Pharyngitis treatment in children 3. Acute pharyngitis in children: symptoms and treatment. How dangerous is the disease?


Pharyngitis- inflammation of the lymphoid tissue and mucous membrane of the pharynx. It can be diagnosed in a child of any age. Requires drug treatment because acute course may turn into chronic stage. Prevention involves eliminating factors that can cause the disease. Symptoms depend on individual characteristics small organism and condition immune system. Since pharyngitis occurs quite often in children, it is useful for parents to know as much information as possible about this disease.

A child won’t just develop pharyngitis on its own. There are a number of factors that provoke inflammation of the pharynx. You need to know them in order to accurately determine what causes this disease in order to be able to avoid them next time. It can be:

  • inhalation of cold, hot or polluted air is the main cause of pharyngitis;
  • the influence of various chemical irritations: if the child’s respiratory organs, for example, are in constant contact with gases, tobacco smoke, spicy food, dust;
  • the effect of harmful microorganisms (staphylo-, strepto-, diplo-, pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella, Corynebacterium diphtheria);
  • viruses (influenza, adenovirus, enterovirus, herpes) - in this case, viral pharyngitis is diagnosed in children, which is treated mainly with antibiotics;
  • mushrooms of the genus Candida;
  • intracellular agents (microplasma, chlamydia);
  • spread of infection beyond the focus of inflammation, which is too close to the pharynx (diseases such as rhinitis, caries, stomatitis, tonsillitis), herpes pharyngitis especially often occurs in children, when infection from the lips affects the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx;
  • ARVI, infectious mononucleosis, measles, scarlet fever.
  • genetic predisposition;
  • tendency to allergic reactions;
  • chronic sinus diseases;
  • hypovitaminosis (most often retinol deficiency);
  • endocrine disorders ( diabetes, hypothyroidism);
  • abnormal development or trauma (mechanical damage) of the nasal septum;
  • thermal and chemical burns pharyngeal mucosa;
  • the child’s constant stay in a room with low humidity;
  • problems with the gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidneys.

Depending on the causes of the disease, two stages of its course are distinguished. If the mucous membrane of the pharynx is directly affected by any of the factors mentioned above, acute pharyngitis develops in children, which is successfully treated with medication. If the disease was detected too late or not fully treated, the child may develop chronic pharyngitis due to too long irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa. This can lead to serious consequences - atrophic and granular pharyngitis, which may require surgical intervention. To prevent this, it is advisable to identify the disease as quickly as possible, promptly recognizing it by its symptoms.

Symptoms and signs

Depending on the stage and nature of the disease, the symptoms of pharyngitis in children may vary. Parents can only notice them and assume that the child has problems with the respiratory system. An accurate diagnosis is made exclusively by a doctor after a thorough examination and analysis results. The symptoms of the disease are very similar to tonsillitis and tonsillitis. The main symptoms of pharyngitis include:

  • burning, soreness, dryness, pain, rawness in the throat, which intensifies when swallowing;
  • hoarseness of voice;
  • dry, painful, but shallow cough;
  • Usually the temperature with pharyngitis in children fluctuates between 37.5–38 ° C, it rises above the last mark extremely rarely, and may be within normal limits;
  • when examining the throat, pronounced hyperemia (redness) and even small ulcers on the surface of the pharyngeal mucosa are revealed;
  • pharyngitis in infants is much more severe and is accompanied by the following symptoms: a pronounced fever may begin, sleep is disturbed, loss of appetite, dyspepsia (indigestion), salivation (excessive salivation), runny nose, rash on the body are observed;
  • bacterial form of the disease childhood often complicated by development purulent otitis or mediastinitis, retropharyngeal abscess;
  • atrophic pharyngitis in children is rarely diagnosed, its main symptom is a pale, dry, thinned mucous membrane of the pharynx with translucent vessels, difficult to remove, dried crusts;
  • the fungal type of disease is accompanied by the formation of cracks and erosions in the corners of the mouth, enlargement of the posterior cervical lymph nodes, and the appearance of a cheesy coating on the back wall pharynx;
  • granulosa pharyngitis in a child is characterized by the formation of red plaques on the surface of the pharynx and purulent follicles, secretion of viscous, thick mucus in the mouth, which can constantly provoke vomiting.

Symptoms chronic disease, as a rule, are less pronounced, but intensify in the acute stage. In some cases, the signs of pharyngitis in children are very similar to clinical picture the occurrence of sore throat or tonsillitis. Having made a mistake in diagnosing the disease, parents often begin to incorrectly treat their children at home, which leads to complications and undesirable consequences. Therefore, it is so important to consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations if your child has been diagnosed with pharyngitis.

