Diseases of the oropharynx. Symptoms and treatment of inflammation of the pharynx. Rare diseases in which the throat hurts

Antonio Leeuwenhoek - that was the name of the Delft merchant - is considered the founder of microscopy. It was to him that the discovery of the infusoria of the shoe belongs, it was he who first described blood cells and a variety of forms of bacteria.

But then, back in the 17th century, he was incredibly surprised when he first discovered microscopic "animals" in pepper broth. And he was completely shocked by the discovery that hundreds of such animals live in his mouth.

Since the time of Antonio Leeuwenhoek, science has made a tremendous leap forward, including microbiology. Now it is difficult to surprise someone with the message that thousands of microorganisms live in his mouth. But does every patient think about the harm these microorganisms bring to health?

Meanwhile, we know that infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity and pharynx (pharyngitis, glossitis, stomatitis and gingivitis) are among the most common reasons for patients to visit district physicians, family doctors and otorhinolaryngologists, which indicates the widespread prevalence of this problem.

The main cause of the development of inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, etc.) is a viral infection (rhinovirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza, influenza, etc.).

When the oropharynx is affected, adenoviral and rhinovirus infections are more common than others. The body reacts to the introduction of an infectious agent and violation of the integrity of the mucous membranes by the development of an inflammatory process, in which a number of protective mechanisms are activated: changes in the permeability of the vascular wall, increased blood flow, increased activity of macrophages and polymorphonuclear cellular elements, release of inflammatory mediators, free oxygen radicals. Macrophages play a major role in the defense mechanism, causing an increase in the level of T-lymphocytes through the release of cytokines. Various diseases accompanied by a decrease in local and general body resistance (primary and acquired immunodeficiency states, cystic fibrosis, endocrine diseases, etc.). Local hypothermia of the oropharynx with cold food, drinks or cold air, as well as exposure to various irritating agents (tobacco or other smoke with systematic exposure, dustiness of the air, the presence of irritating chemicals in the air) can lead to a decrease in local immunity. With inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, infected secretions can enter the pharynx and stimulate infectious inflammatory processes in it.

With a decrease in immunity, the so-called "transient flora" can acquire the status of "pathogenic". The "transient flora" includes streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, gram-negative diplococci and other microflora, usually sown in the norm and in a healthy person.

Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is divided into acute and chronic. Acute pharyngitis is an infectious inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx and palatine tonsils. With favorable development, acute pharyngitis may resolve spontaneously, without medical intervention. But most often, acute pharyngitis is accompanied by the development of inflammatory, and sometimes purulent processes in adjacent tissues. The main complaints of patients with acute lesions of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx are unpleasant sensations - burning, tingling, dryness, pain when swallowing; headache localized in the occipital region. Children often have shortness of breath and nasality. In adults, this disease occurs without a sharp deterioration in the general condition, and in children it can occur with a sharp increase in temperature up to 39 ° C. Especially in cases where inflammation spreads to the larynx and trachea. Acute pharyngitis is characterized by an increase and soreness of the cervical and occipital lymph nodes. Examination of the patient reveals hyperemia of the posterior pharyngeal wall and palatine arches, separate inflamed lymphoid granules, but there are no signs of inflammation of the palatine tonsils characteristic of tonsillitis.

Chronic pharyngitis, unlike acute, as a rule, is bacterial in nature, less often fungal. This is a polyetiological disease characterized by the presence of inflammatory and degenerative changes in the pharyngeal mucosa. Chronic pharyngitis is characterized by complaints of dryness, perspiration, soreness and sensation of a foreign body in the throat, often a dry cough and the formation of viscous sputum, fever. A significant deterioration in the general condition is rare in patients with chronic pharyngitis. When making a diagnosis, the pharyngoscope picture is taken into account. The development of chronic pharyngitis is associated with the harmful effects of such irritating factors as alcohol, nicotine, spicy food, carbonated drinks, various adverse industrial and climatic influences. The formation of the disease is facilitated by pathological conditions of the nasal cavity, leading to impaired nasal breathing - deviated nasal septum, vasomotor and hypertrophic rhinitis, nasal polyposis, adenoids. The cause of chronic pharyngitis can be recurrent infections of the respiratory tract, leading to persistent damage to the mucociliary barrier and significant inhibition of the mechanisms of local and general immunity. Atrophic pharyngitis is a consequence of progressive atrophy of the pharyngeal mucosa in the elderly.

gingivitis and periodontitis

An imbalance in the oral defense system can cause inflammation of the gum mucosa - gingivitis. When inflammation spreads from the gingival margin to the tissues surrounding the teeth, gingivitis turns into periodontitis, which can later lead to inflammation of the bone tissue, loosening and loss of the tooth. In patients older than 15 years, in 50% of cases, the cause of tooth loss is periodontal disease. In gingivitis, the gum becomes inflamed, swelling occurs, its contour changes. Due to edema, the gingival sulcus between the tooth deepens, and the so-called gingival pocket is formed. As a result, there is reddening of the gingival margin, swelling and bleeding of the gums, it becomes sensitive and painful, there are difficulties in chewing and swallowing. Gingivitis can be either acute or chronic. Chronic gingivitis is more common in adults.

Stomatitis

Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity include stomatitis - inflammation of the oral mucosa. According to the clinical manifestation, stomatitis is divided into catarrhal, ulcerative and aphthous. The most common cause of stomatitis is poor oral hygiene, dental disease, dental plaque, oral dysbacteriosis, and gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, duodenitis, colitis, etc.). Aphthous stomatitis is characterized by a connection with allergic reactions, viral infections, rheumatism. Depending on the severity and form of the disease, patients complain of pain in the oral cavity and pharynx, severe pain during chewing, swallowing articulation. Sometimes there is an increase in body temperature up to 37.5 ° C, an increase in regional lymph nodes, malaise, headache. On examination, defects in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and tongue are determined.

Treatment: general principles

Therapeutic tactics for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and pharynx includes the appointment of drugs with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunocorrective effects, local antiseptics, decongestants and hyposensitizing drugs. In the complex of therapeutic measures, an important role belongs to drugs that have a combined effect.

What exactly is the treatment?

So, a specialist treating a patient with an inflammatory disease of the oral cavity and pharynx has the main mission: choosing the most effective drug. It is on this choice that the speed and effectiveness of the therapy depends.

Scientific reference

Causes of inflammation of the oral cavity

Traumatic inflammation. Trauma can be mechanical, chemical or physical, acute or long term.
Infectious inflammatory processes (viral, bacterial, fungal infections).
Allergic reactions, accompanied by swelling and inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Inflammation of the mucosa in systemic diseases: hypo- and beriberi, endocrine diseases, diseases of the blood system, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, etc.

HEXETIDINE

Broad-spectrum antiseptic against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. Bactericide for anaerobic bacteria. Bacteriostatic for most strains of bacteria at a concentration of 100 mg / ml. Fungicide against fungi of the genus Blastomycetes, Trichophyton, Histoplasma, Microsporum. It inhibits the growth and reproduction of more than 40 strains of fungi of the genus Candida. Weak analgesic.

The undeniable advantage of hexetidine, in addition to a wide spectrum of action, is a high degree of adhesion on the mucous membrane of the oropharynx. At the same time, in the absence of absorption, hexetidine has a lasting effect (active concentrations of hexetidine on mucous membranes persist for hours after a single application).

CHOLINE SALICYLATE

A powerful analgesic and antipyretic, a derivative of salicylic acid. It blocks the enzymes COX-1 and COX-2, inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins, due to which it has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. It inhibits the activation of macrophages and neutrophils, showing anti-edematous action. It has an antipyretic and analgesic effect. It is indispensable in the treatment of diseases of the oropharynx, accompanied by an increase in local temperature, severe inflammation, swelling and soreness. It is well absorbed from mucous membranes, has a fast effect.

CHLOROBUTANOL

A fast-acting local anesthetic, a reliable tool in the arsenal of dentists and otorhinolaryngologists. It has additional properties: antibacterial and antifungal effects. Helps to enhance the analgesic effect in combination with hexetidine and choline salicylate.

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Diseases of the oropharynx

The most common cause of oropharyngeal disease are various infections. Their most popular consequences are tonsillitis (more scientifically - acute tonsillitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis. The article contains doctors' recommendations on how not to harm yourself with these diseases, but on the contrary, help the body recover quickly.

Angina causes inflammation of the tonsils. In addition to a sore throat, she is accompanied by aches all over her body, weakness and high temperature, from 38 degrees.

A person wakes up in the morning relatively vigorous, but by the evening he usually “turns limp”. The disease has many varieties: catarrhal (red throat), follicular (purulent follicles on the tonsils), lacunar (pus in the lacunae), aphthous (rashes on the tonsils in the form of white or pinkish ulcers), herpetic (rashes on the tonsils in the form of bubbles).

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. Symptoms - perspiration and redness, slightly elevated (about 37.5 ° C) temperature and - a distinguishing feature - hoarse heavy breathing and a hoarse voice. The patient's condition is worse in the morning, immediately after waking up.

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx. It is accompanied by redness, perspiration, the same as with laryngitis, a slightly elevated temperature, often with a dry, painful cough.

Treatment is prescribed by a doctor. Warm rinses and grandmother's recipes will not help. Untreated diseases can lead to all sorts of complications. But typical recommendations for diseases of the oropharynx are the same for everyone.

