The autumn has come. Coldness, a sharp change in temperature in the apartment, high humidity - all these are prerequisites for the development of various diseases. Frequent "guests" are chills, tearing and sore throats, which usually subside in a few days. But sometimes redness in the throat can go from a harmless situation to a serious infectious disease - angina. So, sore throat: pathogens, sources of infection, ways of transmission, symptoms - the topic of conversation for today.
What is angina?
Angina is an inflammation of the tonsils. Tonsils from the medical point of view are lymphatic formations of different sizes - from a cherry stone to a pigeon egg. They are located on both sides of the larynx, and in the cross section are very similar to the lymph nodes. They have an uneven surface with concave areas located on them. Tonsils play an important role in the body, controlling the level of lymphocytes in the blood and helping to fight with various microorganisms. As soon as the level of bacteria increases - they become inflamed, giving a signal that the body is infected.
It is known that the newborn has four tonsils in the mouth. Two of them are palatine, which can be seen on the inner side of the throat, the third - the nosophlingal tonsil disappears with time as the child grows. The process that occurs between the sixth and twelfth year depends on the specific characteristics of the child. And the fourth is the lingual tonsil, which is located at the base of the tongue. It can be the "home" from which the pathogens of the disease - the microorganisms and the products of their transformation - constantly penetrate the body. This amygdala is often the source of many diseases and the formation of nonspecific and specific sensitivity of the body. Also, specialists see it as the cause of the onset of chronic tonsillitis.
Indeed, the medical term, acute tonsillitis (from the Latin language - tonsillitis: "tonsil" - tonsil and "inis" - inflammation). Angina is an acute infectious disease of the tonsils, which is characterized by inflammation and enlarged lymph nodes. The most frequently observed in the cold months of the year and the incidence is the highest among children from 3 to 7 years, because they do not have a sufficiently well developed immune system.
Characteristic symptoms of sore throat
- severe sore throat, burning and irritation;
- enlargement of tonsils, plaque in the form of white mucus on their membranes;
- fever;
- difficulty breathing or swallowing, especially in young children;
- headache;
- pain in muscles and joints;
- poor breathing and lack of appetite;
- vomiting.
Sources of infection and ways of transmission of sore throats
In the presence of predisposing factors, angina can easily be transmitted from the carrier of a viral or bacterial infection. Such factors may include: human immunodeficiency (congenital or acquired), the creation of favorable conditions for the development of angina pectoris, various local factors, such as nasal congestion, in which a person is forced to breathe through the mouth. Sometimes the sources of infection are in poor sanitation. Dirt, dust, unventilated room - all this can contribute to the development of angina. Can serve poor service and improper diet - a diet low in protein, vitamins and minerals. However, the most frequent ways of transmission of sore throat are airborne and contact. The cause of angina may be streptococci and staphylococci, less often pneumococci, Frindlander bacilli and others.
Types of sore throat
In medicine, the following types of tonsillitis (sore throats) are used:
- Cold sore throat is one of the easiest forms of the disease caused by a viral infection. It is characterized by pain in the throat, fever and reddening of the tonsils along the very tonsils.
- Follicular angina - caused by fungi, which, in turn, are divided into follicular and ulcerative-necrotic. Characterized by necrosis of the tonsils, in which some of them literally begin to die. It is characterized by severe pain for the patient.
- Vesicular (purulent) angina is a special type of tonsillitis, which is characterized by the presence of many small vesicles on the tonsils and in the soft palate. Very often, the vesicles burst, leaving small sores in the mouth.
What treatment is used?
In acute tonsillitis caused by bacteria, of course, you should resort to antibiotics. Usually this is necessary for the treatment of ulcerative necrotic tonsillitis, as well as a complex form of purulent sore throat. The use of antibiotics is very important, however, the doses of the antibiotic should be determined by a specialist, since the expression of personal initiative in such matters is completely inappropriate. It is necessary to first determine the cause of the sore throat, and then to be treated. Doctors recommend that in addition to antibiotics, local antiseptics should also be used to relieve sore throat (sucking pills, sprays). It is important during the illness to consume a large amount of liquid, but the drink should not be hot. Hot drinks affect the work of the tonsils, dilating the blood vessels, which, in turn, can lead to an increase in the spread of infection. Do not forget about freshly squeezed juices, rich in vitamins and minerals.
Complications after illness
The most common and most unpleasant complication is the development of an abscess. A similar abscess develops soon after the acute tonsillitis. In most cases, patients have symptoms such as sore throat and fever, although there are no more sore throats. But this time the pain is much stronger, the swallowing function is disturbed, the lymph nodes are significantly enlarged, there are problems with the voice and ligaments. At the same time, it is necessary to remove pus, after which the patient's condition improves significantly. If you do not take the necessary measures, the infection can go to the stage of a more complex parafaringalnogo abscess. This can be caused by acute tonsillitis, traumas of the larynx, dental diseases, inflammation of the salivary glands.
In addition, other diseases can develop, such as inflammation of the inner ear (otitis), lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph nodes along the edge of the lower jaw and neck), rheumatic diseases, autoimmune kidney disease, osteomyelitis.
When is the operation necessary?
The answer is unambiguous - with acute tonsillitis, which has flowed into a chronic form. Regardless of whether the glands are enlarged or not. But the decision of such intervention does not depend only on one diagnosis alone. Usually, many studies are required, since tonsils are one of the most important organs of the body's immune defense. In addition, in laboratory studies takes into account the fact that the disease lasts for one year. For example, if the angina progresses more than twice in a year, the patient experiences high fever, severe sore throat, tonsillitis, and if the patient is not helped by antibiotics. Then the operation will be more expedient than the periodic questionable treatment.
You can know a lot about angina - pathogens, sources of infection, ways of transmission, symptoms - and occasionally get sick of this unpleasant disease. In this case, knowledge does not protect against infection, but it gives an advantage in dealing with it. With the right approach and timely treatment of sore throat can not be very troublesome and go quickly and without consequences.