Treatment of viral sore throat in children 2 years old. Viral tonsillitis in a child: causes, symptoms and methods of treatment. Symptoms depending on the pathogen

Hello dear readers. Surely each of you, at least once, had a sore throat. In this article we will talk about the viral form of this disease. We will find out what factors influence the occurrence of viral sore throat, get acquainted with the main signs of this disease, find out how it is diagnosed and treated, what complications are possible. We will also get acquainted with what measures are necessary to protect the child's body from the penetration of the virus.

Causes

This form of angina occurs due to infection of the body with viruses.

The most common way of infection is airborne, less often contact-household.

After entering the body, the virus settles in the lymph nodes, begins to actively multiply. Directly from there it spreads to the tonsils.

There are two groups of factors that increase the risk of infection:

Endogenous:

weakened immune system of the body;
exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis;
infection due to operational measures in the nasopharynx;
caries in a neglected state;
mechanical injury to the surface of the tonsils;
complications after viral diseases;
severe stress;
the presence of diseases: diabetes mellitus, allergies, lupus erythematosus, tuberculosis.

Exogenous:

hypothermia;
non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene;
abrupt climate change;
change of the season of the year with a decrease in temperature;
malnutrition;
bad ecology.

Symptoms of viral sore throat in a child

The signs of this form of angina are similar to the symptoms of the bacterial form. The main difference is the absence of white or yellowish pustules on the tonsils. The incubation period of this disease is from two days to two weeks.

Symptoms of viral sore throat are divided into primary and secondary. The first are those that appear in the first hour after infection, and the second - after a few hours or even two days later.

Primary:

Headache.
Weakness, body aches.
Profuse salivation.
Decreased appetite.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
Pain in the throat.
An increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees, and sometimes up to 40.

Secondary:

Throat starts to tickle.
There is a runny nose.
The voice crackles.
There is a rare cough.
Hyperemia of the tonsils, their swelling.
In rare cases, nausea and even vomiting, diarrhea may occur.
The appearance of small papules on the surface of the tonsils, but without purulent contents.
If there was an infection with the Coxsackie virus, then after three days the rash degenerates into vesicles, which then open and merge with each other, forming ulcers. During this period, an increase in soreness of the throat and a complete lack of appetite are characteristic.

Diagnostics

Since viral tonsillitis in its clinical picture is in many ways similar to the bacterial form of this disease and to SARS, diagnostic methods are especially important for making the correct diagnosis. It is very important to distinguish the viral form of angina from the bacterial form, because the treatment of the viral form with antibiotics is useless.

So what do diagnostic methods include for suspected viral sore throat:

Initial examination of the patient.
Palpation of the lymph nodes to determine their size.
Collection of anamnesis.
Purpose of pharyngoscopy.
Clinical blood test.
PCR of the contents of the pharynx to determine the pathogenic microflora.
ELISA to detect antibodies or determine their absence.
In the case of running states, an ECG is additionally assigned.

How to treat viral sore throat in a child

If you suspect that your baby has a sore throat, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is important that the specialist was able to determine the type of this disease and start treatment in a timely manner. Some mothers try to independently carry out therapeutic measures, which further harm the health of their child. When dealing with a viral form of angina, it is necessary to make the main efforts to combat the pathogen, a specific virus. That is why it is so important to determine in time that the child has a viral form of angina.

My son sometimes had a sore throat against the background of a viral infection. We were always under medical supervision in case of illness. In addition to the prescribed medicines, we were engaged in regular gargling. And just a day later, the pain became less intense, and the temperature dropped significantly. Fortunately, we did not have the consequences of a viral sore throat, there were no complications.

Providing first aid

There are different situations when it is not possible to immediately seek help from a specialist. Therefore, it is necessary to know what measures should be taken to alleviate the condition of the child.

In case of intoxication, it is important to cleanse the child's body of harmful compounds. Therefore, you need to drink plenty of water. It can be any drink, the main thing is to serve them warm.
If the baby has hyperthermia over 38.5 degrees, it is necessary to knock it down with a drug based on panadol or ibuprofen. And then constantly monitor its performance, measure at least four times a day.
With severe sore throat, active rinsing and treatment of the tonsils with antiseptic agents is necessary.
In case of dyspeptic symptoms, it is necessary to follow a diet. With vomiting and pain in the abdomen, fried foods, sweets, broths, fatty foods and citrus fruits are contraindicated. If the child does not have problems with digestion, then it is important to comply with two requirements: easy digestion of foods and taking only warm drinks and food.

Medications

The first thing to understand is that viral sore throat is not treated with antibiotics. Taking such drugs only exacerbates the situation, reducing the effectiveness of the treatment of viral infections.

So what medications are prescribed for treatment:

Antiviral drugs: Viferon, Neovir, Cycloferon, Anaferon and others.
Antihistamines and hyposensitizing agents: Suprastin, Diazolin, Zodak, Tavegil.
Antipyretic drugs: Nurofen or Paracetamol.
Immunomodulating agents: Amiksin, Likopid, Immunorix.
At a very high temperature, drugs for dehydration are additionally prescribed, for example, Regidron.
Antiseptics, for example, Faringosept and Travisil.
The use of anti-inflammatory sprays, for example, Interferon, Hexoral.
Gargling with a solution of potassium permanganate, Furacilin or Miramistin.
Treatment of the surface of the tonsils by Lugol.
Flushing the sinuses with saline.
Vitamin therapy, special importance is given to ascorbic acid.
In rare cases, antibiotics are prescribed when a secondary infection of bacterial origin joins.

