What is purulent angina?

Angina (acute tonsillitis) is an acute infectious, inflammatory disease with typical changes in lymphoid tissue in the nose and throat or larynx. The most commonly observed lesions of the palatine tonsils.

Pathogens - various microbes and viruses, most often streptococci, less often staphylococci, pneumococci, yeast-like fungi and others. In the emergence of angina, influenza viruses and adenoviruses play a significant role. Factors predisposing to the onset of the disease are general and local cooling or, conversely, overheating, as well as a dusty atmosphere, hypovitaminosis, decreased immunity, and sometimes a trauma to the tonsils. The disease develops, as a rule, in the autumn and spring periods.

Infection can be exo- (external) and endogenous (from within). At the same time, there are 2 ways of transmission of infection: alimentary and air-drop. Infection occurs usually in close contact with a diseased sore throat. The disease can occur with the presence in the cavity of the pharynx or mouth inflammation foci - gum disease, carious teeth. The source of infection is also purulent inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses.

With angina, malaise, general weakness, pain when swallowing, chills, fever and headache. The duration of the disease depends on the form of angina, but on average it lasts 5-10 days.

The most common vulgar (banal, ordinary) angina. These include catarrhal, follicular purulent angina, lacunar purulent angina and phlegmonous.

Catarrhal angina has the easiest clinical course in comparison with others, but it can also lead to various complications. It is manifested by weakness, perspiration, dryness in the throat, fever rising to 38 C, gradually a pain in the throat. In young children, vomiting is possible. There is a hyperemia of the palatine tonsils and palatine arch.

Follicular purulent angina is characterized by a more pronounced clinical picture. It is characterized by an acute onset of the disease and an increase in temperature to 40 ° C. There is weakness, sweating, loss of appetite, pain in the joints. The nearest lymph nodes are greatly enlarged and painful on palpation. There is hyperemia and swelling of palatine tonsils, arches and palate. Visible festering follicles, in the form of quite small bubbles of white and yellow. Lacunar purulent angina has almost the same symptoms. It forms yellowish-white deposits, localized in the mouths of lacunae, which, merging, can cover the entire surface of the tonsils. These raids are easily removed. The division of these two anginas is conditional, since they can be present simultaneously.

Angina phlegmonous is a purulent, acute inflammation of the amygdala or nearby cellulose. It is most often a complication of the previously described angina. Most often this is a one-way process. There is a severe pain in the throat when swallowing, the child refuses to take even liquid food, there is a sharp headache, weakness, nasal, the body temperature rises to 39 C, abundant saliva is released. The regional lymph nodes are greatly enlarged and painful on palpation. The soft palate is hyperemic and swollen on one side. The palatine tonsil is displaced towards the midline and slightly downward. Due to the swelling of the soft palate, the tonsil can often be examined. The mobility of the soft palate becomes significantly limited, which leads to the leakage of liquid food from the nose. If the sore throat is not treated, then on the 5th-6th day there may be an abscess in the cellulose - a peritonsillar abscess.

Complications

Frequent recurring angina contributes to the development of kidney, liver, meningitis, rheumatism and heart disease. Of the local complications - acute laryngitis, otitis media, laryngeal edema, phlegmon neck, acute cervical lymphadenitis, abscess.

Treatment

For the rinse use warm solutions of potassium permanganate, furacilin, soda, sage and chamomile (1 tablespoon per 1 glass of water), antibiotics. To small children who do not know how to gargle, give as often as possible (every 0.5-1 hour) to drink tea with the addition of lemon, fruit juices or simply warm water. Lubricate the pharynx contraindicated, since there may be an exacerbation. Food should be vitaminized, hot, too cold or hot food is excluded. It is useful to drink abundantly, including milk and mineral alkaline water. With lymphadenitis - warming compresses on the neck area at night, it is best to alcohol (1 part of alcohol diluted in 2 parts of water) and warm dressings during the day. You can do steam inhalation. Medication should be used depending on the pathogen and the nature of angina strictly individual.

Purulent angina in children, treatment

Antibiotics for purulent sore throat are mandatory, as there is a pronounced intoxication. Most often penicillins, and with allergies to it - antibiotics erythromycin series, cephalosporins, tetracyclines or levomycetin. When prescribing antibiotics, it is obligatory to give children multivitamins and preparations to normalize the intestinal microflora (for the prevention of dysbacteriosis).

Children are very susceptible to angina, so the sick child should be in a separate room from other children, in which frequent wet cleaning and airing is necessary. It is necessary to allocate a separate dish, which must be boiled or poured with boiling water. It is necessary to completely exclude contact with other children.