Pharyngitis in a child treatment. How to treat pharyngitis in a child

This is a fairly common ailment among children. And in the autumn-winter season, the incidence of pharyngitis increases significantly. This is facilitated by low air temperature, hypothermia of the body and a decrease in immunity. Being able to recognize pharyngitis in the initial stages is an important skill for parents, because the health of their child depends on it.

Reasons for the development of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Pharyngitis rarely occurs in isolation and is often observed along with or. The cause of pharyngitis are microorganisms: all kinds of viruses, bacteria and even fungi. But often the culprit for the development of pharyngitis is precisely the viruses (and, and, the RS virus). Basically, pharyngitis in children is a manifestation.

It is not difficult to suspect pharyngitis in a child. Yesterday the baby was still active, and the next day he was already lethargic, coughing and complaining about a sore throat.

In this situation, the mother can ask the baby to open her mouth and examine his throat. With pharyngitis, the mucous membrane of the pharynx and the back wall of the pharynx are red, swollen. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to the palatine tonsils, are there any changes on them? If it is possible to detect raids on the tonsils, it means that the child has.

Why can't you self-medicate?

Pharyngitis is not such a harmless disease as many people think. With early detection and adequate treatment, the child will recover very quickly. However, the lack of proper treatment can lead to the formation of complications. So, in young children, pharyngitis is often complicated.

Of particular danger is bacterial streptococcal pharyngitis. The absence of specific antibacterial treatment in this case can lead to the spread of infection. This is fraught with the development of such complications as:

Peritonsillar abscess;

Principles of treatment of pharyngitis in children

A child with suspected pharyngitis must be shown to the pediatrician. Only the attending physician can confirm the diagnosis, prescribe the necessary therapy.

Treatment of pharyngitis can be local and general. At the same time, it is very important to create comfortable conditions and peace for the child, to follow the regimen and diet.

Local treatment of pharyngitis

Local treatment involves a local effect on the inflamed mucous membrane of the pharynx. This can be achieved by gargling, irrigating the throat, or sucking drugs. eliminates inflammation and promotes a speedy recovery. But this method of treatment is only suitable for older children who can independently gargle and not choke.

Gargle four times a day after meals. To do this, use solutions, chlorophyllipt, eucalyptus, sea salt. Parents need to remember that these herbal alcohol solutions are very concentrated. That is, the drug must be diluted with the required amount of water before use. In addition, as an auxiliary method of treatment, you can resort to folk remedies. So, gargling with a decoction or reduces inflammation of the pharynx.

In the complex treatment of pharyngitis in older children, absorbable dragees and lozenges are also used (Strepsilis, Faringosept, Falimint, etc.). These dosage forms eliminate inflammation, soften the irritated mucous membrane of the pharynx, and some of them even have an analgesic effect. Now pharmaceutical companies add flavoring additives to the composition of lollipops, so that children are happy to be treated with them.

But irrigation of the oropharynx with sprays can be used as a treatment for children over the age of three years. To do this, parents ask the child to open their mouth wide and press the spray dispenser once or twice. Pediatricians recommend irrigating the baby's oropharynx after he eats. This approach minimizes the effect of the drug on the child's gastrointestinal tract. For pharyngitis, a wide variety of sprays with antiseptics are used, such as Yoks, Givalex, Kameton, Ingalipt, etc.

Diet for pharyngitis

In addition to using medications, it is important to make sure your child is drinking enough fluids. Firstly, toxins from viruses and bacteria are released from the body with fluid, which contributes to a speedy recovery. Secondly, the liquid helps to eliminate the dryness of the pharyngeal mucosa.

note

The fluid should be at a comfortable temperature, neither hot nor cold. You can give your child plain warm water or compote, herbal tea.

During the illness of the child, it is necessary to feed such food that will not cause damage and irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Preference should be given to mushy and liquid foods. In this case, the dishes should be warm. It is also worth eliminating spices and spices from the diet.

General treatment of pharyngitis

In some cases, the doctor may prescribe systemic drugs to the child that will affect the causative agent of the disease. As noted above, viruses are often to blame for the development of pharyngitis. However rarely used for pharyngitis.

