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Viral tonsillitis in children symptoms and treatment

Acute tonsillitis, acute inflammation of the tonsils, is defined as the inflammation of the tissues severe infections. Most often, we are talking about inflammation with the part of the tonsils, known as tonsillitis.

Despite the fact that this is a very common disease, its diagnosis and the main question, what to treat and how to treat viral angina and bacterial remains a challenge for physicians. Cause is a bacterial infection caused by pyogenic beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, which is represented in 90% of cases. The peak incidence of streptococcal sore throats in children between the ages of 5 to 15 years. The incubation period is 2-6 days (when infected by Streptococcus pyogenes). In children in the first three years of life, this pathogen is a rare cause of acute tonsillitis, while among adults it is responsible for 10% of cases.

Virusnaya angina u detej simptomy i lechenie

Complications

Inflammatory complications when antibiotics are less common. Local complications often faced by the experts in otorhinolaryngology. They are represented by spread of infection to the lymph nodes. There are, in particular, paratonsillar abscesses and cellulitis, and subsequently more severe complications, the healing process which is carried out in specialized clinics, which are caused by the penetration of infection to the deep cervical region. The common complications are a manifestation of post-streptococcal reactions, which are vivid symptoms and signs. They are divided into inflammatory and noninflammatory.

Severe cases of angina in the past, in the civilized part of Europe, they were virtually eliminated by the end of the last century. However, lately there are alarming cases of very serious and dramatic illnesses, this includes, for example, streptococcal toxic syndrome, which is accompanied by internal damage due to toxins. Such complications, however, are extremely rare. Acute rheumatic fever in the past were very frequent and serious complication of strep. The rate of this disease in Europe in recent years has decreased, thus, the disease has become rare. This reduction is associated with improved socio-economic living conditions of the population, as well as prophylactic use of penicillin.

Bacterial and viral tonsillitis in children – causes and symptoms

Angina is usually called the disease of the laryngeal region, which includes cervical and nasopharyngeal tonsils part. But this name also applies to other painful conditions. In children, most often, you may encounter disease of the tonsils. We are talking about inflammation of the tonsils caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infection.

Virusnaya angina u detej simptomy i lechenie

The infection can affect the tonsils, or tonsillitis may be part of another concomitant disease.

The pathogen – which causes a sore throat in children?

Cause bacterial inflammation, as a rule, are such microorganisms as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and pneumococcus. The culprit viral sore throats are a common viruses causing diseases. The infection occurs most often drip infection, the emergence of the disease contributes to stay in society, but not stand by factors such as cold, draughts, dry and dusty air (Central heating) and a decrease in immunity during physical or mental exhaustion after operations, injuries and serious illness.

Course of disease

Angina is mostly a seasonal disease, the most common are presented during the fall-spring. The onset is characterized by symptoms, like General fatigue, pain in muscles and joints, pain in the throat, especially when swallowing, swelling of the submandibular glands, high fever.

Viral sore throat

In the case of viral sore throat during the inspection of the throat with visible redness of the pharyngeal mucosa and tonsils, soft palate, obvious tiny scattered spots on tonsils but no purulent lesions. At the same time, there are symptoms such as a cough or runny nose. The temperature may continue for 3-5 days, the doctor will recommend to treat a sore throat of this type is sufficientbed rest, medicines to reduce fever, age-appropriate child nasal drops and cough syrups, if necessary, by gargling or by the use of disinfectant sprays. To treat a viral sore throat in a child (or adult) antibiotics should not be, these preparations are in place only then, when there is a bacterial complication!

Purulent tonsillitis

When purulent tonsillitis, which usually develops 2-3 days after the onset of the disease, an examination of the throat visible purulent foci in the swollen tonsils, other symptoms presents with painful swallowing and increased salivation, "nasal" speech, sometimes there is pain in the ears, chills and fever, the child feels weakness. Appropriate and desirable at this stage to take a swab from the throat for bacteriological analysis, which can identify the causative agent.

Virusnaya angina u detej simptomy i lechenie

The disease doesn't always have to be dramatic, it can be easy, with only a slight increase in temperature and, as a rule, pain in the throat and difficulty in swallowing. Unfortunately, easy the course often leads to the underestimation of this disease. Each type of the disease should be treated properly, every sore throat should be regarded as a serious disease. It is always necessary to conduct laboratory tests (urine and possibly a blood test), as complications of tonsillitis, especially streptococcal, always serious (inflammation of the heart muscle, arthritis, nephritis). Treatment should always be adequate, i.e., continue for 7-10 days, antibiotics should be taken at specified intervals. About the treatment you need to consult a doctor, never of antibiotic therapy do not assign and do not interrupt yourself! Part of the treatment is also sufficient recovery, which means at least within a week after the treatment to rest and leisure, limitation of physical activity.

Re sore throat

You always need about the disease consult your doctor as it is important to find out the cause of recurrent tonsillitis. Fabric wrinkled and tonsils have deep crypts, where the infection can accumulate, therefore you can either become a carrier, not ill (but infecting your surroundings), or with a weakened immune system, getting sick again with tonsillitis. In this case, a detailed examination, including tests of the immune system and consult an ENT specialist who will take a decision on the possible removal of the tonsils (in case of repeated tonsillitis 5 times a year more often).

Practical advice about tonsillitis

If you have to call for child medical emergency, doctors will prescribe antibiotics, next day or after the weekend, will report this fact to your doctor. Antibiotics, if necessary, their introduction is issued for a limited period, so further treatment should appoint a doctor!

Purulent angina is always a serious disease, so even if your child after 3 days looks "healthy", don't forget about the recovery period!

Medicine apply in exact intervals, and never discontinue treatment on their own!

How to examine a child's throat?

We all know what problems arise at children with a view of the throat. It is therefore advisable to re-explanations and practical examples to show the child that this action is not scary and not painful. What to do?

  1. Seat the child at the window in front of himself, ask him to open his mouth and gently with a wooden spoon or blunt end of a spoon press the middle part of the tongue, at the same time, ask the child to breathe deeply through mouth (he will focus the attention on the breath, and the spoon in his mouth will forget). It never force your child to stick out his tongue – this leads to strain of muscular structures of the pharynx and easily causes a gag reflex, especially when clicking on the root of the tongue.
  2. If the child refuses to cooperate, ask him to try to do everything yourself in the mirror. So he realizes this inspection of the throat is not a problem.
  3. Inspect the throat even when the child is not sick, so you learn to assess changes in the mucosa of the oral cavity and tonsils during the illness. As a rule, the mucous membrane has a light red color, but when there is inflammation, it is shiny, more dark color, the tonsils appear whitish plaque also changes the mucosa of the soft palate.

Viral and bacterial tonsillitis in children treatment

In most cases, viral inflammation occurs in mild and requires only symptomatic therapy. Treatment involves resting mode. In General there are methods that increase sweating, taken vitamin C. To decrease subjective complaints, you can use the tablets to relieve sore throat.

Virusnaya angina u detej simptomy i lechenie

Attention! Treatment of viral tonsillitis in children (similarly as the therapy of angina in adults) does not involve the use of antibiotics, since viruses are not sensitive to these drugs!

For streptococcal infections and other bacterial infections generally antibiotics are used. In the case of Streptococcus the drug of first choice isPenicillin. Parenteral penicillin therapy is effective, but involves more serious possible reactions and treatment is expensive.

The ineffectiveness of Penicillin treatment occurs mainly in the case of recurrent angina, often caused by bacteria producing beta-lactamases.