Acute pharyngitis symptoms and treatment in children. How to treat pharyngitis in a child. Symptoms and treatment. Specific and nonspecific symptoms

Pharyngitis is called inflammatory process, localized on the back wall of the pharynx. Main symptom of this disease One of the things a child may complain about to parents is pain and discomfort in the throat. In most cases, pharyngitis develops against the background of acute respiratory infections, together with other catarrhal processes in the nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract, much less often as an independent pathology. It occurs in children of all ages. How smaller child, the more severe the course of the disease and harder choice medicines.

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Causes of the disease

Pharyngitis in children can develop as an independent disease or be a consequence of some other disease. In most cases, inflammation of the pharynx occurs against the background of damage to the body by acute respiratory viral infections (influenza virus, parainfluenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, coronavirus) and other viruses (cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus). Less commonly, bacterial pathogens (streptococci, staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae and diphtheria bacillus, meningococci) become the cause of pharyngitis. Greatest risks the appearance of pharyngitis occurs in children attending kindergartens and schools in the autumn-winter period during seasonal epidemics of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections.

The following factors can contribute to the development of the inflammatory process on the back wall of the pharynx:

difficult nasal breathing, leading to inhalation of cold, unpurified air through the mouth and drying out of the mucous membrane oral cavity and throat;
posterior rhinitis, in which infected mucous discharge does not come out through the nasal passages when blowing the nose, but flows down;
hypothermia;
weakening of local immunity;
frequent use vasoconstrictor drops in the treatment of runny nose, flowing down from the nasal cavity, irritating the mucous membrane back wall pharynx and reducing its protective properties;
exacerbation of some chronic diseases(rhinitis, adenoiditis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, stomatitis, caries);
removal of the palatine tonsils, accompanied by atrophic changes in the pharyngeal mucosa;
lack of vitamins (A and group B);
gastroesophageal reflux, as a result of which stomach contents often enter the pharynx, irritating its mucous membrane.

Sometimes the causes of pharyngitis are allergic reactions that occur in response to an allergen entering the mucous membrane of the throat. Inflammation of the pharynx can also be caused by mechanical damage its mucosa with foreign bodies or surgical operations, exposure to vapors of chemical solvents, dust, tobacco smoke, hot air. Also, inflammation of the pharynx develops as a result of eating too hot, rough, spicy or sour foods.

Types of pharyngitis

Taking into account the etiological factor, pharyngitis in adults and children can be infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal), traumatic, allergic, or caused by contact of the pharyngeal mucosa with irritating factors. Treatment of the disease directly depends on its type.

According to the nature of the disease, the disease occurs in acute or chronic form. In the first case, children experience acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. Chronic pharyngitis is a sluggish inflammatory process that lasts several months or more and is characterized by phases of remissions and exacerbations. Most often it occurs as a result of incompletely cured acute pharyngitis or as an independent disease due to prolonged irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa by aggressive factors.

Depending on the severity of the inflammatory process, chronic pharyngitis occurs:

simple, or catarrhal, manifested in the form of hyperemia of the pharyngeal mucosa;
granulosa, or hypertrophic, accompanied by the proliferation of tissues affected by the inflammatory process;
atrophic, accompanied by drying or thinning of inflamed tissues;
mixed, in which there are simultaneously present on the back wall of the throat pathological changes mucous membranes, characteristic of the hypertrophic and atrophic type.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pharyngitis in children differ depending on the form of the disease and severity. A characteristic feature acute inflammation is:

redness and swelling;
sharp pain in the throat, noticeably worsening when swallowing, especially solid and hot foods;
increase in body temperature up to 38°C;
hoarseness of voice;
coughing caused by a feeling of soreness and soreness in the pharyngeal mucosa;
irradiation of pain to the ears (if inflammation affects the tubopharyngeal ridges).

With chronic pharyngitis, the symptoms are less pronounced; there is dryness and a sore throat. This form of inflammation is not characterized by an increase in temperature and a change in general condition and child activity. However, during exacerbations, symptoms chronic pharyngitis intensify and the clinical picture is similar to acute pharyngitis.

With granulosa chronic pharyngitis, a viscous coating of thick mucus accumulates on the back wall of the pharynx, red swollen plaques form, which can be enlarged and painful on palpation submandibular lymph nodes, be present nagging pain in the back of the head.