It’s another matter if the child’s pharyngitis is caused by bacteria, for example, in this case, you can’t do without. As a rule, antibiotics are prescribed in the form of tablets from the group of penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides. Antibiotic therapy helps the body fight off a bacterial infection and prevent complications from developing.

Pharyngitis is a serious disease of the upper respiratory tract that occurs not only in adults but also in children. And many doctors have their own methods of treating this pathology. As statistics show, in babies, such an ailment develops much more often due to a weakened immune system.

As a rule, the disease is caused by viruses, so you need to give the body the opportunity to overcome the disease on its own. In this regard, therapy will be aimed only at reducing the symptoms of pharyngitis.

Sore throat

One of the distinguishing symptoms of pharyngitis can be called pain in the throat, which is not easy to treat. It can have a different character, depending on this, medicines will be selected. It is worth noting that it is much easier to treat an adult than a child, since not all drugs are allowed to be used by small patients.

An effective remedy for pharyngitis is Derinat, which has a comprehensive effect on the body, in particular:

antiviral;
immunomodulating;
antifungal;
antibacterial.

Due to such a variety of properties, this drug will be effective at any stage of the disease. It is best to use it in the form of a spray so that the medicine gets directly onto the walls of the larynx. This prevents the risk of re-infection and strengthens the immune system.

The most difficult thing is to treat infants up to a year, as they refuse to take medication. Many parents will say: what about traditional medicine? For small children, recipes retold by our grandmothers will be contraindicated due to age.

However, compresses and massages are allowed. But it is worth remembering that compresses can only be used at normal body temperature.

In order to prevent pain, it is allowed to use Lugol's solution, lubricating the larynx with it. The medicine can be made at home. for this it is necessary to mix honey and aloe in equal proportions. Lubricate the throat with the finished preparation three times a day for 10 days. You can prepare another remedy, which is allowed to be treated according to the same method. To prepare it, you will need a teaspoon of propolis tincture, a tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of peach oil.

Cough treatment

In order to overcome the disease as soon as possible, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

During the recovery period, drinking plenty of water is very important and it is better if the drinks are warm. This is necessary to prevent dehydration, which can prolong the disease.

To humidify the room, it is better to use special products. But, unfortunately, not everyone has them at home. In this case, you can get by with improvised means: put a large container of water, for example, a basin or bucket. You need to know that dry air only provokes the reproduction of viruses. It also creates discomfort in the nose and throat.

Of course, everyone knows how effective mustard plasters are in treating coughs. But for babies up to a year old, they can be harmful, and therefore doctors recommend wrapping using this remedy. To do this, follow the following recipe:

Dissolve a tablespoon of dry powder in ½ liter of water.
Roll up the cheesecloth in 4 layers.
Soak it in liquid.
Wrap around the baby's body. If you are worried that an allergy will appear, you can only apply a bandage on the back.
Wrap the baby in a towel.
Lay him under the covers.
Remove the compress after 5 minutes.
Wash the baby with warm water.

As practice shows, after 4 such procedures, the child's cough disappears.

Medicines

Treatment of pharyngitis in children is not difficult to carry out if the presence of the disease is detected in time and all recommendations of the attending physician are followed. It is not necessary to take potent drugs, healing can also be done at home.

If the child is a newborn and does not know how to gargle, you can irrigate it with aerosols, according to age. It is also recommended to perform this procedure several times a day. But children under two years of age should use it with extreme caution, as this treatment can provoke a spasm of the glottis.

Children over five years of age can dissolve lozenges to prevent sore throats, for example, Pharyngosept, Dr. Mom, Strepsils.

If we are talking about bacterial pharyngitis, then it will not be possible to cope without antibiotics. Only a doctor can prescribe such drugs, since many drugs are contraindicated for patients under 3 years of age. The most common medications include: Bioparox, Hexaspray. It is worth paying attention to the composition of such drugs: they should not contain alcohol and irritating substances that can cause discomfort in a child.