Inflammation of the oropharynx. Do's and Don'ts for Treatment

With inflammation of the oropharynx, you can not:

That is, talk long and loudly. Communication should be kept to a minimum. Listen more. Shorten your answers. As the signalmen say, switch to the mode of receiving information.

2. There are salty, chocolate, spicy and even healthy citrus fruits. All these products irritate the oropharynx. You should also avoid solid foods: crackers, cookies. It is best to use cereals, light broths, baked vegetables.

3. Drink excessively hot drinks.

They will not warm the throat, but only additionally injure the mucous membrane.

4. At elevated temperatures, consume a lot of milk.

Protein dishes in such a situation can increase the intoxication of the body.

5. Gargle with water with soda and iodine.

This disinfectant solution will benefit only with purulent sore throat. In other cases, it will only irritate the mucous membrane of the throat.

Inflammation of the oropharynx implies bed rest and, ideally, the cessation of intercourse above.

7. Independently "prescribe" antibiotics.

8. Postpone calling your doctor if your sore throat is accompanied by headache, fever, vomiting, or rash.

With inflammation of the oropharynx, you can and should:

1. Relieve pain with local remedies - special lozenges or sprays.

2. Take complex vitamins to strengthen immunity.

3. Ventilate the room. This will help you fall asleep faster and sleep better at night.

4. Drink a warm drink with vitamin C and honey as often as possible (in the absence of an allergy to the latter).

It has a healing and disinfecting effect. It will be useful to include extracts of hawthorn and wild rose in the composition of such drinks.

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The most common throat diseases: symptoms of diseases and treatment

Each of us at least once in our lives has experienced such an unpleasant symptom as a sore throat. Someone immediately begins treatment and taking antibiotics, while someone simply ignores the discomfort and waits for other symptoms of the disease to appear or everything will pass by itself.

The causes of sore throat can be different, in order to prevent serious consequences, you need to have an idea what diseases of the throat and larynx exist, what signs and symptoms they have, and what needs to be done for a speedy recovery.

The most common diseases of the throat and larynx with a description

Types of diseases of the throat and larynx can be divided into several groups:

Viral and bacterial, these are the most common diseases today, the causative agents of which are bacteria and viruses.
Fungal, these are diseases that appear as a result of a very active reproduction of moldy and yeast-like fungi. Most often they are expressed through angina, laryngitis or pharyngitis. With fungal infections, there is always a coating of curdled mass, severe sore throat, but without fever. Usually, mycosis occurs as a result of a decrease in immunity, vitamin deficiency, courses of antibiotic therapy or treatment with hormonal drugs. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract can also lead to the appearance of mycosis.
Tumor, these are diseases of the larynx and throat, which can be triggered by tumor processes in the body. The tumor is primary, when it first forms in the larynx, and secondary, when it manifests itself as metastases from oncological diseases of other organs. In this case, patients may feel a "lump in the throat", the presence of a foreign body, difficulty swallowing food. The voice may also change, becoming more hoarse and hoarse.
Caused by an external irritant - these are diseases provoked by an allergy to irritating substances in the environment or a reaction to very dry air.

SARS and influenza - dryness, soreness and pain when swallowing, hoarseness, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, body aches can be felt in the throat. The temperature often does not rise above 38 0С. Taking antibiotics in this case is completely ineffective, since these drugs are not designed to fight viruses, but bacteria.

With ARVI, it is worth taking antiviral agents and / or immunomodulators. To alleviate the symptoms of SARS, gargle with decoctions of chamomile and sage, which relieve inflammation well. And also get sprays with a slight analgesic effect or lollipops with eucalyptus and sage.

Support immunity with vitamin C, drink plenty of warm, but not hot liquids. For these purposes, compotes with rose hips, honey, and herbal teas are well suited.

Adenoiditis is a disease that occurs as a consequence of a viral infection that affects the pharyngeal tonsil. Symptoms are severe headaches, sore throat, breathing problems, purulent runny nose. If the disease is not diagnosed in time, then it can develop into otitis media, tonsillitis, sinusitis.

For the treatment of adenoiditis, washing of the nasopharynx with antiseptic solutions and laser exposure is used. In severe cases, it may lead to surgery.

Throat and throat diseases

Infectious mononucleosis, or type IV herpes virus, has similar symptoms, and a sore throat can be combined with a breakdown, headache, nausea, and fever. Then there are signs as with angina, the cervical lymph nodes swell, nasal breathing becomes difficult, the timbre of the voice changes. The palatine and nasopharyngeal tonsils are covered with plaque. Sometimes an icteric skin tone and a rash may appear.

It is transmitted by airborne droplets, more often in closed groups, for example, kindergartens, and remains in the body throughout life, with a decrease in immunity, a relapse of the disease can occur. Only a doctor can prescribe the correct treatment, and only he is able to assess the advisability of taking antibiotics.

Angina is one of the most common ailments. Most often it occurs due to streptococcus, less often mycoplasma, chlamydia, gonococcus or tubercle bacillus.

The onset of the disease is most often manifested by high fever and very severe sore throat. The larynx is red and inflamed, the tonsils are covered with white. Often accompanied by joint pain and migraine.

Keep in mind that with this disease, antibiotic treatment cannot be avoided, otherwise there may be very serious complications. If you suspect you have a sore throat, seek medical help as soon as possible. Of the medical preparations, broad-spectrum antibiotics or based on bacterial culture, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

With angina, bed rest should be observed, it is recommended to eat mashed soft food and drink plenty of warm liquids. If you want to get better quickly and relieve inflammation, then use rinsing with decoctions of sage, linden, chamomile, miramistin and furacilin solutions.

You can use stronger means, for example, a 1% solution of iodinol, a solution of hydrogen peroxide, a solution of potassium permanganate, a solution of boric acid, calendula tincture. This will help to quickly relieve sore throat and clean the mucous membrane.

It is effective to use inhalations with decoctions of herbs, such as chamomile, eucalyptus, Siberian elder, marigold flowers. And with enlarged lymph nodes, compresses with alcohol, menovazine, novocaine and menthol will be very useful.

Chronic diseases of the larynx and throat

Chronic tonsillitis is a chronic inflammation of the palatine tonsils. Both adults and children suffer from it, and the most common cause is recurring tonsillitis, acute respiratory infections or diseases such as scarlet fever, diphtheria and measles. When nasal breathing has a persistent violation, immunity is lowered, sinusitis, rhinitis and sinusitis occur very often, then the risks of developing chronic tonsillitis are high.

During an exacerbation of the disease, the same treatment is prescribed as with angina. But in order to completely get rid of this misfortune, it is necessary to cure, first of all, the ailments that contribute to the appearance of chronic tonsillitis.

Scarlet fever - the disease begins with severe inflammation and redness of the throat. The temperature rises, and the child may refuse to eat. The difference between scarlet fever and ARVI will be a gray-yellow coating on the tongue at the onset of the disease, on the second third day of the illness, the coating disappears, and the tip of the tongue becomes crimson. Within two days, a pink rash appears on the body, which then turns red and acquires a burgundy hue. Most often, the disease is treated at home with antibiotics and bed rest. Remember that within 7-10 days a sick child can infect others, so you should limit his contact with other people.
Diphtheria is a disease that can be in different forms. There are diphtheria of the larynx, croup and pharynx. In most cases, the onset of the disease is expressed by swelling of the larynx and nasopharynx, sore throat, runny nose, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Diphtheria is often confused with angina, as they share a number of common symptoms, such as fever, headache, pain when swallowing, red tonsils or yellowish pustules in follicular angina.
The main difference between angina and diphtheria is that in the first case, when swallowing, the pain is very strong, and in the second, the pain is much weaker. With diphtheria, there is a very strong enlargement of the lymph nodes, up to swelling of the neck. With angina, after a couple of days, the temperature drops, and the pain in the throat and larynx disappears, and during diphtheria, the temperature constantly rises and the condition of the patient becomes worse and worse.
To date, diphtheria is much less common, but requires its exclusion when making an accurate diagnosis. Treatment of diphtheria is possible only with the help of antitoxic antidiphtheria serum and antibiotics, sometimes the administration of corticosteroid drugs is required. In any case, only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment, self-medication in this case is unacceptable.

Rare diseases in which the throat hurts

Epiglottitis is a very rare disease, more common in children under 4 years of age. It is very dangerous because it can lead to impaired airway patency. The disease manifests itself as pain in the larynx and throat, fever, salivation and nasal congestion, a characteristic feature is hyperemia and swelling of the epiglottis.

Lips and fingertips may turn blue. To breathe, the patient has to stretch his neck, open his mouth and stick out his tongue. The disease is caused by Haemophilus influenzae, which provokes the appearance of meningitis and pneumonia.

The disease can be diagnosed and cured only in a hospital setting. And the sooner the correct diagnosis is made, the better for the patient, since the disease develops rapidly and can be fatal.

Frequent illnesses with sore throat

Pharyngitis is a disease that is accompanied by a feeling of dryness in the throat, dry cough, stabbing pain in the larynx, perspiration. During swallowing and when trying to open the mouth wide, the pain intensifies. There may be discomfort, similar to a lump in the throat. The mucous membrane in the throat is red and inflamed, there may be plaque and pus.

