Herpetic angina (vesicular pharyngitis, herpes sore throat, herpetic tonsillitis) is an infectious disease of the viral nature, a characteristic feature of which are specific rashes on the palate and back of the pharynx.
What is a herpetic sore throat?
Viral herpetic sore throat in adults is much less common and occurs more easily than in children, it is especially dangerous when this disease affects children under the age of three. Infection with pathogens of herpetic sore throat can occur in various ways:
- airborne droplets;
- through toys, food, dirty hands.
The maximum incidence of herpetic sore throat is summer and early autumn. Children become infected with a pathogen in children's groups (kindergartens, camps) and bring the infection home, because of which all members of the family can get sick. Often, the infection is superimposed on the already existing catarrhal disease and greatly complicates it. After recovery, a person has a stable immunity to this pathogen, but herpetic angina can be caused by various viruses.
The causative agent of herpetic sore throat
Pathogens of herpes syringe are transmitted from person to person, infection from the animal is possible, but occurs extremely rarely. The virus is isolated as patients in acute stage, and recovered, because the person is contagious for 3-4 weeks. The herpes viruses are caused by viruses of three groups:
- adenoviruses that cause pneumonia, encephalitis, keratoconjunctivitis;
- influenza viruses;
- Coxsackie virus.
What is dangerous herpes sore throat?
With the disease, herpes sore throat complications in adults and children older than three years are rare, this infection is dangerous only for people with low immunity and very young children. In this case, possible complications:
- serous meningitis ;
- encephalitis;
- liver disease;
- myocarditis;
- a symptom of Kernig;
- convulsions and nervous disorders.
Herpes sore throat - reasons
The mechanism of the disease is herpetic sore throat: hitting the mucosa of the tonsils, the virus is introduced into the cells, in the absence of good protection in the form of interferon, the pathogen actively multiplies and seizes other cells and the intercellular space. At the same time, a large number of toxic products of the vital activity of the virus enter the bloodstream, which causes the patient to fever and other symptoms of intoxication.
In addition to the viruses themselves, the development of herpetic sore throat can provoke some other factors:
- decreased immunity;
- supercooling;
- temperature fluctuation;
- traumas of the palate and pharynx;
- inhalation of air polluted by dust and toxic substances.
Because of the similarity of the eruptions with herpes, chicken pox and herpetic sore throat, some people may ascribe them to one pathogen. Chickenpox is caused by a variety of herpes virus, like the herpes itself. Herpes sore throat has nothing to do with the herpes virus - the name of the disease was due to the similarity of the rashes. Therefore, herpetic tonsillitis and chickenpox are completely different diseases, although they have a bubble rash.
Herpetic tonsillitis - symptoms
The incubation (latent) period of herpetic sore throat lasts 1-2 weeks, then, on an increasing basis, the disease begins to show its symptoms. Herpes sore throat - symptoms:
- general malaise - weakness, decreased appetite, drowsiness;
- the appearance of rashes on the mucosa of the palate, tonsils;
- swelling of the lymph nodes near the ears, on the neck under the jaw;
- fever;
- pain - in the back and limbs, abdomen, head;
- nasal congestion, cough;
- there may be a rash in the form of papules on the hands and feet, diarrhea;
- with poor immunity, a concomitant disease may develop - encephalitis, conjunctivitis , meningitis, and others.
What does herpetic sore throat look like?
The very first symptom by which herpes sore throat is recognized is a rash. The development of this symptomatology occurs in several stages, so when diagnosed herpes sore throat photo can show rashes in various stages:
- In the first day the palate turns red, then a rash appears in the form of papules (dense rash), which can spread to the mouth, tongue.
- Further papules turn into vesicles - vesicles with serous contents.
- After 1-2 days, the vesicles are opened and turned into painful sores, because of which the patient experiences severe discomfort, especially when trying to eat and drink.
- Healing of erosions in the oral cavity begins on the 6-7th day of the disease.
Temperature for herpes angina
A slight increase in body temperature in the patient can occur at the initial stage of the disease, when signs of herpetic angina are still implicit and can be confused with a cold. At the stage of the appearance of papules and vesicles, the temperature in the patient rises sharply to 38-40 degrees, because at this time there is a powerful release into the blood of the products of the vital activity of the viruses. The duration of an acute period with the diagnosis of herpetic angina is 3-5 days, then the temperature drops and the healing of sores begins.