Your doctor may also prescribe the following:

Antiviral: Arbidol, Anaferon.
Antihistamines: Suprastin, Tavegil.
Antifungal: Nystatin, Pimafucin.
Vasoconstrictor: Xylometazoline, Nazol.

Thus, the most common symptoms of pharyngitis are sore throat, cough and perspiration. But some children also have a runny nose, which must be dealt with with special means. Due to their use, the swelling of the mucous membrane decreases, the amount of sputum secreted becomes less.

Advice! Vasoconstrictor drops of one manufacturer should not be used for more than 4 days, as they can be addictive and then it will be difficult for a child to do without the drug.

It is a disease that is accompanied by a strong inflammatory process on the lymphoid tissue and mucous membranes of the throat. This pathology is often diagnosed in children and causes unpleasant symptoms.

The insidiousness of pharyngitis lies in the fact that it can be of an infectious nature and in childhood such an ailment proceeds more clearly. The progression of such a disease in the body can cause the development of many complications, so parents should know how to treat pharyngitis in children. To eliminate the pathology, both drug treatment and traditional medicine are widely used.

In most cases, in children and adults, it develops with the progression of infections of a viral or bacterial origin in the body. This leads to the development of an active inflammatory process in the mucous membranes of the throat. Most often, inflammation develops under the influence of the following groups of pathogenic microorganisms:

influenza and parainfluenza viruses
rhinovirus
coronaviruses
adenoviruses

The development of pharyngitis of bacterial origin occurs under the influence of:

hemophilic infection

In the event that the child's immune system is disrupted, this can provoke the development of fungal pharyngitis. In childhood, this type of disease is diagnosed with severe pathologies and enhanced treatment with antibacterial drugs.

More rare causes of the development of the inflammatory process in the pharynx are:

allergic reactions
injuries of various nature
performing a surgical intervention
penetration of foreign objects
exposure to the mucous membrane of the throat of potent drugs

The likelihood of developing pharyngitis increases when the child's body is exposed to the following factors:

severe hypothermia
decrease in the protective functions of the body
progression of chronic diseases
increased concentration of irritants in the air

Another important reason for the development of chronic pharyngitis is the penetration into the pharynx of the contents of the stomach during regurgitation, reflux, vomiting and hiatal hernia.

Chronic pharyngitis can occur with the progression of inflammatory processes in the nasal cavity, tonsils and paranasal sinuses in the child's body. Pathology can be provoked by constant breathing through the mouth due to congestion in the nasal cavity, as well as long-term treatment with. The fact is that such drugs fall on the back wall of the pharynx and thereby cause severe irritation of the mucosa.

Symptoms of pathology

Pharyngitis in children causes the following symptoms:

discomfort in the throat
strong and itching and burning
the appearance of pain during swallowing
rise in body temperature up to 38 degrees

Medical practice shows that in young children, pharyngitis is quite difficult. There is a rise in body temperature and a deterioration in the general condition, which is complemented by a pronounced lethargy of the baby. Often pharyngitis is combined with the course of a disease such as adenoiditis, as evidenced by a decrease in appetite, the appearance of problems with sleep and increased ESR in the body.

To make a diagnosis, a specialist examines the child's pharynx and notes the following signs of the disease:

pharynx turns bright red
mucosa becomes edematous and infiltrated
palatine arches and soft palate become inflamed
the mucosa of the posterior pharyngeal wall becomes granular

With further progression, staining of the lateral ridges in the pharynx occurs. Children are often diagnosed with pharyngitis of viral origin, which is characterized by a bright red throat with the appearance of hemorrhages and vesicles on the back of the pharynx. Local symptoms last for 2-3 days, an irritating cough appears and which gradually subside.

In some cases, there may be no general signs of the disease, but a secondary complication develops in the form of or adenoiditis.

Sometimes patients complain of the appearance of referred pain in the ears, which is considered one of the symptoms of pharyngitis. Medical practice shows that this disease is most severe in young children and causes the development of complications.

The most dangerous complications after pharyngitis are autoimmune pathologies that develop as a result of increased sensitivity of the child's body to pathogenic microorganisms that provoked the disease.