Pharyngitis as an independent disease is very rare, more often it appears in conjunction with inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract in an acute form. Pharyngitis can be catarrhal, atrophic and hypertrophic. In the latter form, the need to expectorate and cough up is especially acute. In the morning, these processes can even be accompanied by vomiting and nausea.

When treating a disease, exclude hot, spicy, sour foods, and drink plenty of liquids with a vitamin composition, such as fruit drinks and compotes. You can rinse your mouth with iodinol, alkaline solutions, lubricate the mucous membrane with a solution of Lugol with glycerin, a solution of collargol and protargol.

But remember that these are only additional methods of treatment, and you cannot avoid going to the doctor, because the chronic form of pharyngitis without proper treatment appears very easily, and getting rid of it is not so easy.

Laryngitis is inflammation of the vocal cords and larynx. The main symptom of laryngitis is a hoarse or no voice and a barking cough. The patient may feel a scratching pain in the throat, later sputum may appear during expectoration.

For young children, in whom it occurs most often, it is the most dangerous. The structural features of the children's larynx are such that in a supine position, especially at night, there are high chances of laryngeal edema, and this can make it very difficult for a child to breathe.

In this situation, the intervention of doctors and an ambulance call is required. Before the arrival of doctors, you should raise the child vertically and provide him with a warm, moist environment to relieve spasm, a bathroom with a hot shower is quite suitable for this purpose.

Laryngitis in a chronic form can be caused not only by bacteria, but also by external factors, for example, overstrain of the voice, the action of harmful substances, and smoking.

In the absence of high temperature, inhalation with mineral water or Berodual helps to alleviate the condition. A warm compress on the throat and drinking warm herbal decoctions and teas may help. And it is very important, if possible, not to strain the vocal cords, it is better to be silent for a couple of days. And also do not forget to humidify the air in the room, if you do not have a humidifier, then use a wet towel.

If an adult is sick, then doctors strongly recommend refraining from drinking alcohol and smoking during illness.

Laryngeal edema is not an independent disease, and most often develops against the background of laryngeal tonsillitis, phlegmonous laryngitis, and purulent processes in the larynx. It can be either inflammatory or non-inflammatory. Laryngeal edema can occur as an allergic reaction to cosmetics, medicines, or food.

Prevention of the occurrence of diseases of the throat

It is not yet possible to completely protect yourself from such diseases, but there are ways to minimize the risks of their occurrence. To do this, you need to follow a number of simple rules:

Do not smoke, as this addiction turns the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and throat into the weakest and most vulnerable places in the body.
Make your menu useful and varied, giving preference to healthy and wholesome food.
Do not forget to humidify the air in the room, especially during the heating season. Dry air especially strongly irritates the throat and provokes the formation of microtraumas, which is an open road for pathogenic bacteria.
Wash your hands often for yourself and your children. It has been proven that most of the microorganisms harmful to us get to us because of unwashed hands.
Drink vitamins. It is better to take immediately complexes for better functioning of the immune system or immunomodulators.
Dress appropriately for the weather to avoid hypothermia. By itself, it does not cause the development of colds, but provokes vasoconstriction and a violation of the protective barrier of the mucous membranes in the body. And always remember, self-medication can be dangerous. Do not put off a visit to the doctor indefinitely. And be healthy!

Oropharyngeal cancer

The oropharynx connects the pharynx (from the soft palate) and the larynx. At this site, the respiratory and digestive tracts intersect. It is the soft palate that separates the oropharynx from the nasopharynx.

A malignant neoplasm characterized by a high growth rate is oropharyngeal cancer. The aggressiveness of the tumor is confirmed by histological analysis and clinical features in the form of rapid metastasis to regional lymph nodes and distant organs.

Oncoprocess, in most cases, is registered after the age of 40 years. Basically, the neoplasm is located on the palatine tonsils (73%), but there is a lesion of the posterior pharyngeal wall (16%) and soft palate (11%). Due to the hidden initial period, often, the disease is diagnosed at stages 3-4, and in half of the cases metastases in the lymph nodes are detected.

Causes of Oropharyngeal Cancer

The occurrence of a malignant focus in the oropharynx can be a primary process or secondary, as a result of malignancy of a benign formation. Cell malignancy can be observed due to exposure to provoking factors, for example:

smoking, chewing tobacco;
alcohol abuse;
poor-quality, inconveniently installed dentures.

In addition, it is worth noting the conditions and background pathology, which increases the risk of tissue degeneration into malignant ones:

inflammatory processes (sinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis);
leukoplakia, erythroplakia of the pharynx;
papillomas;
immunodeficiency.

Symptoms

The initial period (1-3 months) does not have any noticeable symptoms. The tumor increases with time, begins to feel like a foreign body, pain occurs when swallowing and choking.

Depending on the location of oncology, a nasal voice worries, liquid food is thrown into the nasopharynx and appetite decreases. When the surface of the tumor is injured by a food lump, an admixture of blood is noted in the saliva.

The tumor can grow into the lumen of the oropharynx or deep into the tissues.

Signs of oropharyngeal cancer by stage

The staging of malignant diseases (TNM) is based on criteria such as tumor size (T), involvement of surrounding lymph nodes (N), and presence of distant metastases (M). According to this division, the volume of surgical intervention and the rationality of prescribing courses of radiation and chemotherapy are determined.

At the first stage, oropharyngeal cancer may not appear at all, since the focus is small, there is no damage to the lymph nodes and other organs.

In the second stage, a person may feel a sore throat, as if something is “itching” on the back of the pharyngeal wall or in the soft palate. Lymph nodes may be enlarged or malignant on one side.

As for the third stage, a person is concerned about the sensation of a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing, choking, nasal voice and pain. In addition, there is cancer of the regional lymph nodes on both sides. They increase, become painful when palpated and soldered to the surrounding tissues.

Among the common symptoms of cancer intoxication, it is worth noting headache, weakness, loss of appetite and body weight. At this stage, it is possible for cancer to grow deep into the tissues with coverage of the neurovascular bundle and possible bleeding.

At the fourth stage, the malignant focus spreads both to neighboring tissues and organs, and to distant structures. With the defeat of the nasopharynx, germination in the Eustachian tube is noted with the development of acute, possibly purulent, otitis media, as a result of which hearing loss develops.

Violating ventilation in the paranasal sinuses, the tumor provokes the development of sinusitis. If the oncoprocess spreads to the cranial cavity, symptoms of a brain tumor are observed. In addition, in the fourth stage, the neoplasm undergoes decay, which predisposes to the appearance of bleeding. In addition to local damage, metastasis occurs with the formation of distant malignant foci.

Diagnostics

Sometimes, oropharyngeal cancer becomes a godsend when examined by an ENT doctor or at a dentist's appointment. To confirm the malignant origin, a histological examination is performed under the control of pharyngoscopy.

To assess the prevalence of the process, rhinoscopy, otoscopy, laryngoscopy, tomography and biopsy of the lymph nodes are performed.

Oropharyngeal cancer treatment

The main method of treatment is surgical removal of the tumor. In case of cancer growth into the larynx, a partial removal of the pharynx and a complete removal of the larynx are performed, followed by the formation of a tracheostomy, esophagostomy and orthostomy. After 3 months, the plastic of the pharynx is performed and the natural patency of food is restored.

At stages 1-2, only surgical treatment is used. Starting from stage 3, a combination with radiation and chemotherapy is recommended, including if the tumor is inoperable.

Prognosis and survival

At stages 1-2, the prognosis is relatively favorable and the survival rate of patients reaches 70-95% (depending on age and the presence of concomitant diseases). If oropharyngeal cancer is diagnosed at stages 3-4, the survival rate ranges from 20% to 60% when combined treatment is taken into account.

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Diagnosed: oropharyngeal cancer stage 3 t2 n1 MO, condition after CLT, class gr 2. My husband has cancer, what to expect?

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The information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! It is not recommended to use the described methods and recipes for the treatment of cancer on your own and without consulting a doctor!

Throat diseases are common in children and adults, since the larynx is the first filter after the nasopharynx through which all pathogenic microorganisms pass. Most pathologies have a similar clinical picture, but a different etiology. Treatment includes taking medications, using folk remedies and correcting nutrition.

The human throat is often affected by pathogenic microorganisms

List of throat diseases

The cause of sore throat can be various pathogenic microorganisms, neoplasms, mechanical damage. Often, discomfort occurs with a cold, flu, SARS.

The main causes of throat diseases:

viral infections - rotaviruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses provoke the development of pharyngitis, acute laryngitis;
bacterial pathologies - develop against the background of active reproduction of streptococci, staphylococci, tonsillitis and tonsillitis are considered childhood diseases, most often these diseases are diagnosed at the age of 5–15 years;
fungal diseases;
various neoplasms - malignant tumors, papillomas, polyps, metastases in the pharynx;
mechanical damage.

All infectious diseases of the throat, in addition to the obvious pain syndrome when swallowing, are accompanied by other accompanying symptoms - hyperthermia of the body, loss of strength, pain in the muscles, migraine, rhinitis, swollen lymph nodes, increased salivation, the pharyngeal mucosa becomes red, loose.

Angina often develops in a child as a complication of colds and flu, what a healthy throat and mucous membrane looks like in various forms of pathology can be seen in the photo. ICD-10 code - J03, for the chronic form - J35.