The atrophic form of chronic pharyngitis in children is diagnosed extremely rarely. It is characterized by pallor and dryness of the mucous membrane of the throat, the formation of crusts on it, which are dried mucus, and the appearance of a vascular pattern on the back wall of the pharynx.

Features of symptoms depending on the cause

With pharyngitis that occurs against the background of ARVI, the inflammatory process spreads to the entire pharynx, including the tonsils and soft sky. It is often accompanied by a runny nose, conjunctivitis, cough, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Pharyngitis caused by pathogenic bacteria, is characterized by a long course, headache, fever, tonsillitis. When the throat is affected by fungi, cracks and erosions form on its mucous membrane and in the corners of the mouth, a characteristic white cheesy coating appears on the back wall of the pharynx, and the posterior cervical The lymph nodes.

If the cause of pharyngitis is an allergen on the mucous membrane of the throat, it manifests itself in the form of a dry cough and is not accompanied by fever and severe sore throat.

Features of symptoms in young children

Parents can suspect pharyngitis in infants who cannot yet express themselves and show where it hurts based on the following signs:

moodiness, tearfulness;
anxiety and bad dream;
periodic coughing;
decreased appetite and regurgitation after feeding;

For young children under 2 years of age, acute pharyngitis is severe. If its cause is ARVI, then it is combined with acute inflammation mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, runny nose, cough, accompanied by a rise in body temperature, general weakness and lethargy, and decreased appetite.

Diagnosis of the disease

If you suspect pharyngitis in children, parents should consult a doctor. Self-diagnosis and self-medication are fraught with complications, and why younger child, the more serious they may turn out to be. Confirmation of the presence of an inflammatory process on the mucous membrane of the posterior pharyngeal wall, as well as its form and causes, is established on the basis of:

complaints from the child or parents, if the child is small;
examination of the mouth and throat (pharyngoscopy);
palpating the lymph nodes in the neck;
results of bacteriological culture of a throat smear.

With pharyngitis, there is moderate redness, swelling and infiltration of the posterior wall of the pharynx, velopharyngeal arches and, less commonly, the soft palate.

A sore throat can be a symptom not only of pharyngitis, but also of tonsillitis, measles, and scarlet fever. Unlike pharyngitis, sore throat is characterized by rapid development dynamics clinical picture. The next day, purulent plaque and plugs appear on the tonsils, their redness and increase in size are observed, and the body temperature rises sharply to 40°C.

Treatment of pharyngitis

Drugs and procedures for the treatment of pharyngitis in children should be prescribed by a local pediatrician or pediatric otolaryngologist, taking into account the patient’s age, the cause of the disease and the severity of the patient’s condition. Treatment is carried out at home. In uncomplicated forms of the disease occurring against the background of ARVI, the inflammatory process subsides on its own within a few days.

Medications

For acute pharyngitis and exacerbation of chronic pharyngitis in children, the following medications are used for treatment:

preparations for preparing solutions for gargling (rotocan, furatsilin, chlorophyllipt);
solutions for lubricating inflamed mucous membranes (protargol, Lugol's solution);
lozenges and lozenges with antiseptic, emollient and analgesic effects (lizobact, septefril, faringosept, strepsils, imudon);
sprays and aerosols for irrigating the pharynx (hexasprey, ingalipt, jox, tantum verde, cameton, miramistin);
antibacterial drugs locally, less often systemically (with a precisely established bacterial etiology of the disease and determination of the sensitivity of the pathogen to specific antibiotics);
immunomodulatory drugs for pharyngitis against the background of ARVI (viferon, laferobion, immunoflazid, aflubin);
solutions for inhalation (buffer soda, decasan, saline);
antipyretics based on paracetamol or ibuprofen when the temperature rises above 38°C.

To treat pharyngitis in a child under 3 years of age, do not use sprays and aerosols, since when injected they can provoke a reflex spasm of the larynx and an attack of suffocation, as well as gargling due to the difficulty self-execution this procedure for babies.

For fungal pharyngitis in children, treatment consists of treating the throat with local antifungal drugs. Inflammation of the pharynx caused by an allergic reaction is treated by taking antihistamines in the form of tablets, drops or syrups (fenistil, erius, zyrtec, cetirizine, zodak).