Folk methods

Treatment of this form of the disease is possible at home. Most often it is a plentiful drink and gargling with a warm liquid. At the beginning of the disease, especially on the first day, it is necessary to rinse at least 10 times, then gradually reduce the number of procedures.

The following options can be used as rinsers:

A tablespoon of alcohol tincture of the golden root is placed on a glass of warm water. This tincture can be prepared independently. To do this, you need to pour 50 grams of golden root with vodka (half a liter), put it in a dark room for a week.
Mix two parts of oak bark and one part of linden flowers. The resulting mixture must be filled with water. An hour later, a teaspoon of honey is added.
Grind three cloves of garlic, pour boiling water over the resulting mass (one glass is needed). It remains only to strain.
Grated beets must be poured with water in a ratio of one to one and left to infuse for 30 minutes, strain.

Possible Complications

There is a risk of developing consequences after recovery. This is especially true in cases where treatment was not started in a timely manner or there are chronic pathologies that worsened during the illness.

The main complications of viral angina include:

Glomerulonephritis.
Rheumatism of the heart.
Abdominal abscess.
Sepsis.
Rheumatic arthritis.
Purulent inflammation of the salivary glands.

Preventive measures

Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene.
Washing hands after the street.
Washing the nose immediately after contact with infected people.
In the event of an outbreak, use gauze bandages, and even better, avoid crowded places.
Follow a proper diet.
Prophylactic use of vitamin C.
Teach your child to harden.
As prescribed by the doctor, use immunostimulants.
Do regular wet cleaning and airing the room.

Now you know by what signs you can determine the presence of a viral sore throat. You got acquainted with the methods of treatment of this form of the disease, learned about possible complications. Remember that it is necessary to observe preventive measures in order to prevent the development of diseases. In case of infection, immediately go for a consultation with a doctor and follow all his appointments. Remember that self-medication can harm the health of your child.

Preschool children are more susceptible to viral diseases due to the fact that the immune system is not yet sufficiently formed. The situation is further complicated by the fact that babies still cannot accurately describe their complaints. As a result, parents delay treatment, complications appear. A common occurrence in childhood is viral tonsillitis (tonsillitis).

What is a disease?

Viral tonsillitis is a disease that is characterized by lesions of the palatine tonsils.. Most often, the disease has to be faced during the off-season. Low temperature and high humidity in the premises provokes the reproduction of pathogens. Inflammation of the tonsils can provoke adenovirus, influenza virus or gala virus. Less commonly, the disease develops due to the defeat of the child with the herpes virus. This disease is called hermetic angina.

To a greater extent, children of primary school age, as well as kids attending kindergartens, are more susceptible to the disease. In collectives, pathogenic microflora spreads rapidly. You can become infected through contact or airborne droplets. If one infected child appears in a class or group of a preschool institution, several more will definitely get sick.

In infants, the disease falls apart less frequently. Immunoglobulins that protect against infection are passed to the infant through mother's milk. If the child is bottle-fed, the risk of developing an illness increases. Unfortunately, babies are much less likely to tolerate diseases. Complications provoked by the addition of a bacterial infection often develop.

The mother can suspect the development of tonsillitis in the baby, if the baby began to refuse food, became capricious. A hoarse sound during crying is characteristic.

Video: School of Doctor Komarovsky

Viral angina. Classification

Depending on the type of virus that provoked inflammation, the following types of tonsillitis are distinguished:

adenovirus;
herpetic;
flu.

Based on the clinical picture, the following types of tonsillitis in children are distinguished:

Catarrhal angina. The disease develops abruptly, but proceeds in a mild form. Body temperature usually remains normal. Blood tests show minor changes in the body.
Follicular angina. Inflammation is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, symptoms of general intoxication, and pain when swallowing. Characteristic is the swelling of the follicles. They can be easily seen when examining the throat. If a bacterial infection joins, the follicles can suppurate (purulent tonsillitis develops).
Lacunar angina. Primary symptoms are similar to those of the previous form. The state of health of a small patient deteriorates sharply. In addition to swelling of the follicle, a white coating forms, which can cover the entire surface of the tonsils. Lacunar and follicular type of the disease can be diagnosed simultaneously.

In medicine, there are also such concepts as primary and secondary tonsillitis in children. Primary infections include infections that develop on their own. Secondary angina is a complication of other infectious diseases such as measles, influenza, scarlet fever, etc.

Causes and factors for the development of the disease

If we talk about viral tonsillitis, then preschool children most often suffer from it due to a weak immune system. The risk group includes babies who attend kindergartens during the period of seasonal cold weather. The fact is that the pathogenic microflora virus can be transmitted by airborne droplets or by contact. The incubation period can be up to five days. This means that the child may already be contagious, but the main symptoms of the disease will still be absent.

The state of the child's immune system directly depends on what type of tonsillitis the baby will have to face. So, if a child eats properly, regularly spends time outdoors, does not have chronic diseases, he will most likely suffer inflammation in a catarrhal form.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease can also include a change in immunity during hypothermia, stressful situations, climate change, beriberi, etc. Quite often, tonsillitis is diagnosed in children under one year old due to a decrease in the body's defenses against the background of teething.

At an older age, angina can develop due to local hypothermia. Often, adolescent children suffer from the disease in the summer. The reason is the use of cold drinks or ice cream.

How it manifests itself: symptoms of the disease

In children, angina is much more difficult than in adults. Complications often develop. A transition from one form of the disease to another is possible; a bacterial infection often joins a viral infection.