Healthy human throat

Types of angina:

With phlegmonous tonsillitis, accumulations of pus appear

Tonsillitis

Inflammation of the palatine tonsils - a consequence of frequent tonsillitis, can occur in acute and chronic form. Measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria can provoke the development of the disease. ICD-10 code - J03.

With tonsillitis, palatine tonsils become inflamed

Tonsillitis most often occurs without an increase in temperature, accompanied by atrophy of the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils, against the background of hypertrophy, breathing problems occur.

The inflammatory process is localized in the mucous membrane of the larynx, proceeds in acute and chronic form. The disease develops when hypothermia, inhalation of cold or polluted air, tobacco smoke. ICD-10 code - J04.

Acute laryngitis - most often one of the symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, whooping cough, scarlet fever, develops with hypothermia, prolonged stay in a room with dusty air, against the background of addictions. The disease is characterized by a barking cough, but after a while sputum discharge begins, a person complains of dryness in the throat, the voice becomes hoarse, it may completely disappear, the temperature rises slightly.

Forms and symptoms of chronic laryngitis:

Catarrhal - accompanied by a diffuse lesion of the mucous membrane of the larynx. The main symptoms are hoarseness, weakness, a feeling of narrowing of the throat, a wet cough periodically appears.
Hypertrophic - against the background of prolonged inflammation, the epithelium grows into other layers of the epidermis. The disease is accompanied by aphonia, burning in the throat, cough.
Atrophic - the inner shell of the larynx atrophies, becomes thin. Symptoms - a decrease in the timbre of the voice, a sore throat, a dry cough, with a strong attack, crusts with streaks of blood can leave.

With hypertrophic laryngitis, it is sometimes necessary to remove areas with hyperplasia surgically.

Pharyngitis

Acute or chronic inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the pharynx. ICD-10 code - J02.

The acute form of the pathology develops against the background of infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Pharyngitis can occur with prolonged inhalation of frosty air through the mouth, against the background of smoking and alcohol abuse, after eating very hot or cold food. The pain in the throat increases when saliva is swallowed, the disease is accompanied by subfebrile temperature, there is a tickle in the throat, while in general the person feels normal.

Throat with pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis develops against the background of sinusitis, tonsillitis, caries, metabolic disorders, heart and lung diseases. Pathology is combined with atrophy of the nasal mucosa, accompanied by severe scratching in the throat, dry barking cough, swelling of the tongue, purulent discharge, subfebrile temperature.

The acute form of laryngitis is a dangerous disease for children under two years of age, often accompanied by severe catarrhal rhinitis, swelling and inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, which causes a significant deterioration in nasal breathing.

Adenoiditis

Inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil is often viral in nature, manifests itself in the form of a severe headache, dry choking cough, attacks of shortness of breath and suffocation, and is diagnosed in children aged 3–15 years. The ICD-10 code is J35.

The disease develops against a background of weakened immunity, with a deficiency of vitamin D, with hypothermia, with a history of chronic rhinitis or diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Adenoiditis - inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil

Malignant and benign neoplasms

Laryngeal cancer is difficult to diagnose in the early stages, because the disease can go on for a long time without pronounced symptoms, so tumors are often diagnosed when they reach a large size. The ICD-10 code is C32.

Possible signs of oncology:

sensation of a foreign body in the throat, perspiration, discomfort when swallowing;
labored breathing;
the presence of bloody inclusions in the mucus from the throat and nose;
increased salivation;
frequent stuffy ears without obvious signs of an inflammatory process;
toothache, while the dentist cannot find the cause of the appearance of discomfort;
hoarseness of voice.

Blood clots in saliva may indicate the development of neoplasms in the throat

Benign neoplasms are less dangerous, but also require immediate treatment, since severe complications can occur if they are often injured. Polyps and vocal nodules occur on the larynx with constant tension of the ligaments, smoking, and chronic inflammatory processes. The reason for the formation of papillomas is the activation of HPV, growths appear on the trachea, vocal cords. All non-cancerous tumors have the ICD-10 code - D10.

Most often, laryngeal cancer is diagnosed in men aged 55-65 years, heavy smokers. Mycoses of the larynx

Fungal infections develop against the background of a weakened immune system, can be acute or chronic. They manifest as redness of the throat and tonsils, pain when swallowing, white plaque, ulcers and erosions in the mouth, sores in the corners of the mouth, dry cough, fever, swelling and soreness of the cervical and submandibular lymph nodes. The ICD-10 code is B37.

Fungal infection of the throat

The main types of fungal pathologies of the oral cavity:

pseudomembranous candidiasis - most often diagnosed in children and the elderly;
mycosis - develops against the background of diabetes;
erythematous chronic itching.

Pain and burning when swallowing can be caused by reflux disease - the acidic contents of the stomach penetrate the upper esophagus, throat, irritate the mucous membranes.

Other throat diseases

A sore throat can be a sign of other diseases that are not related to ENT pathologies.

What diseases can cause sore throat:

Laryngospasm - most often occurs in children with rickets, hydrocephalus, formula feeding. Symptoms - a decrease in the diameter of the pupil, a strong closure of the vocal cords, convulsions, fainting, noisy breathing. In adults, the skin becomes red or bluish, a hysterical cough appears. ICD-10 code - 5.
Puffiness of the larynx - develops against the background of allergies, injuries of the larynx, pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, purulent processes in the pharynx. A person experiences pain when swallowing, it is difficult for him to breathe. ICD-10 code - J4.
Stenosis of the larynx - the lumen of the respiratory tract is completely or partially closed due to edema of the larynx, insect bites, injuries, the cause may be syphilis, diphtheria, neoplasms of various origins. Signs - profuse cold sweat, breathing problems, shortness of breath, hoarse voice, mucous membranes and skin acquire a blue tint, loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest is possible. ICD-10 code - 6.

Laryngeal stenosis - closing of the airways due to edema

Mechanical damage to the larynx is often diagnosed in young children, as they can accidentally swallow a foreign object. In adults, pathology can occur when swallowing a fish bone; singers and lecturers are susceptible to the disease due to constant increased stress on the ligaments.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you have a sore throat, you need to contact a general practitioner, a pediatrician, after examination and preliminary diagnosis, he will give a referral to an otolaryngologist.

Additionally, you may need to consult an infectious disease specialist, oncologist, endocrinologist, gynecologist, gastroenterologist.

If the disease is psychosomatic in nature, the patient will be seen by a psychologist, a psychotherapist. A doctor in one of these areas will be able to accurately diagnose based on the results of the tests.

Diagnosis of diseases of the throat

Examination of the patient is carried out using special instruments - laryngoscopy and pharyngoscopy allows you to identify in which part of the throat the mucosa is most hyperemic and edematous, to assess the condition of the vocal cords and the back wall of the larynx, to detect lumps of pus.

Basic diagnostic methods:

clinical analysis of blood and urine;
throat swab, sputum culture;
MRI, histological examination of the tumor - allows you to determine the origin of neoplasms;
Ultrasound of the larynx.

Since throat diseases are often of a bacterial origin, sputum is checked for sensitivity to antibacterial drugs before prescribing therapy.

Ultrasound of the larynx shows the cause of the disease

Treatment methods for throat diseases

To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, prevent the development of complications in the treatment of throat diseases, medicines, diet therapy are used, alternative medicine recipes will help speed up the healing process.

Medications

For the treatment of throat diseases, I use drugs in tablet form, local agents, the choice of drugs depends on the type of pathogen.

The main groups of drugs:

antibiotics - Amoxicillin, Augmentin;
antiviral drugs - Remantadin, Tamiflu;
antifungal agents - Fluconazole, Levorin;
antihistamines - Ebastine, Cetirizine;
antipyretics - Paracetamol, Nurofen;
mucolytics - ACC, Prospan, Ambroxol;
local antiseptics - Tantum Verde, Ingalipt, Lizobakt, Miramistin;
streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteriophages.

Recently, doctors are less and less resorting to surgery to remove the tonsils in the throat, since the tonsils are organs of the immune system, they prevent the penetration of infection into the bronchi, trachea, and lungs.

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic drug

Folk remedies

In the treatment of throat diseases, it is necessary to observe bed rest, drink more warm drinks, cope well with pain, tickle milk, tea with raspberries or black currants, a decoction of rose hips, alkaline mineral waters without gas.

How can you treat sore throat at home:

honey is one of the best remedies for treating sore throat, it can be used to lubricate the tonsils, use it in its pure form, prepare solutions for rinsing;
inhalations with essential oils of eucalyptus, fir, pine, tea tree;
the usual heat or alcohol compress on the neck, hot foot baths with mustard;
gargling is an effective method of combating throat diseases. For procedures, you can use a decoction of chamomile, sage, linden, oak bark, St. John's wort;
inside you can take a tincture of propolis, garlic, calendula in a diluted form;
you can treat inflamed tonsils with a mixture of juice from aloe, kalanchoe and propolis tincture, it softens the throat well and eliminates purulent processes of sea buckthorn oil.

It helps to cope with diseases of the throat gargling with a decoction of chamomile

Honey should not be added to hot drinks - under the influence of high temperatures, the product acquires carcinogenic properties. In lemon, raspberry, blackcurrant, boiling water destroys vitamin C.

