Bacterial inflammation of the tonsils or tonsillitis is a frequent diagnosis in babies starting from the age of 2 years. Angina is very treatable, but with timely detection of its symptoms. Otherwise, an acute inflammatory process can pass into a chronic recurrent form.
Causes of angina in children
Tonsils are organs consisting of lymphoid tissue. They are involved in the development of immune cells and are designed to protect the body from disease. Being in the throat, through which air, food and water pass, tonsils daily contact with a huge number of infectious agents, because of which the effectiveness of their work sometimes decreases. As a result, the lymphoid tissue becomes inflamed, but this pathological process is not yet tonsillitis.
The only causes of angina are streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria. The first mentioned microbes cause about 80% of all cases of the disease. The remaining 20% are provoked by either staphylococcal or mixed infection. Tonsillitis refers to contagious pathologies, it can not be "picked up" by tasting ice cream, or by hypothermia, the sore throat is transmitted from the carrier of bacteria. The chances of a child getting sick increase in the following situations:
- malnutrition;
- previous infections, inadequate treatment;
- inflammatory foci near the tonsils ( sinusitis , caries and others);
- overwork;
- weakened immune system.
Angina in children - types and symptoms
Classification of tonsillitis is based on the extent and nature of the defeat of lymphoid tissue. It is important to clarify immediately what progression of angina in children - the symptoms and treatment of inflammation depend on its form. Some doctors additionally differentiate tonsillitis into a microbial and viral group, but this is an incorrect method of classification. True sore throat is of exclusively bacterial origin. Tonsils can inflame a virus infection, but in such cases, defeat is a symptom, not an independent disease.
Types of sore throat in children:
- catarrhal;
- lacunar;
- follicular ;
- herpes or viral (controversial type).
Catarrhal angina in children
A simple form of pathology, easily tolerated and perfectly treatable. This angina in a child is characterized by a superficial lesion of the tonsils. The inflammatory process affects only the mucous membranes of the lymphoid organs, and the internal tissues remain healthy. Catarrhal angina - symptoms in children:
- lethargy;
- drowsiness;
- nausea;
- moderate pain when swallowing;
- temperature to 38-38.5 degrees;
- reddening of pharynx;
- puffiness of the tonsils;
- mild pain in nearby lymph nodes (rarely);
- lack of appetite.
Lacunar angina in children
Described type of tonsillitis is characterized by purulent damage to the tonsils. Lacunar angina is accompanied by the appearance of large inflammatory foci that merge with each other and form a kind of mesh on the lymphoid tissue. The plaque is loose and shallow, easily removed mechanically. If the lacuna is damaged, the following signs of angina in the child are observed:
- high body temperature, in small children reaches 40 degrees ;
- weakness and drowsiness;
- nausea and dizziness;
- intense pain when swallowing and talking, can give in the ear;
- aches in the joints;
- discomfort in the muscles;
- headache;
- refusal to eat and drink.
Follicular sore throat in children
The presented type of illness is also accompanied by the formation of a white-yellow coating on the tonsils. Many doctors do not differentiate lacunar and follicular angina in children - the symptoms and treatment of these forms of pathology are identical and they often occur simultaneously. Sometimes the signs of each specified type of tonsillitis affect the individual tonsils.
The purulent angina seen in children has such symptoms:
- heat, temperature up to 41 degrees;
- aches in the body;
- weakness in the muscles;
- sore throat, worse with swallowing;
- nausea, lack of appetite;
- drowsiness;
- headache;
- round yellowish-white abscesses the size of a pinhead on tonsils.
Herpes sore throat in children
Here, the inflammatory process is provoked by Coxsackie viruses. More often, the causative agent is an infection of type A (there is still B). Presented viral angina in children has nothing to do with herpes, except for the name. It is very contagious, transmitted mainly by airborne droplets, sometimes by household ones. The causative agent of inflammation are enteroviruses, which affect the tonsils, other lymphoid and muscle tissues in the body.
This tonsillitis is incorrect to call "angina" in children - its symptoms and treatment are fundamentally different from bacterial damage. The described condition is caused by a viral infection and is a part of its clinical signs. Herpes sore throat in children - symptoms:
- sudden increase in body temperature to high figures (38.5-40 degrees);
- redness of the throat;
- cramping in the abdomen;
- vomiting;
- appearance in the throat of small bright nodules, which later turn into bubbles with cloudy contents;
- aches in the joints;
- drawing pain in the muscles;
- increased lymph nodes;
- nausea;
- copious salivation;
- itching and sore throat;
- bleeding of the mouth with the slightest mechanical damage, even because of food intake;
- random opening of bubbles after 3-4 days with the appearance of erosion in their place;
- carditis (sometimes) - arrhythmia, discomfort in the heart;
- headache;
- Serous meningitis (extremely rare) with the addition of neurologic symptoms.
How much does the temperature of the baby have angina?