Herpes sore throat - treatment
When diagnosed, herpetic angina treatment is aimed at weakening the symptoms. Antibiotics for herpetic angina are ineffective, so they are not prescribed, except for if a bacterial infection has joined (prescribe Penicillin, Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Ceftriaxone). In some cases, the doctor may recommend antiviral drugs or immunomodulators (Immunal, Rioflora, Immuno, Imudon). Take medication of this type can only be prescribed by a doctor. Rules for the successful treatment of herpetic sore throat:
- Isolation of the patient , allocation of personal hygiene products and utensils to him is necessary to prevent contamination of other members of the family.
- Provision of bed rest - due to the strong weakness of the patient should be at rest, the strength of the body should focus on the destruction of the infection.
- Correction of the patient's diet - all products that irritate the throat, hard fruits and confectionery, cold and hot dishes, spices should be ruled out, spicy cereals, cottage cheese, soups should be the main diet.
- Providing a drinking regimen - a patient with herpes sore throat should drink plenty of liquid at room temperature, best of all - mors, tea with lemon (non-acidic), juice with neutral taste.
Herpetic sore throat - medicines
Antiviral drugs for the diagnosis of herpetic tonsillitis should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the strain of the virus that caused the specific disease, as well as the condition of the patient. Drugs that are prescribed most often:
- Viferon;
- Cytovir;
- Cycloferon.
Acyclovir in herpes angina is completely ineffective - it acts only against the herpes virus, so it should not be taken - at best it will be useless.
With severe pain in the throat, you can use painkillers and lozenges - Strepsils, Tantum Verde pastilles, Septotelet, Grammidine. Do not get involved with them, so as not to cause too early breakthrough vesicles. For antiseptics and anesthesia of the throat, you can use sprays Yoks, Geksoral , Ingalipt, Kameton, but these drugs have age limits - children under 3 years can not use them. An alternative is to lubricate the throat with Lugol's solution , but this drug is prohibited in diseases of the thyroid gland and allergy to iodine.
At high temperature, the doctor prescribes antipyretic drugs - Nurofen, Ibuprofen, Panadol, Paracetamol. To bring down the temperature is only if it is above 38 degrees in a child and 39 degrees in an adult. In some cases with herpes angina prescribed antihistamines - Loratadin, Diazolin, Claritin, Zirtek. They are necessary if an allergy has appeared against the background of the disease.
Than gargle with herpes sore throat?
With herpetic angina, inhalations and warming are prohibited - they can accelerate the spread of infection. As a local treatment using a variety of rinses - medical products, herbal decoctions and other means. Rinses relieve pain and disinfect the throat well, carry out procedures up to 5-6 times a day. Effective gargling with herpes sore throat:
- pharmacy products - Furacilin, Rotokan, Miramistin, Angilex;
- a solution of salt or soda - 1 teaspoon of the substance is dissolved in a glass of warm water, you can add 2-3 drops of iodine;
- broths, infusions of chamomile, calendula, sage, mother-and-stepmother, oak bark.
Quartz with herpes sore throat
Those who are looking for an answer to the question of how to treat herpes sore throat in children, pregnant women and other groups of patients who do not tolerate medicines, there may be an idea to treat a sore throat with quartz. Doctors do not recommend this method - with this disease it is completely ineffective and can be even dangerous if during the procedure the patient gets burns. Based on recent research - quartz lamps are effective only for air and surface disinfection.
Herpes sore throat - folk remedies
To tell what to treat herpetic tonsillitis can and folk medicine. Use these funds can be as an addition to medical treatment, preferably - after the approval of the method of the attending physician.
The most effective folk remedies for the diagnosis of herpetic sore throat:
- Freshly squeezed aloe juice - take 1 tsp. morning and evening, the product strengthens the defenses of the body and accelerates the healing of the wound in the throat.
- Spirituous tincture of propolis - 1 tsp. means to dissolve in a glass of water, rinse with a solution.
- Pure propolis (about 2 g) is chewed in the mouth like chewing gum for 10-15 minutes 2-3 times a day.
- Kalanchoe - the leaf of this plant must be chewed until the juice ceases to stand out, the cake is spit, the procedure is repeated 3 times a day.
- Honey combs - during the day several times chew honeycomb with honey.
Prevention of herpetic sore throat
Since herpes syringe is contagious, the first and most important method of prevention is to avoid contact with a sick person and follow basic rules of hygiene. In addition, it should be:
- Strengthen immunity.
- Adhere to a healthy diet.
- Observe the regime.
- Avoid stress.
- Get rid of the habit of smoking and less likely to be in contaminated rooms.
- At home, wet cleaning and airing are more common.
- Timely cure colds.