Any thermal procedures can be carried out only at normal temperature indicators. Nutrition Features

To reduce inflammation, pain, swelling of the mucous membrane, not to injure an irritated throat, you must adhere to a special diet.

Nutrition principles:

spicy, sour, spicy, salty foods should be excluded from the diet, heavy fatty and sweet foods, junk food should be abandoned;
all dishes should have a comfortable temperature, soft texture;
the menu should have a lot of vegetables and fruits, especially those with a high content of vitamin C and iodine - greens, bell peppers, carrots, sea kale;
daily you need to consume 10-15 ml of olive or corn oil;
fermented milk products will help to speed up recovery, prevent the development of dysbacteriosis when taking antibiotics;
It is strictly forbidden to smoke, drink alcohol.

Garlic, onion, ginger, cinnamon, star anise effectively fight viruses.

If you have a sore throat, you should not eat spicy food.

Possible Complications

Without proper and timely treatment, acute inflammatory processes in the throat turn into chronic diseases, which is fraught with constant relapses at the slightest hypothermia and weakened immunity.

What are the dangers of throat diseases:

angina often gives complications to the heart, joints, kidneys - rheumatism develops, infectious polyarthritis, paratonsillitis, nephritis;
in chronic tonsillitis, vasculitis and skin dermatoses often develop;
hypotonic dysphonia - the work of the vocal cords, the muscles of the larynx worsens;
spasm of the jaws;
pharyngeal abscess;
chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, otitis;
severe eye pathology;
hepatitis A, B.

If streptococci from the tissues of the throat penetrate into the blood, then sepsis will begin to develop rapidly.

If the throat is not treated, then chronic sinusitis may develop.

Prevention

To prevent the development of throat diseases, it is necessary to adhere to simple rules of prevention, strengthen the immune system.

How to avoid a sore throat:

daily walks in the fresh air;
stop smoking;
maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the room;
eat food at a comfortable temperature;
the diet should contain a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals;
avoid hypothermia.

Quit smoking to avoid sore throats

In order not to catch an infection, you must follow the rules of hygiene, do not touch your face with dirty hands, take antiviral drugs during epidemics of SARS and influenza, lubricate your nose with oxolin ointment when leaving the house.

The list and symptoms of throat diseases is quite large, so if you experience discomfort when swallowing, hoarseness, you should consult a doctor. Correct diagnosis and adequate therapy will help to avoid the development of severe, sometimes fatal, complications.

Most often the reason diseases of the oropharynx are various infections. Their most popular consequences are tonsillitis (more scientifically - acute tonsillitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis. The article contains doctors' recommendations on how not to harm yourself with these diseases, but on the contrary, help the body recover quickly.

Angina causes inflammation of the tonsils. In addition to a sore throat, she is accompanied by aches all over her body, weakness and high temperature, from 38 degrees.

At inflammation of the oropharynx it is forbidden:
1. Tighten your throat.
That is, talk long and loudly. Communication should be kept to a minimum. Listen more. Shorten your answers. As the signalmen say, switch to the mode of receiving information.

3. Drink excessively hot drinks.
They will not warm the throat, but only additionally injure the mucous membrane.

4. At elevated temperatures, consume a lot of milk.
Protein dishes in such a situation can increase the intoxication of the body.

5. Gargle with water with soda and iodine.
This disinfectant solution will benefit only with purulent sore throat. In other cases, it will only irritate the mucous membrane of the throat.

6. Walk.
Inflammation of the oropharynx implies bed rest and, ideally, cessation of communication for 5 to 10 days.

7. Independently "prescribe" antibiotics.
8. Postpone calling your doctor if your sore throat is accompanied by headache, fever, vomiting, or rash.

With inflammation of the oropharynx, you can and should:
1. Relieve pain with local remedies - special lozenges or sprays.
2. Take complex vitamins to strengthen immunity.
3. Ventilate the room. This will help you fall asleep faster and sleep better at night.
4. Drink a warm drink with vitamin C and honey as often as possible (in the absence of an allergy to the latter).
It has a healing and disinfecting effect. It will be useful to include extracts of hawthorn and wild rose in the composition of such drinks.

Diseases of the throat and larynx are heterogeneous groups of pathologies that they develop for a variety of reasons, but are united by a common localization.

All diseases can be subdivided as follows:

Pathologies of an infectious profile. They are usually caused by bacteria or viruses.
Fungal pathologies. They are relatively rare, but such situations do occur.
Benign neoplastic processes in the pharynx and larynx.
Malignant tumors in the structures of the upper respiratory tract.
Other conditions and pathological processes in the pharynx.

Below we consider each of these groups in more detail.

Infectious pathologies

They are also heterogeneous in composition, but there is one point that absolutely all infectious diseases of the throat have in common - these are the reasons for their development.

According to research, all disease-causing processes within the pharynx develop for three groups of reasons. The first group of factors concerns the penetration of dangerous microorganisms and viruses into the body.

Among them:

Staphylococci. Cause severe lesions of the pharynx. Usually pyogenic (pyogenic) type. Provoke massive exudation and complex symptoms, difficult to treat. The most dangerous type of microorganism is Staphylococcus aureus.

Streptococci. Especially alpha and beta hemolytic. They cause blood problems, as well as suppuration of the throat and upper respiratory tract. Read more about the diseases they can cause here.

Atypical microorganisms, such as chlamydia, gonococci, ureaplasmas, mycoplasmas, Trichomonas and others. They provoke difficult to cure, but sluggish forms of infectious diseases of the pharynx.

herpes viruses. Especially strains of the fourth and fifth types (Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus). Diseases caused by this kind of viral agents are extremely difficult to cure. You can only transfer the disease to a latent phase.

Human papillomaviruses. In total there are more than 500 types. Many are oncogenic. These are serious opponents that promote the formation of cancer cells.

How do they enter the body?

First of all, airborne. With particles of mucus, saliva when coughing, sneezing and even just breathing.

In order to become a carrier of a virus or bacterium, it is enough to be near an infected person for some time. Since almost everyone (98% or more) is infected, the probability of "getting" the agent is extremely high.

Household or contact way. In contact with dirty household items, non-sexual interaction with infected people (handshakes, kisses).
Sexual way of transportation. Namely oral-genital. Many dangerous bacteria live on the genitals. Unprotected sexual contact can be dangerous. It is recommended to be protected.
perinatal route. The child can face the harsh conditions of the environment even in the womb, because viruses and bacteria easily overcome the placental barrier.
transmission path. With insect bites.
Blood transfusion.
Passage through the birth canal of the mother.
The infection can enter the throat and pharynx by descending (from the nasopharynx) or ascending (from the lower respiratory structures) routes.
In the body itself, disease-causing agents are carried with the bloodstream or lymphatic fluid.

However, becoming a carrier of uninvited "guests" is not enough, and does not mean at all that a person will get sick.

The next significant factor that increases the likelihood of developing pathologies is a decrease in immunity.

What are the reasons for the security system to fail?

Abuse of alcoholic beverages.
Smoking. Women who smoke are especially at risk, as their body tolerates the harmful substances contained in cigarettes worse.
The use of antibiotics without sufficient grounds for this.
Improper feeding of the child (early weaning, late attachment to the mammary glands, transfer to a dry mixture).

And other factors, which are more than twenty. The third group of reasons are trigger factors. They vary from disease to disease, so you need to consider each pathology separately.

Angina

It is an inflammation of the oropharynx and, in particular, the palatine tonsils. Another name for angina is tonsillitis. Under this name, the disease is better known.

The reasons for the development of angina, in addition to those already mentioned, are:

Traumatic lesion of the pharynx. For example, during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
Consumption of contaminated food. Affects the alimentary factor.
Symptoms of the disease are quite specific:
Pain in the throat when swallowing, breathing, eating. Increased when trying to speak.
The formation of purulent plugs. These are small yellowish lumps localized in the gaps and coming out when squeezed out with the tongue.
Purulent exudation. Isolation of a large amount of pus from the lacunae due to infection.
Formation of a whitish coating in the throat and on the soft palate.
Throat hyperemia. It is determined even with an independent examination of the pharynx. In other words, redness of the throat.
Loose structure of soft tissues on examination.
Increase in body temperature.

Treatment is required immediately. Angina tends to give complications to the heart, kidneys and lungs. It is necessary to use specialized drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, analgesics, local antiseptics and antipyretics with general symptoms.

Pharyngitis

Inflammatory lesion of the oropharynx. The disease is very widespread. Trigger factors are specific:

Hypothermia. Especially dangerous is the use of cold water in the hot season, the inhalation of frosty air.
Prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drops.
Chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Sinusitis of various types (sinusitis and others) are especially dangerous.
Thermal, chemical damage to the pharynx. Burns of various etiologies.

Symptoms include:

Intense pain syndrome of a burning, stabbing character. Localized in the pharynx and in the soft palate. With a long course of pathology, a diffuse character of discomfort is possible. The unpleasant sensation increases when talking, eating, drinking, breathing.

Bad breath. Caused by the vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms.
Changing the nature of the voice. The inability to speak normally develops (hoarseness, weakness, nasal voice), complete loss of the ability to speak.
Increase in body temperature.
Headache and symptoms of general intoxication.
Cough with a small amount of sputum.
Sore throat.