Drug treatment

After diagnosis (examination of the pharynx and a smear from it), the doctor prescribes drug treatment pharyngitis in children, which usually depends on the stage and type of disease. All instructions and recommendations of a specialist must be followed strictly so that the inflammation is treated as much as possible. short time. Any amateur activity is fraught with complications for the child’s health in the future, so it is imperative to complete the entire course of therapy from beginning to end. Usually, medications such as:

  • Rinse

Various gargles antiseptic solutions: furatsilin and iodine (2 drops per glass of water), soda, table salt(1 tsp), potassium permanganate (bring to a faint pink color), hydrogen peroxide (1 tbsp), validol (1 tablet), apple cider vinegar(1 tbsp), calendula in alcohol (1 tsp), Rotocan (1 tsp), Romazulan (½ tsp);

  • Antibiotics

Antibiotics for pharyngitis in children are prescribed only if its nature is viral, bacterial, infectious: drugs are usually prescribed local action(Bioparox, Hexoral, Biseptol), less often - for oral use (Ampicillin);

  • Laser exposure

Sometimes laser treatment is performed on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, shading radio wave method, cryodestruction of side ridges and granules, cauterization with silver nitrate - such therapy is prescribed for advanced disease;

  • Sprays

Doctors actively prescribe drugs for pharyngitis in children, such as antiseptic sprays for spraying the throat - Yox, Givalex, Ingalipt, Hexasprey, Kameton, Propasol;

  • Solutions

Treatment of purulent granules of the pharynx with Lugol, Protargol, propolis;

  • Lollipops

Lollipops, lozenges, sucking tablets with antibacterial, analgesic, softening effects: Falimint, Laripront, Strepsils, Faringosept, Angisept, Septolete, Neo-Angin, Faringopils, Imudon, Doctor Theis, Imudon - according to many parents, this is a favorite medicine for pharyngitis in children, as they are pleasant to the taste and are accepted with pleasure even by the youngest patients;

  • Inhalations

For atrophic inflammation, oil inhalations, climatotherapy, and instillation of nasal drops are used;

  • Antimycotic drugs

Pharyngomycosis is treated with antifungal drugs (Amphotericin, Diflucan, Nizoral, Itraconazole), lubrication and irrigation of the pharynx with antifungal solutions, OKUF therapy (short-wave ultraviolet radiation);

  • Miramistin

Miramistin has proven itself to be effective for pharyngitis in children: minimum contraindications and side effects, antiseptic effect, is available in the form of a convenient spray, can be used from 3 years of age, and most importantly, this drug enhances antibiotic therapy despite the fact that Miramistin itself is not an antibiotic;

  • Endopharyngeal instillation

For infants, endopharyngeal instillation of antiseptics is performed;

  • Operative therapy

Sometimes treatment of granular pharyngitis in a child is carried out promptly: areas of the overgrown pharyngeal mucosa and purulent granules are targeted with a laser, while the surrounding healthy surface is not damaged;

  • Antimicrobial therapy

If there is a threat of bacterial complications, systemic antimicrobial therapy is prescribed.

The most controversial point in this issue is the treatment of pharyngitis in children with antibiotics, since it does not go away without leaving a trace: immunity is reduced, and the functioning of some internal organs is disrupted. However, systemic antibiotics are prescribed extremely rarely in this case, when there is a serious danger to the child’s health. In most cases, the doctor limits himself to sprays with antibacterial properties, the harm from which is minimal. To help with the basic treatment of the disease, the doctor can sometimes advise how to treat pharyngitis in a child at home using traditional recipes.

Treatment with folk remedies

Parents need to understand that treatment of pharyngitis in children with folk remedies can only be carried out with the permission of a doctor as an additional therapy to the main course. Independent use of herbs, bee products and other products traditional medicine could turn around undesirable consequences for the health of the child. Treatment at home can be carried out only after consultation with a specialist. He can recommend the following recipes, which, if used correctly, will speed up recovery.

  1. Honey compress on feet

Bring natural Bee Honey until liquid warm state using a steam bath. Lubricate your child's feet generously and wrap them in several layers of gauze or bandage. It would be nice to wear woolen socks on top. The duration of action is half an hour. Do it daily. The course of treatment is until complete recovery.

  1. Herbs

The treatment of acute pharyngitis in children with herbs has proven itself to be excellent. With their help, gargles are made that reduce pain, relieve inflammation, and relieve general state child. For this purpose, you can use decoctions and infusions of chamomile flowers, lavender, black elderberry, sage herbs, eucalyptus, mint, oregano, oak bark, burdock, raspberries, mallow, coltsfoot, marshmallow, sweet clover, flax seeds, calamus root , which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Rinse 3-4 times daily until recovery.

  1. Vodka compress on the neck

Soak gauze (it can be replaced with any cotton cloth) in vodka, apply it to the child’s neck, cover with cellophane, then with a thick layer of cotton wool, strengthen the compress by tying a scarf or scarf. Action time - 2 hours. Do it daily. The course of treatment is 3–4 days.

  1. Garlic

Add to glass tomato juice(he should be room temperature) two crushed cloves of garlic. Drink every afternoon for a week. Be careful: for this folk method Treatment of pharyngitis has contraindications - any stomach problems.