If the inflammation develops in the simplest form (catarrhal), then the child will complain only of a sore throat. General health will be normal. With proper therapy, the disease will pass in 3-4 days.

Unfortunately, more often parents have to deal with more severe forms of tonsillitis. The disease develops rapidly. In the first half of the day, the baby can actively play, and in the afternoon they begin to act up, refuse food. The following symptoms should also alert:

a sharp increase in the child's body temperature up to 38-40 ° C;
drowsiness;
complaints of sore throat and general deterioration of well-being;

Seek medical attention immediately. The child's condition may deteriorate rapidly. With the lacunar form of angina, severe intoxication can be observed. The baby may vomit. Due to swelling of the tonsils, often the voice becomes nasal. Children may also complain of an unpleasant taste in their mouths.

Often viral sore throat is combined with respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, cough, stomatitis, conjunctivitis.

Diagnostics

Timely diagnosis is a guarantee of successful treatment of viral sore throat. If the baby has unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately, even at normal body temperature. Differential diagnostics is also important, which allows to exclude other diseases and prescribe the correct treatment from the first days.

If you suspect the presence of a disease in a child, you should contact a pediatrician or pediatric ENT. The specialist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis using the following methods:

Interview. The specialist clarifies when the child's behavior changed, what symptoms initially had to be faced. It is important to identify whether the child has recently suffered other infectious diseases.
Examination of the mucous membrane of the pharynx. A characteristic sign of angina is a change in the structure and color of the mucosa. With catarrhal angina, the tonsils acquire a burgundy hue. If follicles or white plaque are visible, a complicated form of viral tonsillitis develops.
General urine and blood tests. An increased content of leukocytes in the biological material indicates the rapid development of the inflammatory process.
Examination of a smear from the pharynx. This is one of the most accurate methods of differential diagnosis. With its help, it is possible to identify what type of pathogen provoked the disease.
Pharyngoscopy. Thanks to a special device with a mirror, the doctor can determine the localization of inflammation, the amount of plaque. By the type of plaque, one can also judge the form of angina. If the white film is easily removed with a spatula and does not leave bruises, most likely, you had to deal with lacunar tonsillitis. Difficult-to-separate purulent plaque may indicate the development of diphtheria.

To choose the right method of treatment, it is important to differentiate viral tonsillitis from bacterial. It is wrong to start taking antibiotics at the first signs of the disease!

Treatment of viral sore throat in children

An integrated therapeutic approach will help to quickly restore the healthy state of the child. It is important to properly adjust the diet and rest of a small patient, to choose the right drugs. Folk recipes can also come to the rescue.

Medical therapy

Treatment of angina of mild and moderate severity can be carried out on an outpatient basis. If the child's condition is rapidly deteriorating, a bacterial infection has joined, hospitalization may be required.

With the viral form of angina in children, special antiviral drugs are used. Good results are given by Remantadin, Tamiflu, Viferon. With herpetic sore throat, Acyclovir or Tiloran may be prescribed. Mandatory are preparations with antiseptic properties. The child may be prescribed drugs such as Chlorophyllipt or Oracept (in the form of a spray). Children over 12 years of age may be prescribed tablets with analgesic and antiseptic properties (Strepsils, Lizak).

The appearance of a purulent plaque may indicate the addition of a bacterial infection. In this case, the specialist will additionally prescribe an antibiotic. The drug is selected after studying the pathogenic microflora. Thus, it is possible to identify the sensitivity of the bacterium to a particular medication.

Symptomatic therapy must be carried out. If a viral infection is accompanied by a runny nose and cough, expectorant drugs (Pertussin), vasoconstrictor nasal drops (Nazivin, Tizin) should be used. At elevated body temperature, it is necessary to give the child antipyretics (Nurofen, Panadol).

In a hospital setting, for the treatment of a disease in children older than 3 years, physiotherapeutic methods such as UHF, Electrophoresis, inhalations can be used. Such procedures have an analgesic effect, and also stimulate blood circulation, due to which the damaged tonsil mucosa is restored faster.

Photo: First aid kit

Acyclovir tablets can be prescribed for herpetic sore throat Strepsils - an antiseptic for the throat in the form of lozenges Orasept - an effective antiseptic for the throat Panadol syrup will help to cope with the baby's fever Viferon - popular antiviral suppositories

ethnoscience

The recipes below can be used as an adjunct in the treatment of viral sore throat in children. In no case should you treat them with their help without consulting a doctor.

Honey. The product has excellent antiseptic properties. In most cases, it can also be used to treat viral sore throat in children. Preference should be given to fresh honey, it contains more useful vitamins and minerals. Good results give inhalation with a honey solution. The product must be diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10. The resulting solution is poured into a nebulizer. The procedure should be carried out for 5-10 minutes. Honey solution is also effective for gargling.
Garlic. The product is a natural immunomodulator, widely used for the treatment of infectious diseases in children and adults. It is worth preparing an infusion of several cloves of garlic and hot milk. The product must be consumed in small sips immediately after cooling. Such a medicine has an unpleasant taste, but is considered quite effective. Children over 12 years of age can also take a teaspoon of freshly squeezed garlic juice once a day.
Onion. It is recommended to cut the vegetable in half and breathe in fresh juice vapors for 5-7 minutes. Onion inhibits the vital activity of viruses. Onion broth also gives good results. One onion must be poured with a small amount of water and boiled until the liquid begins to thicken. Then the broth must be cooled and used for gargling.
Chamomile. A tablespoon of a dry plant must be poured with a liter of boiling water and infused until completely cooled. The resulting remedy can be used for gargling. Chamomile is an excellent natural antiseptic.
Soda. This product also has disinfecting properties. A teaspoon of the powder must be diluted in a glass of warm water. Gargle with the resulting solution 4-5 times a day. If therapy is started with the appearance of the first symptoms, it will be possible to cope with inflammation in 2-3 days. Baking soda can be replaced with table salt.

