians also know such a disease as herpangina.

Sore throat is an acute inflammatory process in the tonsil area. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Sudden onset of the disease with rapid progression.
• High fever.
• Severe intoxication of the body.

With a sore throat, both the child and the adult will complain not only about pain when swallowing. The general condition suffers significantly, the state of health worsens, and severe weakness appears.

In addition, tonsillitis is a contagious disease, while ordinary tonsillitis can be caused by the tonsils’ own opportunistic microflora. Which doctor treats this pathology?

Diphtheria, like tonsillitis, manifests itself as plaque in the tonsil area. It is often difficult to visually distinguish them from those with angina. However, this disease is characterized by the following features:

• Symptoms of intoxication are less pronounced.
• Moderate pain in the throat and when swallowing.
• Plaques look like grayish films that are difficult to remove. May spread beyond the tonsils.
• In severe forms, swelling of the neck develops.

Diphtheria can be complicated by croup, a condition in which dense deposits block the airways and cause suffocation. Swelling of the tissues of the oropharynx and neck aggravates the patient's condition.

Diphtheria toxins also act on the nervous system and heart muscle, causing the development of fatal complications.

Due to large-scale vaccination coverage of most children, many doctors have not encountered this disease in practice. However, in recent years, against the background of the anti-vaccination movement, there has been an increase in the incidence of diphtheria, while alertness in this regard is weakly expressed.

If a therapist or pediatrician does not rule out diphtheria with a smear if a sore throat is suspected, you should consult another specialist.

Since the tonsils are involved in the inflammatory process and the disease is most often caused by a specific pathogen, different doctors can diagnose and treat tonsillitis. The following specialists most often encounter it:

• Therapist or pediatrician.
• ENT doctor (otolaryngologist).
• Infectious disease specialist.

With a mild form of the disease, it is not of particular practical importance which doctor treats this pathology. However, in the case of a severe variant or the development of complications, therapy should be carried out only by a specialized specialist.

Patients usually go to their local physician for any throat complaints. With a sore throat, the deterioration in well-being is often so severe that a doctor has to be called to the house.

As a rule, it is not a problem for a therapist or general practitioner (family doctor) to diagnose a sore throat and prescribe appropriate antibacterial therapy. In addition, he must take a swab from the patient’s oropharynx to exclude diphtheria.

The therapist monitors the treatment process and, if necessary, issues a certificate of incapacity for work for this disease. The pediatrician’s tactics when identifying this disease in a child are similar.

When do these doctors refer a patient to specialists? This is necessary in the following situations:

• If infectious mononucleosis or herpangina is suspected. In this case, it would be useful to consult an infectious disease specialist.
• With a significant enlargement of the tonsils, widespread spread of the pathological process.
• With the development of complications - for example, peritonsillar abscess. Such a patient requires treatment by an ENT doctor in a hospital setting.

When diagnosing a sore throat, it is very important for the pediatrician and therapist not to miss diphtheria.

Damage to the tonsils of any origin is the prerogative of the otolaryngologist. That is why you can safely turn to him for any sore throat. An ENT doctor treats tonsillitis, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis.

In most public clinics you cannot get to a specialist without going through a general practitioner or family doctor. However, if such an opportunity exists, it is better to take advantage of it.

The ENT specialist will conduct a detailed examination of the oropharynx, take smears and refer you for the necessary further examination.

Sometimes the therapists themselves refer such patients to an otolaryngologist. This happens in the absence or weak effect of antibiotic therapy, the development of complications, and the need for specific local treatment.

Also, ENT doctors can treat this pathology in a hospital setting. Typically, such a need arises in the event of purulent complications.

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx, the part of the throat that lies just behind the roof of the mouth and extends to the Adam's apple (larynx). The inflammation usually occurs when viruses (or sometimes bacteria) from a cold, flu, or sinus infection get into the throat.

With pharyngitis, the symptoms are a sore throat, a feeling of a “lump” and a sore throat that gets worse when swallowing, a dry cough, and an increase in temperature.

In most cases, a complete cure is possible, and the transition from an acute process to a chronic one is possible. Less commonly, serious complications may occur: rheumatic damage to the heart and joints.

Depending on what pathogen caused pharyngitis (virus or bacteria), treatment is prescribed, since bacterial inflammation must be treated with antibiotics, which are selected by the doctor, and viral inflammation goes away on its own and requires only symptomatic treatment.

This pathology very rarely occurs in isolation; it is mainly combined with acute inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. We will look at pharyngitis, symptoms and treatment of the disease in this article.

Reasons

In approximately 70% of cases, the cause of pharyngitis is a virus, the remaining 30% is shared by bacteria and pathogenic fungi, as well as allergens. Separately, traumatic damage can be distinguished. Such pharyngitis, the causes of which are listed above, is acute and has a very favorable prognosis for the patient.

The transition of the disease to a chronic form is observed during a long-term course of frequent (especially untreated) respiratory infections by the addition of bacterial inflammation to the primary viral infection.

To cure pharyngitis, you should stop smoking at the first symptoms and consult a doctor for advice.

Symptoms of pharyngitis

In the case of acute pharyngitis, symptoms include fever (slight or up to 37.5 degrees), dry throat, redness of the throat, and the presence of mucopurulent plaque on the walls of the throat (see photo).

When diagnosed, symptoms are not accompanied by fever. As a rule, there are complaints of soreness, a tickling, scratching or burning sensation in the throat, dry throat, pain when swallowing, dry cough, and the need to cough up thick and viscous mucus.

With pharyngitis, symptoms in adults can be combined with signs of a concomitant disease: , etc. Symptoms of acute pharyngitis are sometimes mistaken for (tonsillitis). It may get worse from time to time. Moreover, its symptoms manifest themselves similarly to those of the acute phase.

Signs of the atrophic type are expressed by severe dryness of the pharynx. Its mucous membrane is thinned, sometimes it is covered with dried mucus. Sometimes injected vessels are visible on the surface of the mucosa. The hypertrophic type is characterized by the presence of foci of hyperplastic lymphoid tissue on the posterior wall of the pharynx. The tubopharyngeal ridges may also become enlarged. In case of exacerbation of the disease, hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane are added to these symptoms.

Chronic pharyngitis in children is sometimes expressed not only by a constant dry cough, but also by the presence of wheezing. Therefore, during examination, the doctor must clearly differentiate this condition from bronchial asthma. How to treat pharyngitis will depend on the cause of its occurrence, so you should not self-medicate.

Pharyngitis in children

Pharyngitis is very severe in young children; this disease is especially dangerous for babies under one year old. Sometimes OF in children is accompanied by an increase in temperature up to 400. Due to a sore throat, the child refuses to eat. Swelling of the mucous membrane can cause symptoms of suffocation. The presence of a focus of inflammation in the pharynx in young children often leads to the development of acute otitis media.

An attempt at self-treatment can cause irreparable harm to the child’s fragile body. At the slightest suspicion of OF in a baby, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Factors contributing to the development of the chronic form

• constitutional features of the structure of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and the entire gastrointestinal tract;
• prolonged exposure to exogenous factors (dust, hot dry or smoky air, chemicals);
• difficulty breathing through the nose (breathing through the mouth, abuse of decongestants);
• smoking and alcohol abuse;
• allergy;
• endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism, etc.);
• vitamin deficiency A;
• , pulmonary, renal and .

Prevention

Avoid staying in dry, very dusty and smoky rooms, strictly exclude alcohol, smoking, hot and spicy foods, cold drinks and, of course, try to talk less. In the prevention and treatment of pharyngitis in adults, the elimination of various harmful factors that negatively affect the pharyngeal mucosa is of great importance.

Treatment of pharyngitis

First of all, treatment of pharyngitis involves eliminating the factor that provoked the disease. With the help of antibiotics, this is achieved in the case of a bacterial type of disease, and in the case of pharyngitis which was caused by prolonged inhalation of irritants or smoke, the use of personal protection methods or a change in work.

In case of acute and exacerbation of chronic pharyngitis, not accompanied by pronounced disorders of the general condition, symptomatic treatment is sufficient, including a gentle diet, hot foot baths, warm compresses on the front surface of the neck, milk with honey, steam inhalations and gargling.

1. You need to gargle at least 6 times a day, every hour if possible. For rinsing, use furatsilin, diluted 1:5000 or alkaline solutions.
2. Exclude irritating foods (hot, cold, sour, spicy, salty) from the diet. It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids up to 1.5-2 liters per day. Smoking should be stopped.
3. Combination preparations are used based on vegetable oils with the addition of antiseptics in the form of sprays (ingalipt, angilex, chlorophyllipt, etc.), which must be regularly applied to the inflamed mucous membrane of the pharyngeal cavity at least 3-4 times a day.
4. Lozenges containing sulfonamides (Septifril, Faringosept).
5. For a viral infection, taking antibiotics is not recommended; they are prescribed by a doctor only when a bacterial or fungal pathogen is identified.

For chronic pharyngitis, treatment begins with the sanitation of foci of chronic infection of the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. If ineffective, surgical sanitation is possible strictly according to indications. In hypertrophic forms, areas of hypertrophy (hyperplasia) must be cauterized, cryodestruction and laser coagulation must be used.

Antibiotics for acute pharyngitis are prescribed, as a rule, from the penicillin series. Less commonly, oral cephalosporins (cefazolin, ceftriaxone) can be used.

How to treat pharyngitis at home

Among the folk remedies for treating pharyngitis at home, the following are widely used:

1. It is recommended to inhale steamed potatoes or rinse with fresh potato juice.
2. Gargling, inhalation with herbs: chamomile, sage, calendula, eucalyptus.
3. To restore the mucous membrane, which is necessary for subatrophic pharyngitis, it is good to lubricate the throat with rosehip or peach oil.
4. Home treatment for pharyngitis with propolis. 30 drops of 30% propolis tincture in 0.5 cups of warm water - use for rinsing. This folk remedy is best used to treat acute forms of the disease.
5. As an antipyretic for pharyngitis, you can use linden decoction, raspberry tea, and wild strawberry.
6. Warming drink of warm milk with honey, hot (but not scalding!) tea with lemon, or chamomile tea;
7. A blackberry leaf is brewed with a glass of boiling water. This decoction is good for gargling; it is effective for inflammation of the oral mucosa (oral mucosa): pharyngitis, bleeding gums, tonsillitis, laryngitis, etc.

Proven folk remedies for pharyngitis are good because they provide a gentle effect on the body, increasing local and general resistance.