The treatment is specific. As in the case of angina, medications of the following groups are prescribed:

Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal origin.
Steroid drugs (glucocorticoid drugs).
Broad spectrum antiseptics.
Antibacterial drugs (only after a study of the sensitivity of the flora to drugs).

Lack of therapy leads to a chronic process and many complications.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx. The disease develops relatively often - the prevalence of the pathological process is approximately 8% of clinical cases (statistics are kept according to the recorded situations).

Reasons for the development of the disease:

Traumatic lesions of the larynx. Most often as a result of diagnostic measures for other probable diseases. So, laryngoscopy is especially dangerous.
Inhalation of pathogenic substances. Gary, dust, pollen (in this case they speak of an allergic form of laryngitis).
Mechanical damage to the larynx. For example, as a result of damage to the delicate mucous membrane of a fish bone, stale bread with accidental inhalation of crumbs, etc.

Otherwise, the reasons are identical.

Characteristic manifestations:

Pain in the pharynx and neck. It is impossible to determine the exact localization of uncomfortable sensations. Feelings are diffuse, which makes it difficult to formulate complaints.
Cough. The calling card of laryngitis is an intense barking reflex. It is not removed by classical preparations. Sputum is not allocated, which is typical for this disease.

In the treatment, antitussive drugs of general action (to inhibit the reflex at the central level), antitussive drugs of peripheral action, anti-inflammatory non-steroidal origin are used. Glucocorticoid medications may also be needed. Thinners and mucolytics are not required. They are useless and even dangerous in this case.

Scleroma

It is a disease of mixed genesis (immune and at the same time infectious). It is characterized by spontaneous growth of the walls of the larynx and the formation of special nodular inclusions, granulomas.

Contrary to what you may think, these are not neoplasms. Granulomas are considered the result of proliferation, but not of a tumor nature. Because scleroma is classified as an infection.

The reasons for the development of the disease are multiple. The most common are:

Damage to the walls of the larynx of a mechanical nature. Usually as a result of diagnostic or therapeutic measures. As already mentioned, laryngoscopy is the most traumatic.
Chemical, thermal damage of a long nature. The longer pathological factors affect the pharynx, the higher the likelihood of developing the disease.
Prolonged infections. Affect the manifestation of scleroma.

Symptoms:

Respiratory disorders (shortness of breath, and later suffocation).
Changing the voice of a different type (may become higher or lower).
Sore throat, other discomfort in the pharynx.
Nasal congestion, nasal breathing disorders.

Treatment is conservative, in most cases, with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. If the airway is obstructed, surgery is required.

Fungal diseases (pharyngomycosis)

Diseases of the throat and larynx are not limited to viral and bacterial lesions. Fungal infestations are possible. The most common is the so-called pharyngomycosis.

At its core, it is the same pharyngitis, however, fungal properties. According to studies, in almost 100% of clinical cases, the culprit is fungus of the genus Candida.

The main causes of the development of the disease are diabetes mellitus and other endocrine pathologies. Cause a general and local decrease in immunity.

Less commonly, predisposing factors are injuries of the throat and pharynx in general. For example, when exposed to anatomical structures of hot steam, excessively dry air, chemical reagents. Mechanical damage is also possible, which open the way for fungal agents.

Symptoms of pharyngomycosis:

Intense sore throat. She is stinging and cutting. Increases at night, when eating, drinking liquids.
Bad, sour smell from the mouth.
Formation of white cheesy plaque in the pharynx.
Redness of the pharynx and the entire soft palate.
Clogging cough and sore throat.

Treatment requires special attention. The following groups of drugs are used:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Broad-spectrum antifungals and antibiotics to prevent secondary infection.

benign tumors

Tumors of a benign nature, these are growing non-infiltrative neoplasms. They do not tend to metastasize. However, due to the development of the mass effect, respiratory disorders and other unpleasant and life-threatening conditions are possible.

Adenoiditis

Strictly speaking, it is not a benign tumor. Adenoiditis is an inflammation of the adenoids: an overgrown palatine tonsil. Most of them have infectious causes.

In almost 100% of cases, it affects children under 10 years of age. In adults, the disease occurs as an exception. This is casuistry.

Symptoms of adenoiditis:

Nasal breathing disorders. The patient cannot breathe normally due to overlapping of the choanae and vomer.
The rise in body temperature to subfebrile-febrile marks.
Symptoms of general intoxication of the body.

Treatment in most cases is surgical. It is required to remove the adenoids and thus the problem will be solved radically.

Other neoplasms

There are also the following list of benign tumors of the larynx and throat:

Fibroids. They are made up of fibrous tissue. They develop mainly in the vocal cords. They have an oval or spherical regular shape. Not prone to metastasis, grow extremely slowly. Lead to voice changes and breathing problems. In the case of large sizes, they pose a danger to life and health.

Lipomas. Also called wen. Develop from adipose tissue. They have a spherical shape. They may have legs. Formation occurs in the area of the entrance to the larynx in most cases.

Polyps. A type of fibroma. Unlike the former, they are prone to malignant degeneration. They should be removed anyway. This is an axiom.

Chondromas. Cartilaginous tumors of the larynx. Over time, they can transform into cancer (chondrosarcoma).

papillomas. They are warts. Caused by the human papillomavirus. Many strains are oncogenic, therefore, mandatory histological examination and PCR diagnostics are required.

cystic formations. Fluid structures surrounded by a fibrous capsule. Not prone to growth.

Angiomas. Vascular tumors. Difficult to remove. They are often congenital.

In all cases, the causes of tumor development lie in a violation of cell differentiation (the process of transformation of non-specialized embryonic cells into specialized cells of tissues and organs) and an increase in their proliferation (the process of cell reproduction).

Treatment is operative. However, you should not immediately rush to extremes.

The best option would be dynamic monitoring of the tumor. If it grows, it needs to be removed. It is also important to determine the histological structure of the neoplasm (benign or malignant). Only after that they make a decision on the tactics of therapy.

Malignant tumors

Cancer tumors of this localization are relatively rare. However, they are extremely dangerous. In a similar arrangement, carcinomas and sarcomas are isolated.

Carcinoma

It develops from epithelial tissues. Cell differentiation is practically absent, proliferation is maximum.

The reasons for the development of a tumor of an oncological profile are as follows:

Tobacco abuse. The more a person smokes, the greater the risk of developing carcinoma. When using tobacco products for a pack a day or more, the likelihood of developing cancer increases by 70%. A person drives himself into harsh conditions.
Excessive consumption of alcoholic products. Mucosal burns are formed. As a result, the risks increase exponentially.
Professional hazards. Including dangerous work at chemical plants, in hot industries, etc.
Drinking hot liquids on a regular basis.

Throat cancer symptoms are as follows:

Headaches in the occiput.
Pain in jaws radiating to teeth.
Problems with vision and hearing.
Frequent otitis of unknown origin.
Voice disorders.
Bad breath.

Treatment is exclusively surgical. In the later stages, radiation and chemotherapy will be required. The choice of treatment tactics is chosen only by the oncologist.

Sarcoma

Much more aggressive tumor. It develops for the same reasons. It is characterized by intense cellular atypia, high proliferation rate.

Symptoms are similar to carcinoma and include the following manifestations:

Toothache.
Pain in the jaw on the affected side.
Voice problems. It becomes weak, hoarse or too low.
Visual and hearing impairments.
Frequent otitis.

Treatment, as in the previous case, is surgical. Excision of tissues is required, as radical as possible. This way you can avoid relapses.

Radiation and chemotherapy are prescribed based on the stage of the course of the pathological process.

Dangerous states

Acute stenosis of the larynx is manifested by a significant narrowing of the airways.

Penetration into the respiratory tract of foreign objects.
Infectious pathologies, such as measles, malaria, typhoid and other diseases.
Carrying out medical manipulations of various kinds.
Inflammatory processes of the respiratory organs.

Characteristic symptoms include: respiratory failure, acute asphyxia, sore throat. Surgical treatment consists in expanding the lumen of the larynx.

Laryngeal edema

In most cases, it develops as a result of an allergic reaction. The symptoms are identical. Asphyxia and death are possible. Specific treatment: urgent administration of antihistamines and artificial ventilation of the lungs (if the condition is severe) is necessary.

laryngospasm

The condition is generally identical to stenosis. Symptoms and treatments are similar. The essence of the pathological process is the development of spasm of the muscles of the larynx.

In all cases described, treatment should be carried out immediately. The patient's life is at stake. An ambulance call is required. You can't do anything on your own.

Problems of this kind are the most common. Diseases are similar in manifestations, therefore, mandatory differential diagnosis is required.

Treatment is selected based on the situation. Most of it is conservative. The main thing is to contact the treating specialist in time.

The oropharynx connects the pharynx (from the soft palate) and the larynx. At this site, the respiratory and digestive tracts intersect. It is the soft palate that separates the oropharynx from the nasopharynx.

A malignant neoplasm characterized by a high growth rate is oropharyngeal cancer. The aggressiveness of the tumor is confirmed by histological analysis and clinical features in the form of rapid metastasis to regional lymph nodes and distant organs.

Causes of Oropharyngeal Cancer

smoking, chewing tobacco;
alcohol abuse;
poor-quality, inconveniently installed dentures.

In addition, it is worth noting the conditions and background pathology, which increases the risk of tissue degeneration into malignant ones:

inflammatory processes (sinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis);
leukoplakia, erythroplakia of the pharynx;
papillomas;
immunodeficiency.