Foods to help treat angina

With the help of garlic with milk, it will be possible to quickly cure a sore throat Onion vapors kill pathogenic viruses Honey is a delicious medicine for sore throat Gargling with a soda solution will help to quickly cope with an infection Chamomile is a natural antiseptic

Lifestyle with angina

Any inflammatory disease requires bed rest. But getting a child to spend time in bed is not always possible. Therefore, parents need to create a calm environment, exclude activities that cause an emotional rise in the baby.

Normal humidity and fresh air will help the child bounce back. At elevated body temperature, it is not recommended to go outside. Therefore, the room must be regularly ventilated.

You will also have to pay attention to the diet. It is necessary to refuse products that irritate the throat (hard biscuits, crackers, spicy seasonings, sweets). The child should be more often offered warm (not hot!) Drinks such as tea or compote. It is also important to drink clean water - at least 50 ml per kilogram of the child's weight per day.

Vitamin C, which is found in large quantities in lemons, will help to quickly restore health. But in its pure form, it is impossible to give the product to a child during a sore throat. If the baby is not allergic, lemon can be added to tea.

Treatment prognosis, possible complications

With timely treatment, complications rarely develop. It is possible to completely bring the body back to normal in 5-7 days. But the neglect of therapy leads to the fact that a bacterial infection also joins a viral infection. At the same time, the risk of complications increases dramatically. The child may develop a purulent abscess requiring immediate surgical intervention. Acute rheumatic fever may develop 2 to 3 weeks after bacterial tonsillitis. As a complication, otitis media, meningitis, lymphadenitis and other infectious diseases can also develop.

Prevention

Children with strong immunity are much less likely to get sick. Therefore, parents need to monitor the diet and rest of the children, regularly spend time with them in the fresh air.

Angina is a contagious disease. Therefore, if possible, it is worth limiting contact with the infected. If the family has a sick child, it is worth allocating separate dishes and bedding for him.

After a full recovery, specialists often prescribe vitamin complexes for children, as well as immunomodulatory drugs. Thus, it is possible to strengthen the defenses of a small patient, to avoid complications.

Viral angina is an insidious disease that requires a quick response from parents and doctors. With the right approach to therapy, it will be possible to restore the health of the child as quickly as possible.

Content

In the body of an adult patient and a child, acute sore throat can be caused by a viral sore throat, which is of an infectious nature, unpleasant symptoms. The disease is dangerous, fraught with serious complications, and is transmitted to a healthy person from the environment by airborne droplets. It is important to treat viral sore throat in a child in a timely manner, otherwise the disease provokes severe intoxication of the child's body.

What is viral angina

This is an infectious disease, which is accompanied by acute inflammation of the palatine tonsils and the formation of purulent pimples in the oropharynx. The pathological process is caused by dangerous bacteria, often progresses against the background of a weakened immune system. To make the correct diagnosis, it is important to differentiate the characteristic ailment from other acute tonsillitis with general intoxication of the body.

The difference between viral and bacterial tonsillitis

It is difficult to distinguish viral tonsillitis from tonsillitis of a bacterial and fungal form at home, since the symptoms of these diagnoses have obvious similarities. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to differentiate the disease, since conservative treatment has its own significant differences. For this, the patient will have to turn to a specialist, and for himself it is desirable to remember forever that:

in the viral form, cough is the main symptom of the disease, while in bacterial tonsillitis it occurs only in complicated clinical pictures;
with bacterial tonsillitis, abundant abscesses are seen on the palatine tonsils, with a viral form of the disease, redness of the throat, swollen lymph nodes, white plaque are obvious;
white dots in bacterial tonsillitis are localized in the oropharynx, while in viral tonsillitis they go beyond the specified limits.

How the disease manifests itself

As a result of inflammation of the tonsils, with an exacerbation of viral tonsillitis, the patient begins to complain of sore throat when swallowing. This does not happen immediately after infection, since the incubation period lasts from 2 to 14 days. After that, the pathogen causes a sore throat, which is accompanied by a white coating on the palatine tonsils. Before buying anti-inflammatory drugs, you need to seek the advice of an otolaryngologist.

Causes

The main provoking factor is pathogenic microorganisms that are transmitted to a healthy person by airborne droplets. These can be herpes viruses, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, influenza strains, Coxsackie viruses, which significantly harm the affected body. Other routes of infection:

contact-household (when kissing and using common household items);
fecal-oral (through contaminated food).

Infectious angina - symptoms

Such an unpleasant disease can develop an epidemic, so it is important for adult patients and children to know how it manifests itself in order to avoid dangerous complications, mass infection. Local symptoms completely depend on the type of tonsillitis, while the general signs are presented below:

sore throat with white coating;
severe headaches;
cases of increased body temperature;
fever, chills;
bouts of nausea and vomiting;
complete lack of appetite;
muscle weakness, aching joints.