Folk remedies

Among traditional methods of treatment for pharyngitis, after consultation with a doctor, children can do steam inhalations and gargling with decoctions medicinal plants(chamomile, sage, calendula, eucalyptus, St. John's wort, oak bark), which have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and healing effects. For rinsing, a simple saline solution is also used (1 teaspoon of salt per glass of water).

At night you can give the patient warm milk with honey or mineral water, which will have a warming and softening effect. However, before using such folk remedies treatment, you should make sure that the child is not allergic to the herbs and honey used.

Features of patient care

Drinking plenty of warm drinks is of great importance for a child’s speedy recovery ( mineral water still, tea, compote, berry fruit drinks) and fresh wet air, for what Special attention parents are addressed by the famous pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky. All this will contribute effective moisturizing and cleansing the affected pharyngeal mucosa.

To reduce injury and irritation of the inflamed mucous membrane of the throat during illness, the child should adhere to a gentle diet. It is not recommended to give him too rough, hard, spicy, salty, sour, hot or cold food.

Video: Pediatric ENT about symptoms and treatment of pharyngitis

Possible complications and prevention

In the absence of timely and proper treatment acute pharyngitis in children can lead to complications, the main of which are:

transition of the disease to chronic form;
spread of infection to lower organs respiratory system(laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis);
peritonsillar and retropharyngeal abscess;
autoimmune diseases (rheumatism);
angina.

To reduce the risk of acute or chronic pharyngitis in children, it is necessary to follow simple preventive measures, which are aimed primarily at increasing immunity and minimizing contact with potential pathogens. These include regular walks on fresh air, good nutrition and rest.

Hypothermia should be avoided. In the room where the child lives, it is important to create normal level humidity and temperature regime(cool, humid air), avoid contact with polluted air, tobacco smoke, dust. It is necessary to promptly treat rhinitis, sinusitis, and adenoiditis to prevent prolonged nasal congestion and forced breathing through the mouth, as well as prevent contact with sick people during seasonal epidemics of ARVI.

Pharyngitis in children occurs almost as often as colds. To be more precise, these diseases, as a rule, attack children together, in pairs. We will tell you in detail how to recognize pharyngitis in a child, how to properly treat the disease, and how to prevent complications.

Of all the varieties of childhood pharyngitis, viral pharyngitis is most often diagnosed - that is, the same one that comes “at hand” with ARVI.

Pharyngitis in children: which one?

Pharyngitis, or in other words, inflammation of the pharynx, occurs very often in children. However, it can be caused different pathogens, which directly affects the treatment scenario for pharyngitis in a child. So, pharyngitis can be:

viral;
bacterial;
allergic.

The most common form of pharyngitis in children is rightly considered to be viral pharyngitis - it comes along with symptoms of ordinary pharyngitis. Moreover, pharyngitis can also often occur.

It is clear that each type of childhood pharyngitis has its own specific symptoms, but for the most part the symptoms are similar.

Pharyngitis in children: symptoms

The main symptoms of childhood pharyngitis include:

sore, itchy and sore throat;
difficult and painful swallowing;
elevated temperature;
sometimes the pain from a sore throat radiates to the ears;
hyperemic, in other words, bright red nasopharynx;
sometimes small convex grains can be seen on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx - these are lymphatic follicles;
severe cough caused by mucus accumulated in the inflamed throat;

The most common variant of pharyngitis is viral- almost never isolated, in 99% of cases it is accompanied by ARVI symptoms:

runny nose or nasal congestion (and as a result - lack of nasal breathing);
cough (dry or wet);
high temperature in a child;
additional symptoms - headache, weakness, lack of appetite and others.

U bacterial pharyngitis Children have their own typical symptoms:

burning pain in the throat;
obvious swelling of the submandibular lymph nodes;
signs: a sharp increase in body temperature, inflammation and swelling of the tonsils, lack of appetite, difficulty breathing.

Allergic pharyngitis in children is extremely rare - since this requires rather atypical circumstances: it is necessary that the allergen, bypassing the nasopharynx, gets straight into the throat. This can happen, for example, if your child helped you paint the fence at the dacha, or did not inhale pollen that is dangerous for him, but for some reason ate it... One way or another, the symptoms of allergic pharyngitis come down to the usual symptoms, but without a hint of temperature (in other words, no signs of an infectious disease).