Symptoms

The initial period (1-3 months) does not have any noticeable symptoms. The tumor increases with time, begins to feel like a foreign body, pain occurs when swallowing and choking.

The tumor can grow into the lumen of the oropharynx or deep into the tissues.

Signs of oropharyngeal cancer by stage

At the first stage, oropharyngeal cancer may not appear at all, since the focus is small, there is no damage to the lymph nodes and other organs.

In the second stage, a person may feel a sore throat, as if something is “itching” on the back of the pharyngeal wall or in the soft palate. Lymph nodes may be enlarged or malignant on one side.

Diagnostics

To assess the prevalence of the process, rhinoscopy, otoscopy, laryngoscopy, tomography and biopsy of the lymph nodes are performed.

Oropharyngeal cancer treatment

At stages 1-2, only surgical treatment is used. Starting from stage 3, a combination with radiation and chemotherapy is recommended, including if the tumor is inoperable.

Prognosis and survival

At stages 1-2, the prognosis is relatively favorable and the survival rate of patients reaches 70-95% (depending on age and the presence of concomitant diseases). If oropharyngeal cancer diagnosed at stages 3-4, survival ranges from 20% to 60% when taking into account the combination treatment.

Papillomas are the most common benign tumors. They are often localized on the palatine arches, tonsils, mucous membrane of the soft palate and rarely on the posterior pharyngeal wall. Papillomas of the pharynx are single formations, the diameter of which rarely exceeds 1 cm.
Papilloma among benign tumors of the pharynx is quite common. Squamous cell papillomas of the palatine arches, tonsils, uvula and free edge of the soft palate are usually single.

Papilloma- a formation with a grayish tint, uneven edges and a granular surface, mobile, since most often it has a thin base (leg). The mucous membrane around the papilloma is not changed.
The final diagnosis is established based on the results of histological examination.

Frequent swelling of the oropharynx - hemangioma. It has many varieties, but cavernous diffuse and deep capillary hemangiomas predominate in the middle part of the pharynx. Much less common are branched venous or arterial vascular tumors.
Hemangioma in the middle part of the pharynx is somewhat less common than papilloma.
Deep capillary hemangioma is covered with unchanged mucous membrane, its contours are fuzzy.
In appearance, the tumor is difficult to distinguish from neurinoma and other neoplasms localized in the thickness of tissues. Cavernous and venous hemangiomas are most often located superficially. They are cyanotic, the surface of these tumors is bumpy, the consistency is soft. Encapsulated cavernous
hemangiomas have clear boundaries. Branching arterial hemangioma usually pulsates, and this pulsation is noticeable during pharyngoscopy. The surface of the tumor may be bumpy. Arterial hemangioma must first be differentiated from an aneurysm (using angiography).
The boundaries of the hemangioma are difficult to determine. This is due to the fact that the tumor spreads not only over the surface, but also into the depths of the tissues, often reaching the neurovascular bundle of the neck, filling the retromaxillary region or appearing as a swelling, often anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

mixed tumor found in the middle part of the pharynx as often as hemangioma. It develops from the small salivary glands. In terms of frequency of occurrence, this neoplasm is second only to papilloma. In connection with the large polymorphism, it is commonly called a mixed tumor or polymorphic adenoma. In the oropharynx, a mixed tumor can be localized in the thickness of the soft palate, on the lateral and, less commonly, on the posterior wall of the middle pharynx. Since the tumor arises and develops in the depths of the tissues, on the surface of the pharyngeal walls it looks like a well-defined swelling of a dense consistency, painless on palpation, with an uneven surface. The mucous membrane over the tumor is not changed. In appearance, it is not possible to distinguish a mixed tumor from other neoplasms of this localization (neurinoma, neurofibroma, adenoma). The final diagnosis is established on the basis of the results of histological examination.

Tumors such as lipoma, lymphangioma and others, are rare in the middle part of the pharynx. Of these tumors, only osteoma can be diagnosed without histological examination. It is radiopaque, but the final diagnosis is still established on the basis of the results of a histological examination, which allows determining the morphological structure of the tumor focus.

Clinical picture

In most patients with neoplasms of the oropharynx, the first signs of the disease are the sensation of a foreign body in the throat, perspiration or other paresthesias. Often, patients complain of dryness in the throat, and sometimes mild pain in the morning when swallowing saliva (“empty sip”).
Neoplasms such as papillomas, fibromas, cysts localized on the palatine arches or tonsils may not cause any symptoms for years; only when the tumor reaches a large size (1.5-2 cm in diameter), there is a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Dysphagia is more characteristic of tumors of the soft palate. Violation of the tightness of the nasopharynx during a sip leads to a disorder in the act of swallowing, the ingress of liquid food into the nose. Such patients sometimes twang. Sensation of a foreign body in the pharynx and other paresthesias appear very early with neoplasms of the root of the tongue and vallecules. These tumors can cause difficulty swallowing, including choking when eating liquid foods.
Pain for benign neoplasms of the oropharynx is not typical. Pain during swallowing or independently of swallowing can occur with neurinomas, neurofibromas, and very rarely with ulcerated vascular tumors.
Bleeding and admixture of blood in sputum and saliva are typical only for hemangiomas, as well as for ulcerated decaying malignant tumors.

Diagnostics

Instrumental Research

The main method for examining the pharynx is pharyngoscopy. It allows you to determine the localization of the tumor focus, the appearance of the neoplasm, the mobility of individual fragments of the pharynx.
As auxiliary research methods for hemangiomas, angiography, radionuclide research and CT can be used. The most informative is angiography, which allows to determine the vessels from which the tumor receives blood. In the capillary phase of angiography, the contours of capillary hemangiomas are clearly visible. Cavernous and venous hemangiomas are better seen in the venous, and branched arterial hemangiomas - in the arterial phase of angiography. The diagnosis of hemangioma is usually established without histological examination, since a biopsy can cause intense bleeding. The histological structure of the tumor is most often recognized after surgery.

Malignant tumors

Clinical picture

Malignant tumors of the middle part of the pharynx grow rapidly. They may go unnoticed for some time, usually several weeks, much less often - months. The first symptoms of malignant tumors depend on their primary localization. In the future, as the tumor grows, the number of symptoms increases rapidly.
One of the early signs of a tumor is the sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Soon, pains in the pharynx join him, which, like the sensation of a foreign body, are strictly localized. Epithelial tumors are prone to ulceration and decay, as a result of which the patient develops bad breath and blood appears in saliva and sputum. When the tumor process spreads to the soft palate, its mobility is disturbed, nasality develops; liquid food can enter the nose. Since swallowing disorders occur quite early and the passage of food is disturbed, patients begin to lose weight early. In addition to local symptoms, due to intoxication and inflammation accompanying the tumor, general symptoms develop, such as malaise, weakness, and headache. When the lateral wall of the pharynx is affected, the tumor quickly penetrates deep into the tissues towards the neurovascular bundle of the neck, and therefore there is a risk of profuse bleeding.

Neoplasms of epithelial origin predominate among malignant tumors of the oropharynx. Epithelial exophytically growing tumors have a wide base, their surface is bumpy, in places with foci of decay; color pink with a grayish tint. There is an inflammatory infiltrate around the tumor. The tumor bleeds easily when touched.

A tumor ulcer is quite often localized on the palatine tonsil. The affected tonsil is enlarged compared to the healthy one. A deep ulcer with jagged edges, the bottom of which is covered with a dirty gray coating, is surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate.

Diagnostics

Laboratory research

Cytological examination of smears-prints or reprints. The final diagnosis of the tumor with the definition of its type is established by examining its histological structure.

Instrumental Research

Biopsy - excision of a piece of tissue for histological examination - is one of the important diagnostic methods in oncology. It is well known that a piece of tissue should be taken at the border of the tumor process, but it is not always possible to determine this border, especially with tumors of the ENT organs. Neoplasms of the palatine, pharyngeal and lingual tonsils, especially connective tissue, occur in the depths of the tonsil tissue. The tonsil is enlarged. Enlargement of the tonsil should alert and requires targeted research, including biopsy. In the case of asymmetry of the palatine tonsils, if a tumor process is suspected, if there are no contraindications, it is necessary to perform a unilateral tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy as a biopsy. Sometimes such a tonsillectomy can be a radical surgical intervention in relation to the tumor.

Differential Diagnosis

The ulcerated tumor of the tonsil must be differentiated from the ulcerative-membranous tonsillitis of Simanovsky - Vincent, syphilis and Wegener's disease. For this purpose, it is necessary to examine smears taken from the edges of the ulcer and perform the Wasserman reaction.