Heat and fever are typical symptoms of any inflammatory process, they indicate an active fight against immunity to infection. The temperature at angina in children remains high 3-4 days, after which it gradually normalizes on the background of treatment. Doctors are advised not to knock it down until the value on the thermometer reaches 38.5-39. Often taking antipyretics is absolutely not required due to the use of effective antibiotics.
Than to treat an angina at the child?
Therapy involves a set of measures aimed at eliminating bacterial infection and stopping the signs of pathology. It is preliminary important to find out what kind of angina develops in children - the symptoms and treatment of catarrhal form differ from lacunar and follicular tonsillitis. Uncomplicated herpes inflammation (viral, enterovirus) does not require special therapy, bed rest, ample warm drink and softening of the clinical picture of the disease. Recovering occurs after 7-10 days with the formation of immunity.
Treatment of angina in children with a bacterial source of infection includes:
- Local preparations. For the removal of pain, itching and reddening of the throat, sprays (Geksoral, Oracet), candies (Tharyngept, Neo-Angin) and other remedies are recommended. Children under 3 years of age are appointed with caution.
- Antihistamines. To prevent the development of allergic reactions to toxins released by bacteria, helps Cetrin, Peritol, Suprastin and similar medications.
- Antipyretic. Used only in extreme cases - Nurofen, Ibuprofen and others. For infants, it is better to choose rectal suppositories (Efferalgan, Cefekon and analogues).
- Rinse solutions. Such liquids help to stop only the symptoms of tonsillitis and alleviate the pain syndrome, so you can use pharmacy and folk remedies.
- Antibiotics. The main group of drugs in the treatment. It is preferable to give the child antimicrobial medicines penicillin series with a wide range of effects. Only a doctor can prescribe an antibiotic, especially if purulent angina in children is diagnosed - treatment by self-selected means is dangerous.
- Pro- and eubiotics. Antimicrobial agents adversely affect the intestinal microflora, so Bififir, Linex and other medicines are recommended for its recovery.
Than to gargle a throat at an angina to the child?
The described procedure can be performed with simple solutions of warm water with salt, soda (1 teaspoon per glass) and a drop of iodine. If desired, it is easy to find an effective antiseptic for angina for children in the pharmacy:
- Chlorophyllipt;
- Miramistin ;
- Eludral;
- Rivanol;
- Furacilin;
- Iodinol;
- Rotokan;
- Ingaphytol;
- Stomatode and others.
Antibiotics for angina in children
Without antimicrobials, it will not be possible to cope with bacterial tonsillitis. Before prescribing an antibiotic, it is important to establish what causes angina in children - the symptoms and treatment depend significantly on the pathogen of inflammation. Most often they are streptococcus, but in some cases a staphylococcus is sown from the pharynx. The only way to quickly cure the sore throat in a child is to use those antimicrobial medicines to which pathogenic bacteria are most sensitive:
- Flemoxin Solutab;
- Amoxiclav;
- Ecoclave;
- Augmentin and other agents of a number of amoxicillins.
When intolerance of these drugs are recommended macrolides:
- Sumamed;
- Hemomycin;
- Azitroxy;
- Macropean.
In severe cases, cephalosporins are selected for treatment:
- Aksetin;
- Cephalexin;
- Supraks;
- Zinnat.
Folk remedies for sore throats
Doctors are advised to use only solutions for rinsing throat from alternative recipes. Folk treatment of angina in children at home without the use of antibiotics is ineffective and can lead to dangerous complications or the transition of inflammation of the tonsils into a chronic form with frequent relapses. Too aggressive means (chewing lemon, processing glands with apple cider vinegar) is prohibited, especially if the baby is still small.
Herbal infusion for rinses
Ingredients:
- sage leaves - 4 tsp;
- chamomile flowers - 50 g;
- water - 300 ml.
Preparation, use :
- Grind the herbs and pour boiling water.
- After half an hour, strain the infusion.
- Gargle with the resulting solution 4 times a day.
Complications of sore throat in children
With delayed or improper treatment, tonsillitis can provoke serious consequences. Lacunar and purulent follicular angina cause the following complications in children:
- acute otitis media;
- laryngitis;
- sepsis;
- meningitis;
- pericarditis;
- regional lymphadenitis;
- encephalitis;
- pyelonephritis;
- infectious-toxic shock;
- appendicitis;
- pancarditis;
- phlegmon;
- hemorrhagic vasculitis;
- defeat of the mediastinum;
- glomerulonephritis;
- thrombocytopenic purpura;
- acute rheumatic fever with transition to chronic rheumatic fever;
- myocarditis and others.
Prophylaxis of angina in children
To prevent infection with tonsillitis it is necessary to monitor the functioning of immunity and constantly strengthen it. Prophylaxis of angina includes:
- balanced and rational nutrition;
- hardening;
- timely treatment of infections;
- high-grade dream;
- adherence to hygiene rules;
- planned vaccination of children.