In fact, pharyngitis does not pose a serious danger to the body, but its progression and lack of effective treatment can cause many complications.

The greatest danger is streptococcal pharyngitis, the progression of which in the body causes various complications. The most common among purulent complications are:

retropharyngeal abscess develops with the accumulation of pus in the region of the lymph nodes and tissue of the retropharyngeal space
peritonsillar abscess is characterized by inflammation of the tissue around the tonsils, where ulcers appear

In young children, complications may develop as a result of damage to the nasopharyngeal region in the form of and. In addition, after pharyngitis can be diagnosed:

conjunctivitis

The most dangerous complication is inflammation of the membranes of the brain, which experts call meningitis and encephalitis.

Features of the treatment of pharyngitis in children of different ages

In the smallest children under 1 year old, the disease is too painful and at that age they still do not know how to gargle on their own. If parents suspect acute pharyngitis, it is necessary to seek the advice of a specialist. In the absence of high body temperature and an allergic reaction, it is allowed to apply a honey-mustard compress to the throat area. In addition, it is possible to treat the pharynx with antiseptic agents without menthol and alcohol.

Experts recommend the following treatment regimen for pharyngitis in young children: it is necessary to crush the Faringosept tablet well, dip the nipple in it and offer it to the child. It is recommended to take the child in your arms and lightly pat him on the back, which helps to improve drainage in the bronchi.

In children aged 1-2 years, pharyngitis is also quite difficult, but not as intense as in infants. Treatment of the disease involves:

organization of sufficient drinking regimen
in the absence of contraindications, you can do
carrying out inhalations with a nebulizer with or Borjomi water

At this age, the treatment of pharyngitis can be carried out using antiseptic drugs in the form of a spray, for example, Yoks or Givalex. Such medicines have a disinfecting effect on the throat and speed up the child's recovery process. It is recommended to constantly ventilate the room where the child is located and monitor the maintenance of the required humidity.

With the development of pharyngitis in children older than 3 years, bed rest and the use of a large amount of liquid that contains alkali are necessary.

In addition, it is necessary to organize a sparing diet and completely exclude fried and sweet foods from the child's diet.

To treat the disease, you can make compresses based on honey, applying them to your legs. Hot foot baths and inhalations give a good effect. It is recommended to gargle with special antiseptics purchased ready-made in a pharmacy. You can prepare solutions for gargling yourself at home by dissolving 2-3 drops and iodine in 30 ml of warm water. This mixture must be brought to room temperature and offered to rinse the child.

A good result is the use of such antiseptic preparations as Yoks and Givalex. In the event that the child already knows how to dissolve medicines in the form of tablets, then you can offer him:

Pharyngosept
Septolete
Angisept

The use of antibacterial drugs in the treatment of pharyngitis in children remains a rather controversial issue. There are many situations when it is possible to cure the disease without the use of antibacterial drugs. Despite this, in severe forms of pharyngitis, antibiotics simply cannot be dispensed with, and especially in situations where there is a threat to the life of the child or an advanced stage with atrophied mucosa is diagnosed. Most often, antibiotics are prescribed when diagnosing a viral, bacterial or infectious disease.

More information about pharyngitis can be found in the video:

Treatment of pharyngitis in children can be carried out by laser exposure to the pharyngeal mucosa. In the event that the disease enters an advanced stage, then it is prescribed:

cryodestruction of side rollers and granules
cauterization with silver nitrate
radio wave quenching

In some cases, the treatment of the inflammatory process in the pharynx is carried out by surgical intervention. The specialist works with a laser on purulent granules and overgrown mucous membranes, but healthy tissue is not affected.

Traditional medicine against the disease

It must be remembered that the treatment of pharyngitis in children with folk remedies is carried out only after consultation with a specialist. Independent use of various herbal decoctions, infusions, bee products can lead to undesirable consequences for children's health.