  1. Potato steam inhalations

Boil fresh, peeled potatoes. You need to bend over a pan that has just been removed from the heat, without a lid (but not too low to prevent burns) respiratory tract). Cover your head with a terry towel or scarf. Action time: 5–7 minutes. Do it daily. The course of treatment is 3–4 days.

  1. Mustard foot baths

In 5 liters of warm (almost hot) water, dissolve 100–200 grams of fresh mustard powder. You need to lower the legs into a basin with such water and warm them for 15–20 minutes. During the procedure, you can constantly add hot water. It is recommended to do daily before bed. However, such a procedure is contraindicated if the child’s pharyngitis occurs with an elevated temperature.

Now you know how to treat pharyngitis in a child: according to the doctor’s prescription, medications, and also as an auxiliary therapy - folk remedies. If used correctly, recovery will be quick and the disease will not leave any traces behind. And remember: prevention is always much easier than treatment. Therefore, do everything to ensure that your baby never gets pharyngitis again. This is entirely possible thanks to effective and regular preventive measures.

Prevention

To prevent pharyngitis, you need regular, systematic prevention, which consists of the following disease-preventing measures:

  • prevent hypothermia or overheating of the small organism;
  • try to prevent the baby from breathing polluted air;
  • eliminate constant contact of the respiratory system with gases, tobacco smoke, dust, and spicy foods;
  • strengthen the immune system in every possible way (provide it Fresh air, proper nutrition, good sleep, favorable psychological atmosphere, etc.) to weaken the effect of microorganisms, viruses, fungal infections, intracellular agents on the body;
  • treat any diseases in a timely manner;
  • regularly carry out vitamin therapy;
  • try to avoid injury ( mechanical damage) nasal septum;
  • provide indoors normal level humidity;
  • to prevent exacerbations of chronic pharyngitis are carried out preventive actions for the rehabilitation of infectious foci (treatment of rhinitis, sinusitis, resection of the nasal septum, adenotomy), restoration of nasal breathing, therapy of gastrointestinal diseases, elimination of caries.

To ensure that your child is healthy and never finds out what pharyngitis is, follow these tips, promptly seek help from doctors, and follow them exactly professional recommendations. This is not a disease that can be treated relying only on grandma’s recipes. Avoid possible complications and serious consequences for children's health through regular preventive measures.

Pharyngitis can be caused by a number of reasons. The most famous of them:

  1. Bacteria. Most often, the mucous membranes and lymphoid tissue are affected by pneumococci and streptococci.
  2. Viruses. The activators of the problem in this case are adenoviruses or influenza.
  3. Mushrooms. may be caused by a fungal infection called candida.
  4. Complications of other diseases. A number of diseases of the nasopharynx and adjacent organs, in particular rhinitis, and even caries, in advanced stages, activate the development of pharyngitis.
  5. Physiological reasons. The disease may not be of an infectious nature, in particular, it can be induced by the influence of chemical irritants on the body, inhalation of very cold, hot or dirty air.
  6. Allergy. Natural and drug allergies also provoke the development of pharyngitis.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of pharyngitis in children usually include:

  1. Severe pain and, especially during food consumption and swallowing.
  2. High temperature, usually between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius.
  3. Lack of appetite and severe lethargy.

The younger your baby is, the more severe the symptoms of pharyngitis will be. This disease is especially dangerous in a child under one year of age, since it causes swelling of the mucous membrane, which ultimately, taking into account the underdevelopment respiratory system may cause throat spasms and...

Types of pharyngitis

Acute pharyngitis

This type of disease develops rapidly and immediately after the mucous membrane of the throat is damaged by an infection or an irritating factor. In this case, a high temperature immediately rises, and a full “bouquet” of the above-described symptoms is observed.

Chronic pharyngitis

The chronic form of pharyngitis almost never forms on its own and is either transitional process between the acute phase of the above-mentioned disease, or a consequence of constant irritation of the mucous membranes by an unfavorable factor. Chronic pharyngitis has phases of remission with temporary disappearance of symptoms and exacerbations, similar in clinical manifestations for the acute form of the disease.

Granular pharyngitis

With granulosa pharyngitis, not only the mucous membrane, but also the lymphoid tissue is severely affected, resulting in the formation of peculiar “red nodules” on the back wall of the pharynx, formed from the altered structure of the epithelium. These "pellets" are very annoying trigeminal nerve, the mucous membranes become very dry, fibrosis of other tissues in the pharynx and atrophy of the glands are also observed.

Atrophic pharyngitis

The last stage of development of untreated pharyngitis is characterized by a strong pathogenic change in the glandular, lymphoid and mucous apparatus of the pharynx. Hypotrophy of such structures leads to serious complications not only with accompanying organs, but also negatively affects the intestines and stomach.

The symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis should be distinguished - they are similar in symptoms, however, the infection in these two cases is localized in different places. Strong chest cough and coughing at night usually indicates the manifestation of symptoms of bronchitis - the infection descends lower and affects the associated parts of the respiratory apparatus.

Treatment of pharyngitis in children

It will not be possible to cure pharyngitis in a child with just a miracle spray or magic sucking tablets, especially if the disease is advanced and is at the final stage of development. Act systematically and correctly!

In children 1-12 months

In very young children, pharyngitis is very painful, and it is also quite problematic to use rinsing in this case, since the child simply does not know how to do it. It is extremely undesirable to carry out any activities on your own, since you can harm the baby’s fragile body. In case of acute pharyngitis, it is necessary to urgently seek qualified medical help.

If a baby's pharyngitis occurs in mild form, there is no high temperature and there are no contraindications for use, then you can put a honey-mustard compress on your child’s throat.

It is also worth giving your baby plenty of warm liquids to drink. Ventilate and humidify the rooms where the baby is constantly located. The affected throat can be moistened with antiseptic agents that do not contain alcohol, menthol and other irritants. If they are not available, grind one Faringosept tablet into dust, dip the pacifier in the ground mixture and let the child suck. Maximum dose however, it should not exceed ¼ tablet, no more three times in a day.

In children 1-2 years old

In children of this age, pharyngitis is also severe, but not as intense as in infants. They also need to be given drinking plenty of fluids, apply compresses in the absence of contraindications, and also carry out inhalations, preferably with a nebulizer, using active substance, saline solution or Borjomi water.

At this age, you can already start using antiseptic sprays - these are Givalex and Yox: they disinfect the affected throat and promote a speedy recovery. In addition, the room where the child is constantly located must be regularly ventilated and ensure normal humidity.

For children over 3 years old

With the onset of the disease, the child needs bed rest and drinking plenty of alkali. Try to organize a diet that is gentle on the body, remove as much as possible all sweet, sour and fried foods, saturating your diet with fruits.

For pharyngitis, honey compresses on the feet, as well as hot foot baths, help. It is rational to carry out inhalations both using a nebulizer and using classic decoctions of medicinal mixtures.

From the age of three, children already know how to gargle - both with special antiseptic medicinal liquids and mixtures prepared independently: dissolve two drops of iodine and furatsilin in 300 milliliters of warm boiled water, then bring the temperature to room temperature and let the child gargle by typing in mouth the liquid, throwing his head back, sticking out his tongue, opening his mouth wide and saying “ahh”.

In addition, as an alternative, use antiseptic sprays in the throat - these are iodine-based Yox and Givalex. If your child already knows how to dissolve tablets, then it is recommended to give him lozenges and tablets against pharyngitis: Faringosept, Septolete, Angisept, etc.

Antibiotics for pharyngitis in children

A separate dispute between doctors and parents is the need to use antibiotics for pharyngitis. Enough a large number of cases of such a disease can actually be cured without resorting to extensive antibacterial therapy, however, in particularly difficult cases one cannot do without it, especially when it comes to a threat to the life of a child or an advanced stage of the disease, up to atrophy of the mucous membrane.

In this case, the best of possible options will use non-antibiotics wide range actions, and local funds, which do not have such a negative impact on your child’s liver, kidneys and heart. In addition, for the antibiotic to be truly effective in such a situation, it is worth taking it together with corticosteroids, also for local use.

The most popular drugs of this type used in the treatment of pharyngitis are Bioparox, Biseptol, Hexoral.

Prevention

Basic measures to prevent pharyngitis:

  1. Maintain normal humidity in the premises, especially in the autumn-winter period.
  2. Drive your child through dusty and gas-polluted areas as little as possible.
  3. Don't smoke around your child.
  4. During the onset of seasonal epidemics, take multivitamin complexes, give the baby interferon and homeopathic medicines, increasing immunity. For preventive purposes, take daily evening inhalations with infusions of rose hips, chamomile and sea buckthorn, as well as Borjomi water.
  5. If possible, begin to harden your child.

Useful video

Dr. Komarovsky talks about the dangers of pharyngitis in children, as well as methods of treating it.

What happens to our throat during pharyngitis? Our throat consists of 3 sections: upper, middle and lower. When the infection affects the mucous membrane upper section, its inflammation and irritation occurs, the child begins to suffer: dry throat, severe sore throat, pain during swallowing, hoarseness, hoarseness.

Reasons for the development of pharyngitis in childhood

  • the most common are viral pharyngitis - more than 50%; respiratory viruses (influenza, parainfluenza, adeno- and rhinoviruses) usually cause pharyngitis. But there are also bacterial pharyngitis (stepto-, staphylo- and pneumococci), which are more often complicated by other diseases. Fungi can also be the cause;
  • There are also pharyngitis associated with physical damage to the pharyngeal mucosa;
  • pharyngitis also appears due to daily inhalation of dust;
  • pharyngitis associated with allergies;
  • In children, pharyngitis often appears due to chronic adenoiditis, when discharge, flowing down the back wall of the pharynx, constantly irritates its mucous membrane. When the throat cools down when consuming cold lemonades or ice cream, local immunity decreases, and as a result pharyngitis develops;
  • often pharyngitis becomes a secondary disease against the background of gastroesophageal reflux, when gastric contents are thrown into the pharynx and it burns.