How to treat

Treatment of pharyngitis in children directly depends on its type. Determining the type of pharyngitis in a child helps not only visual inspection, but also analyzes - clinical analysis blood and throat swab.

Bacterial pharyngitis involves the use of antibiotics, which are prescribed by a doctor (and only a doctor!). Antimicrobial agents cannot be used against viral pharyngitis - at least because they are absolutely useless in this case. Exactly like with allergies.

Before starting treatment for pharyngitis in a child, the doctor will certainly determine what exactly caused the disease - a virus, bacteria or allergen.

The only reasonable treatment for viral pharyngitis in children is similar to the treatment of ARVI:

Creating a “healthy” climate in the children’s room where the baby lives - humid and cool;
Daily ventilation of the children's room (and the home in general);
At the first hint of an onset of a cold, introduce a regime of heavy drinking and limited nutrition (if loss of appetite is obvious);
Make sure that nasal breathing is always free.

It is much healthier and more comfortable for any child (including from the point of view of preventing a number of diseases) to live in a humid and cool climate. But for a baby already sick with ARVI and viral pharyngitis, being in a humidified and well-ventilated room is vital. Let us remind you: optimal humidity is 55-70%, temperature is not higher than 20-21°C.

The point is to not allow mucus to accumulate and harden in your sore throat. It is the cool and humid climate in the room, as well as drinking plenty of fluids, that greatly contribute to this.

And remember that the temperature of the liquid with which you feed your baby should be the same as the body temperature of the child himself. That is: if a child with pharyngitis has a temperature of 38°C, then the temperature of tea, fruit juice or just water should also be 38°C.

If the mucus in the throat is liquefied and washed off in time (when swallowing or rinsing), viruses simply will have nowhere to multiply and increase their activity. After a day or two immune cells the child will have enough for the final fight against the virus. In this way, viral pharyngitis in the child will be defeated.

For allergic pharyngitis in a child, antihistamine therapy is naturally used. In which, however, all of the above measures (humid and cool climate, drinking plenty of fluids, gargling) will also be very useful - they will definitely alleviate the child’s condition.

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 reason– 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 will proceed depends on the state of local immunity: the virus can gain a foothold 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 with 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. With a 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 illness, 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 relieving unpleasant symptoms: sore throat, pain, high temperature, as well as giving peace and strength for recovery to a sore throat.

Gargling – helps relieve discomfort and reduce swelling. The most safe remedy for rinsing – salted warm 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. You can use over-the-counter medications 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.”

Content

Yesterday the child was hypothermic, and in the morning he complains of a sore throat, weakness and pain when swallowing? Pharyngitis makes itself felt immediately, and this is the first sign of the rapid spread of inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. There are other symptoms that indicate this disease, and what is more important: how and with what to treat the disease in children?

Pharyngitis - symptoms in children

Weak the immune system child, hypothermia, germs - all this possible reasons appearance of the disease. What are the signs of pharyngitis that help diagnose the disease? inflammatory in nature? These include dry mouth, pain when swallowing, low fever, swelling of the soft tissues in the back of the throat, and cough. Symptoms of pharyngitis in children can appear to varying degrees, with the following features being distinguished:

localization (superficial catarrhal or granulosa);
scale (limited to the sides of the ridges or spread over the entire surface of the pharynx);
nature (acute, chronic).
source (viruses, bacteria, allergens).

Acute pharyngitis in children

Before puberty, this form of the disease occurs more often than others. Acute pharyngitis in children can be caused by bacteria (streptococci), which cause the tonsils to swell and turn red, then white spots appear, and the lymph nodes become enlarged. Inflammation of the soft tissues may be accompanied by nausea, which is a sign of the nature of the disease. When viral in nature, inflammatory processes resemble a cold, while often acute pharyngitis is not a single disease, but develops together with others.

Chronic pharyngitis in a child

If the disease starts or the body does not have enough strength to cope with viruses and bacteria, then the prognosis is disappointing. The progressive course of the disease threatens the appearance of chronic pharyngitis in a child, and this is a serious threat to health. It is believed that the lack of improvement after two weeks is a direct fact indicating a protracted illness. Bacteria penetrate the child’s gastrointestinal tract, causing gastritis and pancreatitis. The causes of the chronic form of the disease can be: foreign body, adenoids, dry air, tobacco smoke, chronic runny nose.