At home, you can make a honey compress on your feet according to the following scheme:

it is necessary to melt bee honey to a liquid consistency in a water bath
with such honey, you should lubricate the child's feet and wrap them with several layers of gauze
for a stronger effect of the drug, it is recommended to wear warm socks
keep such a compress on your feet for 20-30 minutes

In the treatment of an acute form of pharyngitis, herbal decoctions can be used for. With their help, it is possible to get rid of pain, reduce the severity of the inflammatory process and alleviate the general condition of the child. To prepare herbal decoctions, you can use:

camomile
lavender
mint
raspberries
eucalyptus
marshmallow

Such herbal decoctions also have an analgesic effect on the inflamed tissue of the larynx, and it is necessary to gargle with their help until the child is completely cured.

A good effect is given by a folk remedy made from tomato juice and carefully chopped garlic. It is recommended to use this medicine every day after lunch for 7 days. It should be remembered that treatment in this way is contraindicated in patients with problems of the gastrointestinal tract.

Pharyngitis is not considered too dangerous a disease, but its consequences can pose a serious threat to the health of the child.

It is for this reason that when the first signs of the disease appear in a child, it is necessary to show it to a specialist. Proper nutrition, fortification of the body, increasing the protective properties of the body and timely vaccination helps to avoid infection with such a pathology.

Pharyngitis is an acute respiratory disease, manifested by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the pharynx.

The reasons

More often the disease is of viral origin. It can be provoked by the influenza virus, parainfluenza, rhinosinticial virus, adenovirus, parvovirus, coronavirus, etc. Cases of bacterial pharyngitis are not uncommon. The most common bacteria are staphylococci, streptococci, and pneumococci. Less often, infection with fungi (mainly of the genus Candida) leads to the development of inflammation.

Predisposing factors

General hypothermia. Most cases of the disease are recorded after a general hypothermia of the child's body;
local hypothermia. Often pharyngitis occurs in children who love to eat ice cream, chilled drinks, cottage cheese and yogurt from the refrigerator;
decrease in immunity. During periods of prolonged stress (for example, when passing exams), after strenuous physical exertion, during diets, the body's resistance to various infections decreases.
foci of chronic infection. Dental caries, chronic inflammation of the palatine tonsils, the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses are all foci of infection. With the flow of blood or lymph, the microorganisms that cause these diseases can disappear into any organ (including the throat) and lead to its inflammation;
early childhood. Acute pharyngitis is more often diagnosed in children of preschool and primary school age. After 10-12 years, the incidence of them becomes lower.

Symptoms

Acute pharyngitis is manifested by sore throat when swallowing, fever, weakness, increased fatigue. With adenovirus infection, pharyngitis is combined with inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes, mucous or purulent discharge from them. With enterovirus, abdominal pain, vomiting, loose stools additionally appear. With an infection caused by a coronavirus, a small punctate rash may appear on the patient's body, which disappears after recovery from SARS.

In young children, the general symptomatology prevails: they become lethargic, capricious. Their sleep worsens, appetite disappears, the temperature rises.

Diagnostics

In most cases, the diagnosis is made immediately after the examination. The back wall of the pharynx becomes edematous, acquires a bright red color. Often thick, white mucus flows down it from the nose (with nasopharyngitis). There may be graininess in the posterior wall.

With pharyngitis, regional groups of lymph nodes become inflamed: cervical, submandibular, chin. They increase in size, become more dense. When examining them, the patient may experience a feeling of soreness.

In a clinical blood test, inflammation is detected: the level of leukocytes rises, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) increases, a shift appears towards young forms of leukocytes. According to the increase in the level of neutrophils, one can assume a bacterial cause of the disease, according to an increase in the number of lymphocytes, a viral etiology.

To establish a specific type of pathogen, the discharge from the back of the pharynx is sown. The sensitivity of the microorganism to different groups of antibiotics is determined.

Treatment

Plentiful drink. Drinks with a high content of vitamin C are recommended: cranberry juice, blackcurrant compote, orange drink. If the child does not drink them, then mineral water without gases, warm tea, juices will do.
Vitaminized, easily digestible food. Given that the main symptom of pharyngitis is a severe sore throat when swallowing, hard, irritating foods should be excluded from the child's diet.
Recipe for the occasion::

The baby should receive the first meal every day. It is better if it is light, chicken soup without frying.