In any case, this viral disease is accompanied by acute intoxication of the body and an abnormal increase in the size of the lymph nodes. Other symptoms appear locally, depending on the specifics of angina in a particular clinical picture. Below are the distinguishing features for the speed of the final diagnosis:

Catarrhal. The most common type of viral sore throat without complications. The patient is characterized by dry mucous membranes, increased salivation, inflammation of the lymph nodes, pain when swallowing, aching joints and muscle weakness.
Lacunar. It proceeds in a complicated form, because in addition to sore throat, the patient complains of acute pain in the myocardial region, sleeps poorly and behaves irritably.
Follicular. The pathological process involves the follicles of the tonsils, which are very swollen and covered with a white coating. The patient suffers from a runny nose, breathes poorly, nasally when talking.
Ulcerative film. There are no symptoms of intoxication, but the throat is covered with plaque, it hurts. An unpleasant odor comes from the mouth, weeping sores form, the structure of the palatine tonsils changes (it becomes heterogeneous, loose).
Herpetic. The disease caused by the Coxsackie virus, up to 3 years, proceeds in a complicated form, can cause an epidemic. The microbe is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, there is a pronounced symptomatology of general intoxication of the body.

Diagnostic methods

With a visual examination, the doctor can distinguish purulent tonsillitis, but it is important to have a complete picture of the progressive disease. Especially for these purposes, blood tests should be prescribed - general and biochemical. In this way, it is possible with the utmost accuracy to determine the nature of the pathogenic pathogen, to select an effective therapy for its further extermination. To correctly differentiate the diagnosis, the following diagnostic methods are appropriate:

pharyngoscopy;
ELISA (serological test for the presence of antibodies);
PCR diagnostics (smear from the oral cavity to determine the microbe);
electrocardiography for potential complications.

Treatment

Intensive therapy for a clinical patient begins with complete rest and bed rest, while it is imperative to drink more warm liquids, for example, to be effectively treated with chamomile decoction. It is necessary to use the means of official and alternative medicine, eat right, take vitamins, perform physiotherapy procedures on the recommendation of the attending physician. Positive dynamics is observed if the inflamed lymph nodes decrease gradually in size and stop hurting on palpation. In steel, everything is individual.

adults

As with a fungal infection, viral sore throat without timely treatment only progresses, is fraught with serious complications. The basis of intensive therapy is antiviral drugs that can exterminate the pathogenic flora in the shortest possible time. These are Tsitovir 3, Kagocel, Neovir, Viferon, Cycloferon, which have several forms of release. The remaining pharmacological groups for infectious mononucleosis are presented below:

antihistamines to reduce foci of rash: Suprastin, Tavegil, Erius;
antipyretic against high temperature: Nise, Ibuklin, Cefekon;
immunomodulators: Likopid, Amiksin, Imunorix.

During pregnancy

It is difficult to treat viral sore throat during gestation. Weak immunity needs potent drugs, but these can significantly harm intrauterine development. Due to such pharmacological limitations, the enteroviral form is best treated with alternative medicine methods, for example, a decoction of chamomile or calendula. At the same time, it is possible to additionally treat the pharynx with Lugol and other medications that minimally enter the systemic circulation and act locally.

children

It is difficult to accustom a small patient to bed rest, but it is extremely necessary to do this. In the case of children, streptococcal tonsillitis progresses more often, which requires timely medication. To exterminate the pathogenic flora, antiviral and immunostimulating drugs are needed, according to the age category of patients. Additionally, doctors recommend local antiseptics for treating the larynx, vitamins for immunity, folk recipes for purulent plaques and warming compresses against the inflammatory process.

How to treat viral sore throat

The photo of patients is frustrating with the appearance of the oral cavity, where the inflamed mucous membrane is covered with white plaque, while the presence of painful vesicles is visible with further transformation into sores. Soft tissues are especially sensitive to streptococcus or another pathogenic virus, so therapy should be started immediately after the completion of a comprehensive diagnosis. The main method of treatment is presented below:

strict bed rest;
restoration of immunity;
antiseptic rinses;
anesthetic compresses;
drug treatment;
physiotherapy procedures;
vitamin therapy.

Are antibiotics needed?

Antibacterial drugs are ineffective against pathogenic viruses, so it is pointless to take them with viral sore throat. An exception is bacterial tonsillitis, where systemic antibiotics may be recommended only in complicated clinical presentations. In any case, such an appointment should be made exclusively by the attending physician.

Antiviral

This is an effective pharmacological appointment in the fight against vesicular tonsillitis and other forms of viral sore throat. The list of medications is extensive for patients of all age categories. Particular emphasis is recommended to be placed on the following medicines that productively exterminate the pathogenic flora:

Anaferon. The drug is available in the form of tablets, successfully fights viruses and strengthens the immune system. Adults are prescribed 1 tablet up to 6 times, children - up to 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 7-10 days. Advantages - high efficiency, disadvantage - tangible price.
Cycloferon. The drug provides effective treatment at home. Available in the form of tablets, recommended orally before meals. Daily doses depend on the age of the patient: 4 - 6 years old - 1 pill, 7 - 11 years old - 2 pills, from 12 years old and adults - 3 pills per day. The advantage is a quick result, the disadvantage is the high price.
Grippferon. These are nasal drops that provide treatment and prevention of viral sore throat. Daily doses are determined by age, for example, children under 1 year old - 1 emission in each nasal passage, and patients from 3 to 14 years old - 2 drops 4-5 times a day. Course - 7 - 14 days. The advantage is ease of use, excellent results.