Basic and specific symptoms of pharyngitis in children

If pharyngitis is independent disease, then the body temperature does not increase. The temperature will rise if the underlying disease is a viral infection, and its symptom is pharyngitis. With viral pharyngitis, the back wall of the pharynx is very bright, and swelling is noted. With a bacterial or fungal infection, the back wall also turns red, but white-yellow spots and an unpleasant odor appear on the tonsils. It is also possible that the submandibular and anterior cervical lymph nodes become enlarged and become painful when palpated.

The cough with pharyngitis is usually dry and of little productivity. It usually occurs on the 2nd day after the child is infected. Then a runny nose appears. For the first 2 to 3 days, the cough occurs due to reflex irritation of the dry lining of the throat. If there is severe swelling of the throat, the pain can spread to the ears and there will be a feeling of stuffiness.

Infants tolerate pharyngitis worse - their health worsens due to general symptoms: increased temperature, bad sleep, refusal to eat, severe drooling, regurgitation, runny nose, conjunctivitis.

Symptoms of allergic pharyngitis include rhinitis or swelling of the nasal mucosa.

Complications viral infection can become sore throat, tracheitis, laryngitis, pneumonia.

Differences between viral pharyngitis and sore throat

What features does chronic pharyngitis have?

The source of chronic pharyngitis is opportunistic bacteria of the oral cavity, which become more active when local and general immunity decreases. The main predisposing factor for chronic pharyngitis is untreated or inadequately treated acute pharyngitis. With chronic pharyngitis, one anatomical part of the pharynx is affected, and the neighboring ones are not included; the child’s well-being is almost never disturbed. There are no signs of intoxication, the temperature almost does not rise. The main symptoms are dry throat, lump in the throat, coughing. Due to daily itching, a dry, obsessive cough occurs, which becomes productive over time. Chronic streptococcal pharyngitis causes complications on the heart, kidneys, and thyroid gland.

Diagnosis criteria

  • the doctor collects complaints and medical history;
  • the doctor performs pharyngoscopy - visually examines the pharynx, in which the condition of the mucous membrane of its posterior wall is assessed;
  • laboratory research: clinical analysis blood;
  • to determine the causative agent of the disease, the doctor prescribes a throat swab to isolate the microflora and its sensitivity to antibiotics; or PCR;
  • for recurring pharyngitis:

— endoscopic examination nose and nasopharynx;

— consultation with an allergist (exclude allergic cause diseases);

— consultation with a gastroenterologist (exclude reflux disease).

How to properly examine a child's throat

For a thorough examination of the throat, daylight or artificial lighting is not enough; you should resort to a flashlight or lamp with warm light. To examine the throat, you will need a wooden spatula or something resembling it, such as a spoon handle. It is necessary to press not on the root, but on the end or middle of the tongue.

Picture of acute pharyngitis: inflammation soft palate, the presence of red walls of the pharynx and an increase in lymphoid follicles on its posterior wall. If the back wall is loose, there is also an increase in follicles, but there is no noticeable redness, then this symptom indicates chronic pharyngitis. If the back wall has a thin, dryish appearance, it is pale, and vessels are visible on it, then this is atrophic pharyngitis.

Treatment of pharyngitis in children

First of all, parents should go to the pediatrician. If cases of pharyngitis recur, if not all symptoms disappear after therapy, you should go to an otolaryngologist.

1. Home mode.

2. Avoid contact with infectious patients.

3. Compliance with personal hygiene rules: personal dishes, personal towel.

4. Warm, light food.

Diet for pharyngitis

Refusal of seeds and products containing them. From nuts and products containing them. Cold lemonades, from very sour, very cold, very hot, smoked, peppery and salty, because all this irritates the mucous membrane of the pharynx.

5. Ventilation and wet cleaning.

6. Since the main symptom is a feeling of dry throat, it needs to be constantly moistened. Therefore, plenty of warm drinks are prescribed: berry fruit drinks, tea with lemon, milk with honey and butter, mineral water, without gas.

Complex treatment helps more effectively with pharyngitis. Children should gargle, irrigate, and dissolve the tablets.

7. Treatment is determined by the source of the disease. Antibiotics for pharyngitis are not indicated unless a bacterial infection has occurred and a complication has not developed. In case of a viral infection, you should start giving antiviral drugs (Anaferon, Ergoferon, Isoprinosine, Ingavirin). For fungal infections, antifungal drugs are prescribed.

8. Children over 3 years old should often gargle with antiseptic solutions: Miramistin, Chlorhexedine, furatsilin, alcohol solution Chlorophyllipta. Repeat every 2 hours.