Of the second courses, it is better to give preference to mashed potatoes, steamed cutlets, milk porridges.
Fruits (especially oranges, tangerines, kiwi) and vegetables are recommended in large quantities.
Antiviral therapy. In many cases, pharyngitis is a manifestation of SARS, so antiviral drugs are successfully used in its treatment.
In young children, funds produced in the form of rectal suppositories are widely used. This is Viferon, Kipferon. The course of treatment is 5 days.

From 6 months of age, Anaferon for children, Ergoferon are allowed for use. They are accepted according to a special scheme. On the first day, the child should receive 7 tablets, on the second and subsequent days, the drug is used 1 ton * 3 times a day. Tablets dissolve in water and are given to the child, regardless of the time of the meal.

From the age of 3, it is possible to take tablets: Kagocel (treatment course 4 days), Arbidol (5 days).
Antibacterial therapy. In cases of suspicion of the bacterial nature of the disease (an increase in the level of neutrophils in the blood, the ineffectiveness of antiviral drugs for 3 days, etc.), it is necessary to start taking antibiotics.
Children under one year old are often prescribed Flemoxin-Solutab (in the form of soluble tablets for oral administration), Augmentin, Sumamed, Suprax (in the form of suspensions for preparing syrup). At an older age, these drugs are prescribed in tablets.

In case of severe intoxication (high temperature, severe drowsiness of the child, serious abnormalities in blood tests), injectable antibacterial drugs (for example, Ceftriaxone, Cefazolin, Amikacin) are recommended.
Topical preparations.

Drops for oral administration

These drugs include Tonsilgon-N. This is the only topical mucosal treatment approved for use in children under one year of age. It is available in the form of drops, which are dosed depending on age. The drug has a combined herbal composition. Like all tinctures, Tonsilgon-N is produced on alcohol. The alcohol contained in it is not absorbed into the general bloodstream of the child, but has only a local warming effect on the tonsils and pharyngeal walls.

Medicinal aerosols

They include various antiseptics. Most aerosols are approved for use from 5 years of age. This is due to the fact that when treating the oral cavity with a spray in a young child, respiratory arrest may reflexively occur. However, if the child does not belong to the group of allergy sufferers, then these drugs may be recommended to him before the specified period.

Of the aerosols for pharyngitis, Miramistin, Geksoral, Tantum Verde, Lugol (based on iodine), Bioparox are most often prescribed. Bioparox has a local antibacterial effect, so its use is justified in bacterial infections. Miramistin spray, which does not have an obvious medicinal taste and smell. It tastes like water. Children tolerate it well. Miramistin can be prescribed from an early age. The only condition for its use is the ability of the child to open his mouth wide at the request of an adult. Otherwise, instead of irrigating the back of the pharynx, which becomes inflamed with pharyngitis, the parents will only treat the back of the tongue.

Solutions for rinsing

Solutions can be herbal and made independently or medical.

To prepare a solution at home, common chamomile, calendula, linden flowers are well suited. These medicinal plants have a mild antiseptic effect. Rinse the oropharynx with such infusions or decoctions 5-6 times a day.

Of the specialized rinses, an aqueous solution of Furacillin, Chlorhexidine is widely used. Increasingly, with pharyngitis, Hexoral is used in solution, which has a wide range of actions (including it has an antifungal effect), Miramistin.

Preparations for resorption

Lozenges, tablets for local treatment are prescribed for children from 4-5 years of age. These drugs include Grammidin, Faringosept, Falimint.

They have a certain medicinal taste, so everything here depends on the organoleptic characteristics of the drug and the individual preferences of the child. For example, Pharyngosept has a more pleasant, sweet taste, and children dissolve it more readily than others.

Prevention

exclude general and local hypothermia of the child,
minimize contact with sick people,
pay attention to hardening, strengthening immunity,
timely and correctly conduct therapy for viral infections,
do not self-medicate, especially uncontrolled intake of antibacterial agents.

Pharyngitis is a respiratory disease that every person suffers at least once in a lifetime. It is important to competently approach its treatment, it is better if a qualified pediatrician or a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) deals with this.