How to distinguish a sore throat from pharyngitis

A raw sensation, moderate pain, a gradual increase in temperature, combination with other signs of a cold - all this general signs inflammation of soft tissues. If you know how to distinguish a sore throat from pharyngitis, pharyngolaryngitis, pharyngotonsillitis, you will be able to cure your child faster. With pharyngitis it is unpleasant to swallow, and with a sore throat it is painful; The first type of illness is characterized by a low temperature, and the difference between the second is a rapid rise to 40 degrees, while pharyngitis is often accompanied by a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and watery eyes.

Treatment of pharyngitis

Weakened children's body it is difficult to resist the effects of viruses. Strength is taken away by an increasing pain in the throat and a gradually rising temperature, so the first rule for a speedy recovery is rest. How to treat pharyngitis in a child at home? The following procedures are recommended:

Gargle at least three times a day.
Give plenty of warm fluids to prevent dehydration.
Ventilate the room more often, humidify the air.
Do not lower the temperature if the thermometer shows less than 38 degrees.
To numb the throat, use aerosol (spray) or lozenges.
To reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa, drops can only be instilled after consulting a doctor.

Viral pharyngitis

The cause of an active inflammatory process may be viral infection, which makes the symptoms of pharyngitis in children similar to a cold. This type of disease, which affects the mucous membrane and the back wall of the pharynx, accounts for about two-thirds of all cases of the disease. The causative agents of viral pharyngitis represent a wide group - from adeno-, rhino- or coronaviruses to influenza viruses and cytomegaly.

Bacterial pharyngitis

The second most common type of illness that is caused by certain types of microbes. Factors that provoke the appearance of the inflammatory process can be mycoplasma (fungi) or a decrease in immune defense. Then the disease takes over severe form, and bacterial pharyngitis - symptoms, treatment in children - requires serious attention. For streptococci, staphylococci, meningococcal infection required drug treatment, which is based on antibacterial drugs local action or systemic antibiotics are prescribed.

Allergic pharyngitis

Not only viruses, bacteria, hypothermia, a weak immune system, but also irritating factors can provoke the appearance of the disease. Allergic pharyngitis, which is rarer according to statistics, is more difficult to diagnose, and this form of the disease is dangerous due to the appearance of a chronic form. Dust, the smell of tobacco, and some other potent substances can lead to inflammation of the mucous membrane. Allergens enter the child’s body, and if the treatment is chosen incorrectly or contact with the irritant is not eliminated, then recovery is delayed for a long time.

Pharyngitis in infants

In the youngest, this disease is aggravated by a combination of inflammation of the mucous membrane and acute rhinitis. The developing immune system is not able to resist infections, and the baby cannot complain or show where it hurts. It is difficult to treat pharyngitis in an infant at home, because a systematic approach is required (drinking plenty of fluids, taking medications, dry neck warming, compresses, massage), in addition, you will have to monitor the cough and carry out procedures aimed at improving lung drainage and sputum discharge.

How to treat pharyngitis

If the diagnosis has been made correctly, the next step on the path to recovery will be treatment. Antiseptic solutions, for example, herbal ones, are necessary for gargling. To help the child’s body cope with the disease more quickly, aerosols can be used, and the frequency of use of these agents will be the same as with antiseptics: at least three times a day. How else to treat pharyngitis in a child:

Lozenges with a softening effect, such as Lisobact, significantly speed up recovery.
There are also popular traditional methods(rinses, decoctions, rubbing).

Treatment with antibiotics should be used in case of a purulent, herpetic form of the disease or in the acute development of an illness that threatens the appearance of nasopharyngitis. With infection, when pharyngitis - symptoms and treatment vary in children - the drug Azithromycin copes well. An infectious cough becomes a threat only when the inflammation of the oropharynx is viral, and an illness caused by bacteria can be transmitted only by sharing household items. Good way preventing the inflammatory process is hardening the child.

Antibiotics for pharyngitis

The use of medications in this group is allowed only after administration and examination by a pediatrician. The specific properties of these drugs limit the range possible use, because when prescribing antibiotics for pharyngitis, the doctor will have to take into account: age, type and spectrum of activity of bacteria, toxic effect, allergic reactions. If the disease is viral in nature, take antibacterial drugs is contraindicated, but if complications are observed or the mucous membrane is affected by microbes, then you cannot do without them. For children, a solution or suspension is considered a more convenient option.