Antipyretic drugs

The viral form is accompanied by high fever. The child behaves capriciously, refuses to eat food, does not sleep well. To get rid of the sensation of internal heat, the following medications are recommended:

Nurofen. These are syrup and tablets, depending on the age of the patient. It is required to take the medicine inside at a high temperature in between meals, act according to the instructions. Advantages - pleasant taste of syrup, action - 20 minutes after taking a single dose. Disadvantages - contraindications.
Panadol. This is a syrup for children with a measured dispenser. It has a pleasant taste, recommended for oral administration at high temperatures. A single dose is determined by the weight and age of the child. The course is until the temperature regime stabilizes. For adults, the tablets of the same name are recommended.
Paracetamol. These are well-known pills that are supposed to be drunk with an increase in body temperature. Single dose - 1 pill, but not more than 3 - 4 tablets per day. The course - until the complete disappearance of anxiety symptoms. Advantages - low price, disadvantage - not everyone helps.

Inhalation and gargling

These are local therapeutic measures that help to reduce extensive foci of pathology as quickly as possible, restore the affected mucous membrane of the throat. Inhalations and rinses can be carried out at home, the main thing is to choose an effective medicine. Below are the most effective drugs for viral sore throat:

Miramistin. This therapeutic solution has regenerating and bactericidal properties and is intended for external use. Available in the form of a solution and spray. The course of treatment - 7 - 10 days, daily doses - up to 4 - 5 treatments. Advantages - high efficiency, no disadvantages.
Furacilin. This is a cheap local antiseptic that quickly removes all manifestations of a viral form of angina. It is required to dilute 2 tablets per 1 liter of water, use the finished composition for regular mouth rinses. The course is until the symptoms of angina disappear completely. Advantages - price, disadvantage - selective action.
A solution of potassium permanganate. You can rinse a sore throat with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, the main thing is to first make sure that the crystals have been dissolved in water. The number of daily rinses is not limited, and it is desirable to be treated in this way until complete recovery.

Local anesthetic agents

Tablets that relieve the process of swallowing with a sore throat can be bought at any pharmacy. The range of pharmacological products is extensive, the principle of action is identical - it is necessary to dissolve the pill so that the sore throat subsides, even temporarily. The course of treatment is 7 - 12 days. Here are some effective medications:

Lysobact. The drug removes the pain of the throat, relieves inflammation and swelling. Daily doses for patients from 12 years of age are 6-8 tablets per day, at the age of 7-12 years: 4 pills, from 3 to 7 years 3 pills. Advantages - high efficiency, minimum contraindications, no disadvantages.
Pharyngosept. Lozenges for resorption in the mouth to quickly remove sore throats with viral sore throat and more. It is required to take one lollipop three to five times a day, preferably a quarter of an hour after a meal. Advantages - affordable price and quick results, disadvantage - contraindications.
Travisil. Combined preparation with herbal ingredients in the form of mint tablets. Adults and adolescents from 12 years of age are recommended to dissolve 1-2 tablets; children 6-12 years old - 1 tablet per day for a week. Advantages - affordable price, disadvantages - herbal ingredients are not suitable for everyone.

Compresses

Topical treatment for sore throats includes the use of warm compresses to relieve swelling, inflammation, and soreness of the throat. More often, plant preparations are used, for example, a decoction of chamomile or oak bark. This is an auxiliary treatment, which is individually recommended by the otolaryngologist, when choosing a composition, it is important to exclude a tendency to allergies to one of the components. Alternatively, you can put an alcohol compress at night.

Physiotherapy procedures

Viral tonsillitis is treated comprehensively, in addition to the use of medications, doctors insist on a full course of physiotherapy procedures - 10 - 12 sessions. This is important in order to speed up the healing process, to exclude the development of dangerous complications in the future. Here are the most effective physical therapy treatments:

steam and oil inhalations;
UV and ultrasound;
lavage of lacunae in the hospital.

Folk remedies

Before resorting to alternative medicine, it is important to study the body's sensitivity to natural ingredients, such as individual herbs, honey, alcohol. If there are no health restrictions, positive dynamics is ensured. If a viral sore throat develops, here are the most effective folk remedies with a minimal list of contraindications:

Requires 2 - 3 tbsp. l. dried onion peel pour 500 ml of water, boil. Simmer on fire for 7 minutes, then remove, cover and insist. Use as a gargle for a sore throat up to 3-5 times a day, but the composition must first be filtered. Course - 7 days.
Take a spoonful of crushed plantain and sage, pour 500 ml of water. Boil the composition over low heat for 7 minutes, then insist for half an hour. Add 1 tsp. honey, gargle throughout the day. Course - 7 days.
Grind the garlic, add a few drops of boiled water to the finished gruel, mix. Generously lubricate the throat with a homogeneous mixture before going to bed, do not drink the liquid. Repeat the procedure up to 5 days.

Possible complications and consequences

If a viral sore throat is not promptly treated with conservative methods, the clinical picture becomes much more complicated, especially for young children. The consequences for health are not the most favorable, not always associated with the life of the patient. Potential complications after viral sore throat are presented below, which are difficult to treat effectively. It:

encephalitis;
hemorrhagic conjunctivitis;
meningitis;
myalgia;
myocarditis.

Video

Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

You can catch a sore throat at any age. This disease is most severe in children. Quite often, angina occurs against the background of a viral infection.

The reasons

Viruses are the second most common cause of sore throats in childhood after bacteria. Most often, the development of acute tonsillitis leads to infection with adenovirus infection, influenza and parainfluenza, as well as herpes.