With the wrong therapeutic approach, intermittent (non-course) use of antibiotics, and irregular local treatment, it is possible to artificially form the resistance of microorganisms to the therapy received. In the future, it will be much more difficult for such a patient to choose an effective treatment, and the risk of an acute form of the disease becoming chronic will increase significantly.

In the throat itchy and sore, it hurts to swallow, low temperature - these are signs of pharyngitis. In this disease, inflammation affects the back of the throat, but does not affect the tonsils, unlike tonsillitis. You can get sick with 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 imperceptibly for the child's body.

Causes of pharyngitis

Most cases of pharyngitis are caused by viruses that enter the lining of the throat. How the disease will proceed depends on the state of local immunity: the virus can gain a foothold in the tonsils, causing tonsillitis, but can only affect the throat - 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 (rare). In this case, its course may become longer, the symptoms are more pronounced, the temperature is high. If the doctor detects streptococcus, you will need to give the child antibiotics. But do not do this with 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. Babies, unfortunately, cannot tell their mother that they are in pain, but they become more capricious, sleep poorly, cough.

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 "cough". A strong cough suggests that the infection has gone down - causing tracheitis, laryngitis or bronchitis.

How to distinguish pharyngitis from tonsillitis

Sore throat with pharyngitis is moderate, appears only when swallowing food (not water), especially hot or hard. It is not pain that is constantly present, but an unpleasant sensation in the throat - “sore”. With angina, unlike pharyngitis, the sore 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 tonsillitis is the dynamics of body temperature. When the tonsils are affected, it rises quickly and high, sometimes up to 40 degrees, and often a 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 its pure form is quite rare. Usually it is 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 wall 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 suspected some more serious disease, a symptom of which may be pharyngitis. Most often, a swab is taken from the pharynx and checked 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 a 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 the case of long-term pharyngitis, you should consult a doctor. Its reasons may be:

Accession of a bacterial infection;
mononucleosis (with enlarged lymph nodes);
foreign body in the throat or its consequences;
irritation of the throat by environmental factors: very dry air in the apartment, air pollution with tobacco smoke, exhaust gases, dust, etc.;
breathing through the mouth in the presence of 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 itself. Our efforts will be aimed at alleviating unpleasant symptoms: perspiration, pain, high fever, as well as giving peace and strength to recover from a sore throat.

Gargling - Helps relieve discomfort and reduce swelling. The safest rinse is salted warm water. Put one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water, rinse at least 3 times a day. Not suitable for small children.
warm drink - warm tea, fees, herbal infusions. Fluid helps prevent dehydration, which makes all diseases worse. In addition, a warm drink relieves sore throat with pharyngitis. Talk to your pediatrician about which herbs are best for your child.
Humidification in the room - you can use a humidifier, and if it is not available, then a large open container of water. Dry air irritates the child's throat and nose, causing a runny nose and sore throat. 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 bad at the same time. Over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used.

Do 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.

Aerosols from the throat can be used in children older than 2 years. In young children, this should not be done, since there is a risk of causing a complication - a spasm of the glottis with the development of acute respiratory failure. Carefully choose an aerosol (spray), preferably without alcohol and very harsh irritants, so as not to cause discomfort in the child.

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

Sometimes with pharyngitis, combined with a runny nose, it makes sense to instill vasoconstrictor drugs (nazol, xylometazoline, etc.) into the child's nose. They reduce swelling of the mucous membrane and the amount of mucus discharge. Mucus stops draining into the throat and does not provoke pharyngitis. Talk to your doctor about medications. Do not use vasoconstrictor drugs for longer than 3-4 days in a row because of the possibility of addiction and rebound effect.

In treatment chronic tonsillitis the most important thing is not drugs, but to eliminate adverse environmental factors:
protect the child from air pollutants, tobacco and other types of smoke, dust;
monitor the humidity in the room and maintain it at 50-60% with 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 outdoors, the healthier they grow and the more strength they have to fight infections. Remember that, as one book says, "in good weather, children are great outside, but in bad weather, it's good."