Throat antiseptics

Treatment of pharyngitis in children will be faster if done at home useful procedures. These include irrigation with throat antiseptics. Such remedies as Miramistin, Furacilin, Hexoral, Chlorophyllipt help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Reddened tonsils can be treated with steam inhalations essential oils or use drugs that help well in the treatment of tonsillitis: Iodinol, Lugol, Yox. If there is no allergy to the anesthetic, the child can be given pain-relieving lozenges to dissolve.

How to treat pharyngitis at home

This question is one of the three most popular, along with what pharyngitis looks like and how long the disease lasts. Both correct diagnosis, selection of a drug treatment regimen, and home methods - all this contributes to the baby’s speedy recovery. How to treat pharyngitis at home:

Garlic will help cope with a sore throat, but the product should not be exposed to heat treatment, it is better to grind in a blender and add to warm soup.
It is recommended to gargle with juice white cabbage, saline solution, a decoction of herbs (eucalyptus, pine, chamomile, St. John's wort).

Video: treatment of pharyngitis in children

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make treatment recommendations based on individual characteristics specific patient.

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The likelihood of illness increases if the child spends little time outside and is constantly in a room with very dry air.

Frosty winter air can also contribute to the disease, especially if the child breathes through the mouth.

Pharyngitis is easy to treat - if you act quickly, you can stop the disease before it begins to cause suffering to the child. If pharyngitis is not treated, its chronic form may develop.

Pharyngitis in children and its main symptoms

Characteristic symptoms of the disease:

It hurts to swallow and there is a feeling of constant discomfort in the throat. Pharyngitis in children under one year of age is difficult to recognize. Very young children become capricious, cry, and may experience a slight cough.
It should also be remembered that pharyngitis may be the beginning infectious diseases:, scarlet fever, etc. In general, pharyngitis is distinguished precisely by the patient’s constant attempts to clear his throat, which do not bring success. with pharyngitis in children, dry.
There may be a persistent feeling of a lump in the throat
If the lung begins to become deeper and stronger after two or three days, it means that the infection is spreading to the respiratory tract. Then it may begin to develop or.
In order not to confuse pharyngitis, you should know their symptoms. With pharyngitis, the sensation in the throat is quite tolerable, it is rather discomfort. When the pain in the throat is sharp, every sip hurts.

At the same time, with a sore throat, the temperature rises sharply, and the throat very quickly becomes coated. With pharyngitis, the feeling may be accompanied by a slight fever. The exception is bacterial pharyngitis, which is accompanied by a very high temperature.

How separate disease, viral pharyngitis occurs rarely; more often it develops as a concomitant phenomenon with acute respiratory infections, runny nose, and mild colds. In this case, the symptoms are as follows: painful shallow cough, nasal discharge, lacrimation, etc.
Sometimes this is accompanied by stool disorders.
Swallowing is painful, and swallowing saliva causes more discomfort than eating. Swallowing may cause additional discomfort in the ears: pain, itching may occur
A rash may occur, but it does not cause any further concern.
The bacterial form is distinguished by an acute, almost sudden course - it occurs strong pain in the throat with a generally optimal state of the body.

Then the temperature rises, a plaque may appear on the throat, and the tonsils may enlarge. Sometimes appears bad smell from the mouth, it is caused by bacteria that multiply in the affected area at tremendous speed. The eyes begin to water, the voice becomes hoarse.

Diagnosis of pharyngitis

To determine pharyngitis, in most cases, a careful examination of the throat is sufficient; a number of signs indicate the disease:

throat is red, but not too much
tonsils look normal
the back wall may be inflamed and even contain pus if bacterial pharyngitis develops
Granules – granular formations – may appear on the back wall; in this case, granulosa pharyngitis develops
if a streptococcal infection is suspected, a throat swab is prescribed, and the presence of not only , but also pathogens is checked
If a pathogenic infection is detected, a course of antibiotics is prescribed, sometimes treatment is carried out in an inpatient setting.

It is most difficult to recognize acute pharyngitis in children - babies under one year of age usually have very mild symptoms.