Treatment of patients with neoplasms of the oropharynx

The main method of treatment of patients with benign tumors of the middle part of the pharynx is surgical. The volume of surgical intervention depends on the prevalence, histological structure and localization of the tumor. Limited neoplasms, such as papilloma of the palatine arches, can be removed in the clinic using a snare, scissors or forceps.
The initial place of the tumor after its removal is treated with a galvanocautery or a laser beam. Similarly, you can remove a pedunculated fibroma, a small, superficially located cyst of the tonsil or palatine arch.
A small mixed tumor of the soft palate can be removed through the mouth under local anesthesia. More often, when removing tumors of the oropharynx, anesthesia is used, using sublingual pharyngotomy as an access, which is often supplemented with a lateral one. Wide external access allows to completely remove the tumor and provide good hemostasis.
External access is also required when removing vascular tumors of the pharynx. Before removal of hemangiomas, the external carotid artery is preliminarily ligated or the adductor vessels are embolized. Intervention for these tumors is always associated with the risk of severe intraoperative bleeding, which may require ligation of not only the external but also the internal or common carotid artery to stop it. Given the possibility of intraoperative bleeding and the severity of the consequences of ligation of the internal or common carotid artery, in patients with parapharyngeal chemodectomas and hemangiomas, intracerebral anastomoses are "trained" 2-3 weeks before surgery. It consists in pinching the common carotid artery on the side of the tumor localization 2-3 times a day for 1-2 minutes. Gradually, the duration of clamping is increased to 25-30 minutes. At the beginning of the "training" and then, when the duration of clamping of the common carotid artery is increased, the patient feels dizzy. This sensation serves as a criterion by which the duration of the clamping of the artery is determined, as well as the duration of the “training” course. If the clamping of the artery for 30 minutes does not cause a feeling of dizziness, then after repeated clamping for another 3-4 days, you can proceed to the operation.
Cryotherapy as an independent method of treating patients with benign tumors is indicated mainly for superficial (located under the mucous membrane) diffuse hemangiomas. It can be used in the treatment of deep hemangiomas in combination with surgery.
The main methods of treatment for malignant tumors of the oropharynx, as well as for neoplasms of other localizations, are surgical and radiation. The effectiveness of surgical treatment is higher than the effectiveness of irradiation and combined treatment, the first stage of which is irradiation.
Through the mouth, only limited neoplasms can be removed that do not go beyond one of the fragments of this area (soft palate, palatoglossal arch, palatine tonsil). In all other cases, external accesses are indicated - transhyoid or sublingual pharyngotomy in combination with lateral; sometimes, in order to obtain wider access to the root of the tongue, in addition to pharyngotomy, a resection of the lower jaw is performed.
Operations for malignant tumors are performed under anesthesia, after ligating the external carotid artery and performing a tracheotomy. Tracheotomy is performed under local anesthesia, and the subsequent stages of the intervention are performed under intratracheal anesthesia (tracheostomy intubation).
When the palatine tonsil is affected by a tumor that does not go beyond its limits, they are limited to the removal of the tonsil, palatine arches, paratonsillar tissue and part of the root of the tongue adjacent to the lower pole of the tonsil. The stock of unaffected tissues around the tumor focus should not be less than 1 cm. This rule is also followed when removing common tumors using external access.
Radiation treatment of patients with neoplasms of the pharynx should be carried out according to strict indications. This therapeutic effect can only be used for malignant tumors. As an independent method of treatment, irradiation can be recommended only in cases where surgical intervention is contraindicated or the patient refuses surgery. We recommend combined treatment, the first stage of which is surgery, for patients with stage III tumor process. In other cases, you can limit yourself to only the operation.
With tumors occupying the middle and lower parts of the pharynx, spreading to the larynx, a circular resection of the pharynx is performed with the removal of the larynx. After such an extensive intervention, an orostomy, tracheostomy and esophagostomy are formed. After 2-3 months, plastic surgery of the lateral and anterior walls of the pharynx is performed, thereby restoring the path of food passage.
The five-year survival rate of patients after surgical treatment is 65+10.9%, after combined treatment (surgery + radiation) - 64.7+11.9%, after radiation therapy - 23+4.2% [Nasyrov V.A., 1982 ].

Inflammation of the pharynx or pharyngitis, a disease that in itself does not pose a great danger and disappears after a few rinses. However, its consequences can be dire. Left untreated or not fully treated, it can cause inflammation of the kidneys, rheumatism and lead to heart disease.

A feeling of sore throat, itching that makes you want to clear your throat, and all this against the background of an absolutely normal body temperature. This feeling is familiar to many people. After a couple of days, they turn into a severe sore throat with a slight increase in temperature. Patients with such symptoms rarely go to the doctor and prefer to be treated themselves.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane and lymphoid tissue of the pharynx, which appears as a result of the influence of aggressive external and internal factors on them, is called pharyngitis. The disease can occur in acute and chronic form. Depending on the location of the focus of the disease, there is nasopharyngitis, when the nasal mucosa of the nasopharynx is affected, and mesopharyngitis, if the membrane of the oral part of the pharynx is inflamed. The second type of disease is the most common.

Almost the entire population of the globe has been ill with this disease. There are few who would not imagine the unpleasant sensations caused by it. No one can be insured against pharyngitis, since it can develop equally from eating cold food and from drinking a glass of too hot tea. The disease can even be caused by cigarette smoke, which is inhaled while being in the same room with a smoker.

There are many diseases of the larynx that are confused with pharyngitis:

scleroma;
laryngospasm;
pharyngomycosis;
edema, stenosis of the larynx;
angina or tonsillitis;
laryngitis.

Many of them are dangerous to humans, can be fatal if not treated in a timely manner.

Causes of the disease

The throat is the most vulnerable part of the human body. Therefore, the inflammatory process can occur due to many reasons. In the autumn-spring period and in winter, cold air that enters the larynx directly, and not through the nose, can become the cause of the disease. With a viral infection, the pharynx will be irritated by bacteria that have entered the body and secretions from the paranasal sinuses flowing down it.

Weakened by any diseases, the body is easily infected with various types of microbes (staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci), viruses, fungi. This group also includes people who abuse alcohol and smoke.

If there is a focus of infection in the oral cavity, then this can also provoke inflammation of the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. For this, not fully treated dental caries or stomatitis is enough.

For people working in the service sector and, by virtue of their profession, having contact with chemicals every day, this is what can cause the disease. Air pollution has a great influence on the occurrence of pharyngitis. This is the reason that urban residents complain of throat diseases more often than people living in rural areas.

Types of disease

First of all, it is necessary to determine what type of pharyngitis worries: chronic, allergic or acute. Each of them has its own sources and provoking factors, which means that the subsequent treatment should be different.

The acute form is excited by staphylococci and streptococci, and therefore often accompanies adenovirus and influenza. In addition, adverse factors can activate the disease:

The allergic form is often found in workers of large enterprises and among citizens. It can be triggered by polluted air and industrial emissions. Appearing dryness, perspiration are caused by swelling of the posterior pharyngeal wall.

The chronic form can develop as a result of acute or untreated pharyngitis, appear in the elderly or senile age, act as a consequence of serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and urinary systems.

Chronic form

There are several types of chronic pharyngitis:

atrophic;
hypertrophic;
catarrhal;
combined form.

Atrophic pharynitis is combined with degradation of the mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity. As a result of this atrophy, microbes freely enter the human body and primarily in the throat. The cause of this form may be the defeat of the throat fungus due to prolonged use of antibiotics.

The hypertrophic form is accompanied by nausea and vomiting due to mucus accumulating in a large volume. It also causes a desire to constantly expectorate and cough. In addition to mucus, pus periodically accumulates in the throat, due to which the smell from the mouth worsens.

Catarrhal pharyngitis causes a sensation of a "lump" in the throat. The disease is accompanied by mild pain when swallowing with moderate tingling and intermittent cough resulting from perspiration.

The mixed form is characterized by the fact that one of the forms of chronic pharyngitis or several can be added to the sore throat and cough. Before treating a chronic disease, it is necessary to identify and eliminate all the factors that cause it. Otherwise, the therapeutic measures taken will not only not give a positive result, but will also cause irreparable damage to the health of the patient.

Symptoms of the disease

Irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa at the beginning of the disease has no characteristic symptoms and is similar to all other diseases of the throat. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, on the basis of which treatment will be prescribed, after a personal examination of the patient and passing tests.

Signs characteristic of acute and chronic pharyngitis at the initial stage of the disease:

pain;
sore throat;
general condition is normal;
the temperature does not rise.

If the disease is caused by viruses, then it is necessary for 2-3 days:

runny nose appears;
there is a dry, sharp cough;
voice hoarse, becomes hoarse;
coughing up light sputum;
the temperature rises to 38°C and above.

A bacterial infection will cause several other symptoms:

enlarged lymph nodes;
the voice is hoarse or disappears;
sharp "barking" cough to the point of nausea;
body temperature ranges from 37°C to 38°C.

The chronic form causes approximately the same conditions in patients. The difference lies in the color of the outgoing sputum and its quantity.

This form is characterized by:

This form is also characterized by soreness when eating salty, spicy foods, a feeling of a lump in the throat.

Treatment of the disease

Self-medication is undesirable. How long it takes for treatment depends only on the form of the disease. This also affects the duration of the course of the disease.

The acute form lasts from 4 days to 2 weeks. For treatment:

throat spraying with medicines;
solutions with alkaline content are sprayed;
alcohol intake and smoking are excluded;
spicy and salty foods are limited;
drugs are prescribed to fight bacteria;
temperature-lowering agents.

In the chronic form of the disease, the focus of inflammation in the body, which caused the exacerbation of the disease, is primarily blocked. For this:

crusts and mucus are removed, for this they do inhalations, sprays;
treat the pharynx with solutions that reduce its swelling;
carry out treatment with ultrasonic phoresis;
antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

Only after that a course of treatment is carried out, which can last about a year.