The peak incidence of such forms of angina falls on the age of 3-7 years.

The most susceptible to infection are children attending educational institutions. In crowded, organized communities, viral infections tend to spread at a faster rate.

Viral angina is characterized by systemic manifestations. Catarrhal symptoms also appear: runny nose and cough. For bacterial tonsillitis, such manifestations are usually not characteristic and practically do not occur.

Viral forms of the disease usually occur within 5-7 days and end with a complete recovery.

How can you get infected?

You can get a sore throat after any contact with a sick and contagious person. The most common type of infection is airborne.

The smallest viral particles during a conversation or sneezing enter the environment. There they can stay for a long time and not lose their viability. Subsequently, getting on the mucous membranes of another child, the viruses begin to multiply rapidly and provoke the development of the inflammatory process.

Another, also quite frequent way of infection, is the contact-household variant.

It is possible during joint games with the same toys or when using common dishes. Similar cases of infection are noted within the family or in kindergarten. Violation of personal hygiene rules also leads to possible infection.

Symptoms

The first clinical manifestations of the disease appear after the incubation period. With viral tonsillitis, it is usually about 1-3 days.

In some forms of infections, the incubation period can even last up to a week. At this time, as a rule, the child does not have any adverse symptoms of the disease, and nothing bothers him.

The main manifestations of viral sore throat in childhood are:

Increase in body temperature. Usually it rises to 38-39 degrees during the first day of illness and persists for a couple of days. Against the background of high body temperature, fever and intense heat appear, and sweating increases.
Sore throat when swallowing. Any food, especially with solid particles, can cause an increase in pain.
Redness of the pharynx and enlargement of the tonsils. They turn bright red. Various rashes appear on the tonsils, as well as whitish or gray plaques. For viral sore throats, purulent crusts are not characteristic. This symptom occurs only when infected with a bacterial infection.
Enlarged peripheral lymph nodes. The most commonly affected are the occipital and submandibular. They become quite dense and painful when palpated.
Severe headache, loss of appetite, change in the general condition of the child. The baby becomes more capricious, refuses to eat, tries to spend more time in the crib. At high temperatures, the symptoms of thirst and dry mouth increase.

What does it look like?

With viral tonsillitis, the tonsils become enlarged and bright red. The entire pharynx and oropharynx also have a scarlet color. Various rashes appear on the tonsils.

With adenovirus variants of the disease, they look like white millet grains, which are located at some distance from each other.

Usually on the 4-5th day of illness they open, and the liquid flows out.

In place of the former vesicles, areas with erosions and ulcers remain. The surface of the tonsils becomes loose and bleeds easily at any touch.

A week after the onset of herpes sore throat, the tonsils become clean and do not have traces of vesicles and sores.

Diagnostics

After the first signs of the disease appear, you should definitely show the baby to the pediatrician. The doctor will examine the child's throat and be able to make the correct diagnosis.

To clarify the pathogen, additional tests and examinations are sometimes required.

All babies with angina take a smear from the surface of the tonsils. It allows you to accurately determine the causative agent of the disease, as well as exclude such dangerous childhood infections as scarlet fever and diphtheria.

A general blood test is performed for all babies with acute tonsillitis.

An increase in the number of lymphocytes against the general background of a high content of leukocytes indicates the presence of a viral infection in the body. Also, similar variants of acute tonsillitis occur with a strong acceleration of ESR.

Treatment

You can treat angina at home. Such treatment should be carried out with the obligatory supervision of the attending physician. The doctor will be able to identify the development of complications in time, and will also carry out the necessary correction of therapy, if necessary.

For the treatment of viral sore throat, apply:

Antivirals. They help to effectively cope with viruses, and also contribute to a quick recovery. The most commonly used drugs are: Acyclovir, Remantadine, Viferon, Groprinosin, Isoprinosine. They have a pronounced viral toxic effect. Antiviral drugs are usually prescribed in the form of tablets, and in severe situations - in injections and injections.

Immunostimulating drugs. Significantly enhance the effect of antiviral agents. They can be prescribed in the form of drops, tablets, and also suppositories. In pediatric practice, the most commonly used: Interferon, Immunal and others. They are appointed for 7-10 days. Strengthen the immune system and contribute to the good functioning of the immune system.
Antipyretic. They are used only when the body temperature rises above 38 degrees. To improve well-being, drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen are perfect. Such funds are approved for use in pediatric practice.
Antihistamines. They are used to eliminate swelling of the tonsils and reduce the symptoms of intoxication. Appointed for 5 days, usually 1-2 times a day. Some drugs can cause increased drowsiness, so they are usually recommended for use in the morning. Suitable antihistamines: Claritin, Suprastin, Loratadin and others.

Warm plentiful drink. Helps eliminate viral toxins from the body. Such a simple measure helps prevent the development of dangerous complications, which are manifested by inflammation in the kidneys or heart. Compotes or fruit drinks made from berries and fruits are suitable as drinks.
Bed rest for the entire period of high temperature. Being in bed will contribute to a quick recovery and improve well-being in a short time. Usually, with viral sore throats, doctors recommend that babies stay in bed for 2-3 days.
Gentle nutrition. All cooked dishes should be at a comfortable temperature, not higher than 50 degrees. Extremely cold foods can cause increased pain when swallowing. It is better to choose dishes with a more liquid consistency that are not capable of injuring the tonsils.
Rinsing. They help to wash the tonsils and remove plaque from their surfaces. They are usually carried out 3-4 times a day for 5-7 days. Decoctions of chamomile, calendula or sage, as well as a solution of dilute hydrogen peroxide and soda, are well suited for washing.
Pain-relieving lozenges or lozenges. Eliminate pain in the throat and help reduce inflammation of the tonsils. Pharyngosept, Strepsils, Septolete help to cope with pain when swallowing. Assigned 3 times a day for a week. Longer use of anesthetic lozenges is discussed with your doctor.