If there is no allergy, you can use herbal decoctions for rinsing (chamomile, calendula, sage, propolis tincture). The solution should be prepared at the rate of 10 grams of dry matter per glass of boiled water. Gargle for 5 minutes every hour.

It is most effective to treat pharyngitis comprehensively; the use of traditional medicines alone often leads to complications. Children with allergies should be given iodine and honey containing medications with caution.

9. Local irrigation of the throat with antiseptic solutions and antibacterial agents in the form of an aerosol. Sprays used: Miramistin, Ingalipt, Tantum-Verde, Kameton, Hexoral. It is important to alternate rinsing with sprays, since by rinsing you do not reach the back wall of the throat, but the spray copes with this.

10. Lozenges: Lizobakt, Gramidin, Strepsils, Faringosept. It should be dissolved 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after meals and in between other methods of treating the throat.

11. Moisturizing the mucous membrane of the oropharynx using a nebulizer: you can use saline yourself. solution.

12. When coughing, it is better to use herbal syrups (Gerbion - plantain syrup, Linkas, Bronchipret). If it greatly torments the child and prevents him from falling asleep, you can give him an antitussive drug (Sinekod, Codelac Neo).

13. For pharyngolaryngitis the following is prescribed:

  • voice rest;
  • limit communication, exclude whispered speech, shouting, telephone conversations.

If a child has a tendency to laryngospasms, an inhaler should be in the house so that if stenosis occurs, parents can inhale themselves with a glucocorticoid (Pulmicort, Budenit) until the ambulance arrives.

  • antihistamines to relieve swelling.

In cases of acute pharyngitis, children usually recover within 7 to 14 days. Chronic pharyngitis in children should either be treated symptomatically on a regular basis or resort to surgical treatment. In case of obvious hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue, laser cauterization granules, radio wave treatment, cryotherapy.

If pharyngitis recurs often or is not cured for a long time, this is an indicator to search for the real causes of the disease; in addition, pharyngitis is rarely an independent disease, and often concomitant diseases are adenoiditis, tonsillitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Prevention of pharyngitis

Prevention of pharyngitis consists of hardening, increasing immunity, vaccination against infections, creating an optimal microclimate in the house, full, rich in vitamins food. Sanitation of outbreaks chronic infection: caries, chronic tonsillitis, treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

Remember that you should not treat yourself; know that only a doctor, after a professional examination, prescribes medicine, taking into account all the characteristics of the child.

It's called pharyngitis inflammatory process, affecting the mucous and lymphoid tissues of the pharynx. This disease is often diagnosed in childhood and usually does not pose a serious threat to health. Treatment of pharyngitis in children is based on therapy aimed at strengthening general and local protective functions body, as well as to reduce the severity accompanying symptoms disease. The disease in childhood most often occurs as a result of hypothermia or under the influence of pathogenic microorganisms.

Causes and symptoms

A sore throat can be infectious or non-infectious.

Among the main symptoms accompanying the disease in childhood are the following:

  • burning, feeling foreign object in the throat;
  • swelling of the mucous membrane of the throat and back of the palate;
  • enlargement of the upper cervical lymph nodes;
  • rhinitis;
  • hoarseness, soreness;
  • increased body temperature;
  • dry cough;
  • fatigue, loss of appetite.

Intoxication of the body with pharyngitis is usually not significant, so children over six years of age, who have previously encountered a similar infection, tolerate the disease more easily than children infancy, for which there is a high probability of developing complications.

If pharyngitis occurs in children and treatment is not started in a timely manner, then there is a risk of complications developing and the disease progressing to the chronic stage, which is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • the appearance of a viscous secretion in the nasopharynx;
  • constantly sore throat;
  • emergence occasional dryness and burning sensation in the nasopharynx;
  • frequent relapses of the disease under the influence of unfavorable factors.

Important! If pharyngitis in a child is not treated, complications may arise in the form of bronchitis, otitis, adenoids and other serious diseases.

Treatment

Most often, to make a correct diagnosis, it is enough for a pediatrician to conduct an examination and analyze complaints. However, sometimes to confirm the diagnosis, determine the type pathogenic microorganism that caused the disease, it is necessary to additionally donate blood and urine, and a throat swab for bacterial culture. Depending on the causes of the disease, the pediatrician chooses a method for treating pharyngitis in children.

  1. If a viral cause of pharyngitis is determined, the inflammation is treated with antiviral drugs allowed for children (interferon preparations, Arbidol, Remantadine, Anaferon).
  2. If a bacterial infection occurs during the course of the disease, then further therapy for pharyngitis should be carried out using antibiotics (Sumamed, Augmentin).
  3. For decreasing pain in the nasopharynx, special antiseptic sprays, tablets, and lozenges are used (Chlorophyllipt, Miramistin, Ingalipt, Tantum Verde, Lizobakt, Septefril).
  4. Local ones are also effective. antibacterial drugs in the form of sprays (Bioparox, Hexasprey).

Important! Most of antiseptic drugs for the throat in the form of sprays is contraindicated under the age of three years, as their use can cause nausea or a feeling of a lump in the throat.

  1. If the temperature rises above 38 degrees, then it is necessary to use antipyretic drugs (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen in accordance with age-specific dosages).
  2. Drinking a sufficient amount of liquid allows you to moisturize the nasopharyngeal mucosa and reduce the level of intoxication. For this purpose, compotes and teas are used using medicinal herbs(chamomile, sage), fruit drinks, regular boiled water. It is important that the liquid is not too hot or cold, sour freshly squeezed juices (orange, lemon) should also be excluded.
  3. A gentle diet is also indicated: the child should be offered soft porridge-like food, pureed vegetable puree, crushed soup, and broth. Spicy, salty, smoked foods are contraindicated. It is also necessary to exclude cold and hot foods and drinks.
  4. Maintain optimal climatic conditions in the room where the child is. The air temperature should not exceed twenty degrees, humidity should be maintained at 50-70%. You can achieve the desired indicators by ventilating the room, frequent wet cleaning, and using a humidifier.

Excess medicines often causes the development of dysbiosis in the oral cavity and an increase in the number of dangerous bacteria.

Rinsing

Gargling is an effective remedy for eliminating infections in the nasopharynx, this procedure useful in complex therapy pharyngitis. As medicinal solutions can be used:

  • Decoctions of herbs such as chamomile, sage, plantain, calendula, elecampane. To prepare the product, twenty grams of dry matter is poured into a glass of boiling water, infused, filtered and used for rinsing several times a day until the symptoms completely disappear.
  • Soda- saline solution with added iodine is also good remedy for treating a throat. It is not difficult to prepare such a product: per liter drinking water take five grams of salt, soda and two drops of iodine. All components are mixed well and the procedure is carried out.

Important! For children, it is necessary to use preparations containing iodine with caution, as such products may cause Negative influence on the functioning of the thyroid gland.

When rinsing, the following rules should be observed:

If a child does not know how to gargle or is afraid of this procedure, then pediatricians recommend irrigating the throat with these solutions using a spray bottle or instilling a saline solution into the nasal passages.

Traditional methods of treatment

Subject to general recommendations: drinking enough fluids, maintaining optimal level humidity and temperature in the room, as well as proper diet in the treatment of uncomplicated pharyngitis, the use of traditional medicine methods is sufficient.

  1. Beetroot juice can be used as effective remedy for rinsing and in the form of nasal drops. To do this, the vegetable is washed, peeled, grated and the juice is squeezed out. The resulting product can be stored for no more than a day in the refrigerator.
  2. Propolis is powerful natural antiseptic. This tool used as a disinfectant for various diseases organs of the nasopharynx. Propolis solution can be used both for rinsing and as a means for irrigating the pharynx. As a treat, small children can be offered to chew a piece of propolis, or moisten a piece of refined sugar with the solution.
  3. Essential oils (eucalyptus, tea tree, fir, sea buckthorn, peach) are used for instillation into the nose. These products have a long-lasting moisturizing effect on the nasopharyngeal mucosa, preventing drying out during a long night's sleep.
  4. Cup warm milk with a teaspoon of honey helps moisturize the throat mucosa and soften dry cough.
  5. Inhalation over warm steam using infusions of medicinal herbs, essential oils, alkaline water, have an antiseptic effect, help moisturize the mucous membrane, and eliminate pain.

Important! Before using essential oils and bee products to treat a child, you must ensure that there are no allergic reactions.

The throat is sore and raw, it hurts to swallow, and a low temperature is a sign of pharyngitis. In this disease, inflammation affects the back wall of the pharynx, but does not affect the tonsils, unlike tonsillitis. You can get pharyngitis after hypothermia; it is often a component of acute respiratory infections along with a runny nose. The most common cause is viruses, but bacterial pharyngitis also occurs. If everything is done correctly, then this disease passes quickly and unnoticed by the child’s body.

Causes of pharyngitis

Most cases of pharyngitis are caused by viruses that enter the pharyngeal mucosa. How the disease progresses depends on the condition local immunity: The virus can take hold in the tonsils, causing tonsillitis, or can only affect the pharynx - pharyngitis. If the virus came from the nose, having previously disabled it, doctors call it “ nasopharyngitis».

Sometimes pharyngitis is caused by bacteria such as streptococcus or mycoplasma (rarely). In this case, its course may become longer, the symptoms more pronounced, and the temperature high. If the doctor detects streptococcus, the child will need to be given antibiotics. But you shouldn’t do this if you have viral diseases!

Symptoms of pharyngitis

The classic symptoms of pharyngitis are a sore throat and pain when swallowing. Middle-aged children often complain about this. Infants, unfortunately, cannot tell their mother that they are hurting, but they become more capricious, sleep poorly, and cough.

A cough may accompany pharyngitis as a symptom, but if the inflammation is limited to the pharynx, it will never be severe. Rather, it can be called the word “coughing.” Coughing indicates that the infection has gone lower - causing tracheitis, laryngitis or bronchitis.

How to distinguish pharyngitis from sore throat

The sore throat with pharyngitis is moderate and appears only when swallowing food (not water), especially hot or hard food. It is not pain that is constantly present, but an unpleasant sensation in the throat - “soreness”. With sore throat, unlike pharyngitis, the pain in the throat is constant, and when swallowing it intensifies, and it does not matter what the child is trying to swallow - food or water.

The next important difference between pharyngitis and sore throat is the dynamics of body temperature. When the tonsils are affected, it rises quickly and high, sometimes up to 40 degrees, and often white coating appears the next day. And pharyngitis usually begins with a sore throat, and only then, or at the same time, the temperature rises slightly. It is worth noting that when streptococcal tonsillitis The temperature can also rise very high.

In general, pharyngitis in pure form is quite rare. It is usually combined with a runny nose and acute respiratory infections.

How is pharyngitis diagnosed?

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor must examine the child's throat. With pharyngitis it is moderately red, the tonsils are not enlarged. The back of the pharynx may be granular. At bacterial infection Pus may appear on it, but this happens quite rarely.
Tests for pharyngitis are usually not needed. They make sense if the doctor suspects some more serious disease, a symptom of which may be pharyngitis. Most often, a swab is taken from the throat and tested for the presence of two diseases - streptococcus and diphtheria. If these tests are confirmed, the baby will be prescribed antibiotics and may be admitted to the hospital.

Can a mother look at her child’s throat herself? Of course it can. But without sufficient experience, she is unlikely to distinguish pharyngitis from tonsillitis and be able to understand the severity of the disease.

Chronic pharyngitis

If pharyngitis lasts more than 2 weeks, it is called chronic. In case of long-term pharyngitis, you should consult a doctor. Its reasons may be:

Attachment of a bacterial infection;
mononucleosis (with enlarged lymph nodes);
foreign body in the throat or its consequences;
throat irritation factors external environment: very dry air in the apartment, air pollution from tobacco smoke, exhaust gases, dust, etc.;
breathing through the mouth if you have allergies;
adenoids;
chronic runny nose, in which mucus from the nose flows down the back of the throat, irritating it and causing pharyngitis.

How to treat pharyngitis

Since most pharyngitis is viral, we cannot act directly on the cause of the disease. The child’s body must cope with the virus on its own. Our efforts will be aimed at facilitating unpleasant symptoms: soreness, pain, high temperature, and also give peace and strength for recovery to a sore throat.

Gargling – helps to remove discomfort and reduce swelling. The safest rinse is warm, salted water. Place one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water and rinse at least 3 times a day. Not suitable for small children.
Warm drink – warm tea, infusions, herbal infusions. Fluids help prevent dehydration, which worsens all illnesses. In addition, warm drinking relieves painful sensations in the throat with pharyngitis. Talk to your pediatrician about which herbal teas are best for your child.
Humidifying the air in the room – you can use a humidifier, or if you don’t have one, then a large open container of water. Dry air irritates a child's throat and nose, causing a runny nose and pharyngitis. However, everything is good in moderation; you should not turn the room into a greenhouse or tropical jungle.
Decline – if it rises above 38 degrees, and the child feels unwell. Can be used over-the-counter drugs, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

You should not use antibiotics for pharyngitis without a doctor's prescription. Most cases of pharyngitis are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not work on them. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics can lead to complications, as well as the development of microbial resistance to these drugs.

Throat aerosols can be used in children over 2 years of age. This should not be done in young children, as there is a risk of causing a complication - spasm of the glottis with the development of acute respiratory failure. Choose an aerosol (spray) carefully, preferably without alcohol or very harsh irritants, so as not to cause discomfort to the child.

Lollipops with an anesthetic component will help relieve a sore throat. Before use, make sure that the child is not allergic to the anesthetic. Consult your doctor or pharmacist about this.

Sometimes, with pharyngitis combined with a runny nose, it makes sense to drip vasoconstrictor drugs (nazol, xylometazoline, etc.) into the child’s nose. They reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and the amount of mucus released. The mucus stops flowing into the throat and does not provoke pharyngitis. Regarding medications, consult your doctor. You should not use vasoconstrictor drugs for more than 3-4 days in a row due to the possibility of addiction and rebound effect.

In treatment chronic tonsillitis the most important thing is not drugs, but eliminating unfavorable environmental factors:
protect the child from air pollutants, tobacco and other types of smoke, dust;
monitor the air humidity in the room and maintain it at 50-60% using a humidifier;
It is necessary to regularly walk with the baby in any weather, except for days when the child has a high temperature.

The more time a child spends outside, the healthier he grows, and the more strength he has to fight infections. Remember that, as one book says, “children have a great time outside in good weather, but good in bad weather.”

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