Chronic form of pharyngitis

We can talk about the transition of the disease to a chronic form if recovery or noticeable improvement does not occur within 2 weeks.

In this case, you need to consult a doctor, since chronic pharyngitis in children can have completely different causes:

secondary infection of the lesion (simply put, if pharyngitis is joined bacterial infection, and it changed into another form, maintaining the symptoms of chronic pharyngitis in children)
mononucleosis (if observed)
lymph nodes can also be palpated with.
constant throat irritation: too dry air, presence of allergens in the air
damage to the mucous membrane of the throat by a foreign body
the development of a chronic runny nose, in which there is constant irritation of the back of the throat due to discharge from the nasal cavity
other additional reasons, complicating the condition.

Treatment of chronic pharyngitis is prescribed only by a doctor after determining the cause of such a protracted course of the disease.

How to treat pharyngitis

Antibiotics should not be used for pharyngitis in children, especially by choice. Even with severe symptoms pharyngitis cannot be dealt with self-treatment child. The decision on how to treat the disease is made by the attending physician after excluding other infectious diseases and determining the causative agent if a bacterial form of the disease is present.

The child’s immune system must cope with the problem on its own, and treatment should be aimed at easing the symptoms:

pain reduction and discomfort in the throat,
normalize the temperature if possible
supporting the body and ensuring peace.

If necessary, your doctor may prescribe antivirals(for example, if herpetic pharyngitis develops).

What can and should be done

Gargle

The safest remedy is lightly salted water (1 teaspoon per glass of water). Not suitable for small children.

You can prepare infusions of chamomile, calendula, and plantain. Pharmacies have ready-made rinses: “Chlorophyllipt”, “Rotokan”. Any rinsing should be done after eating so that it lasts longer. A child of 5 years old can already gargle independently.

If the child is already 3 years old, you can use Miramistin to irrigate a sore throat; for this you need to buy a spray.

Advice! To treat children under 2 years of age who cannot yet gargle, Dr. Komarovsky advises using an inhaler and warm inhalations with decoctions of medicinal herbs.

A warm, generous drink is required

Tea, herbal infusions, diluted natural juices, fruit drinks, compotes. Herbal infusions It is better to buy on the recommendation of a doctor. You should not drink hot milk.

Hot steam inhalations are not used. In general, anything that increases throat irritation should be avoided if possible.
You can apply warm compresses to the front of the throat.
The child should be fed warm dishes, without herbs and spices. If your child wants something spicy, you should first give him a spoonful of butter.
To reduce throat irritability and respiratory tract The air in the room where the child is located needs to be humidified. To do this, simply place an open container of water in the room.
Too high a temperature should be brought down by using paracetamol or ibuprofen. You should not try to cure pharyngitis with antibiotics; they do not act properly on viruses, but the child’s intestinal microflora will be seriously affected. In addition, the emergence of clones of microorganisms that are resistant to the action of the antibiotics used is possible.
Instead of gargling, you can use throat aerosols, but they are suitable for children if they are already 2 years old. Small children should not use them, as they may experience spasms of the upper respiratory tract.

Important! Preparations and remedies based on plant components and bee products are very effective, but before use you should make sure that there are no allergic reactions to these natural antiseptics.

You should also check the child’s body’s reaction to medicinal preparations, containing iodine and its derivatives, sulfonamides (ingalipt), and other active natural substances. The age of the child also matters; some medications can be used from 3 years old, others from five years old. The doctor prescribes medications according to indications and taking into account the individual characteristics of the child’s body.
Products containing chlorhexidine should be used under strict supervision, since this antiseptic is quite toxic.
Appointed vitamin complexes, especially ascorbic acid, raising the child.
Pharmacies have big choice lollipops and sucking candies with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

First, you should give the child one piece of candy or lollipop and see if allergic reaction to components. You can also ask your doctor to recommend certain types such lollipops. Faringosept and Strepsils work well.

If you have a severe runny nose, you can try using vasoconstrictor nasal drops.

However, they should be used no longer than 4-5 days, since the body gets used to it very quickly and with further use they will no longer be so effective. Moreover, they can, on the contrary, increase the secretion of mucus from the nose.

Advice! If not high temperature, you can take your child for a walk so that he can move and breathe fresh air.

You should choose days with good weather; if the weather is constantly damp and cold, then it is better to cancel walks for several days.