Multivitamin complexes, including selenium. The microelements contained in such preparations are needed for quick recovery after an illness, as well as for improving the functioning of the immune system. Selenium helps the body cope with viruses faster and activates the immune system.

Creation of a comfortable microclimate in the room. Excessively dry air in the children's room leads to difficulty breathing during a viral infection. The use of special devices - humidifiers helps to cope with this problem. They create optimal humidity in the children's room, which is necessary for good breathing.

Below you can watch a video of Dr. Komarovsky about angina in children.

In most cases, viral sore throat occurs as a result of infection in the oral cavity. Most often this disease affects children under 11 years of age. This is due to the fact that the immune system of a child at this age is not yet fully formed.

Weakened immunity, when pathogenic microorganisms enter, provokes inflammatory processes in the tonsils, which is accompanied by purulent formations in the oropharynx.

The reasons

The very name "viral angina" directly indicates that it is different viruses that cause this disease. Pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms can enter the body of both an adult and a child through airborne droplets, contact-household and fecal-oral routes. That is, you can get a sore throat during a normal conversation, coughing, kissing, using shared toys or utensils, as well as through food. It is also believed that the viral nature of the disease in humans persists for a month, that is, all this time it can infect other people.

The main factors that lead to the development of viral sore throat include:

Viral tonsillitis in children, as a rule, is provoked by the herpes simplex virus. This type of disease rarely has complications, especially with proper and timely therapy. Children get sick with this disease more often, since they are in contact with many children, both in kindergarten and at school, and their immunity has not yet been fully formed.

Symptoms

The manifestations of the disease are quite similar to colds. A distinctive feature of angina is that white plaque forms on the tonsils and purulent pimples appear in this area. The incubation period of viral tonsillitis in children lasts up to 2 weeks.

Symptoms of the disease in the early stages:

high body temperature (up to 40 degrees);
fever, aches all over the body and general weakness;
pain when swallowing, increased salivation;
lack of appetite;
pain in the throat;
an increase in the size of the lymph nodes in the cervical region.

All symptoms appear sharply, and after a couple of days the child can observe a hoarse voice, coughing, runny nose, conjunctivitis, swelling of the tonsils and the formation of small white bubbles on them. Sometimes viral tonsillitis in children is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. These are manifestations of enteroviral angina. It usually develops in young children and is accompanied by a rash and sores on the tonsils. In a child, this type of illness can occur without an increase in body temperature, but at the same time the baby will feel sleepy and tired.

Classification

A viral illness can be classified into the following types:

Complications

Viral angina can have a number of complications in the absence of appropriate treatment. It is important to notice the symptoms of the disease in a child as early as possible and start therapy.

Complications that can occur with a viral sore throat in a child:

the occurrence of problems associated with the cardiovascular system;
pathology of the respiratory system;
damage to the kidneys and the musculoskeletal system.

In some cases, untimely started methods of treatment lead to the occurrence of a pharyngeal abscess, inflammation of the nearby lymphatic connections, the mucous gland located near the pharynx and otitis media. All these complications depend on the degree of the disease in the child, as well as the course of the disease and the neglect of such a painful condition.

Diagnostics

If the child has a viral sore throat, then the symptoms and treatment should begin as soon as possible. The doctor examines the oral cavity with a spatula so that he can see the entire area of the tonsils. But only by visual signs it is impossible to determine viral sore throat, since this disease can be bacteriological in nature, and also be a manifestation of another disease, both in an adult and in a child.

For accurate diagnosis, carry out:

Inspection of the lymph nodes in the neck, that is, the area that is closest to the oropharynx.
Pharyngoscopy.
General blood analysis.
To identify the pathogen, a swab is taken from the oral cavity of a child or an adult.
Serological diagnosis.
In case of complications, electrocardiography is done.

Such thorough diagnostic methods enable the doctor to accurately determine whether there is a viral sore throat in children in this case.

Therapy

If a viral sore throat is found in an adult or a child, then treatment is started immediately. In this case, the therapeutic effect is achieved when the therapy is carried out in combination.

Complex therapeutic therapy during treatment includes:

The rest of the therapy is carried out depending on the manifestations of the disease. If there is a fever, then the child is given an antipyretic based on his age or body weight. Sometimes severe pain with angina is removed with antibiotics that contain codeine. They can be in tablet form, as well as in the form of syrups or suspensions.

Food

Even despite the fact that a child with a sore throat refuses to eat, which can somewhat slow down the recovery process, you must definitely eat. Eat small portions, light foods, best of all with broth. Light or grated food will not cause pain when swallowing. Also, chopped food should not be hot, it is better to eat food at room temperature. Hot or cold food is unacceptable, as this can damage the inflamed mucous membrane of the oropharynx. It is also important to keep the water balance, so drinking should be a must. Drinking can be in the form of herbal decoctions, raspberries, tea or milk with honey. But here it is necessary to take into account the individual tolerance of different products, as well as the age of the child.

Prevention

In order to reduce the risk of contracting a sore throat to a minimum, it is worth adhering to preventive measures: