Otolaryngology >>>> Chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis.

Chronic pharyngitis is a disease associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and is chronic. It is considered the most common disease of ENT organs. For the characteristic of long duration, accompanied by unpleasant signs of chronic pharyngitis:

Sore throat or soreness;
Sensation of a lump or foreign body in the throat;
Sore throat caused by swallowing saliva and worse after eating hot or cold food;
Accumulation of viscous mucus in the pharynx, requiring constant coughing up (may be accompanied by nausea);
Temperature rise is sometimes possible;
Examination reveals swelling and hyperemia of the pharyngeal mucosa (affects the back of the pharynx, soft palate and uvula);
The lymph nodes of the neck are enlarged due to the passage through them of the outflow of lymph from the inflamed pharynx;
Chronic pharyngitis can be unilateral.

The chronic course of pharyngitis has three types, each of which is distinguished by its characteristic features:

Catarrhal pharyngitis is the most common form; characterized by the symptoms described above.

Hypertrophic pharyngitis - has symptoms of catarrhal pharyngitis, but more pronounced plus it is characterized by the appearance of granules (accumulations of lymphoid tissue) on the back wall of the pharynx, as a result of which it received another name - granular pharyngitis.

Atrophic pharyngitis is the most painful form of the disease, which is characterized by a constant feeling of dryness in the throat, crusting and severe pain. The mucous membrane appears to be covered with a thin, shiny layer like varnish. The mucus covering the mucous membrane of the throat hardens in the form of crusts.

Treatment of chronic pharyngitis.

The tactics of treating chronic pharyngitis are complex: it is necessary to simultaneously act on the main cause that causes and maintains this disease and to reduce the local manifestations of the disease.

Topically applied:

Means that moisturize the mucous membrane of the posterior pharyngeal wall (rinsing and steam inhalation with brewed herbal preparations of antiseptic and healing action, rinsing with alkaline or oil solutions). Oil solutions are not used if pharyngitis is accompanied by bronchitis.
Antiseptic rinsing agents like Chlorhexidine solutions, propolis tinctures, solutions containing iodine compounds, alcohols, besides antiseptic, also have a drying effect, which can increase the dryness of the mucous membrane, so the expediency of their use should be discussed directly with the doctor.
Lubricate the mucous membrane with silver nitrate (2-3% solution), Lugol (1% solution), trypsin.
Use compresses to warm the throat.
Coating agents: milk with honey, honey with butter.
The mucous membrane of the pharynx is sprayed with sprays for topical application with lidocaine, menthol to relieve pain syndrome (for example, "Strepsils plus").
It is convenient to dissolve tablets containing, for example, the enzyme lysozyme, bacterial lysates, herbal antiseptics (sage and others), menthol. This is convenient because the resorption process, among other things, will cause additional salivation, and therefore natural hydration and protection of the mucous membrane, since saliva itself is an antiseptic. Please note that it is not worth using antiseptics and bacterial lysates at the same time, since these agents have different directions of action and can neutralize each other.
Vitamins A and E are taken internally, which improve the processes of regeneration of the mucous membrane.
Food is taken softened and warm, so as not to injure the mucous membrane when swallowing. Eliminate sour, salty and bitter foods from consumption, they will also irritate the mucous membrane.
Antibiotic therapy is performed if a bacterial infection is the cause of the disease.
They carry out therapy with immunostimulants to raise immunity, especially if the cause of chronic pharyngitis is a viral infection.
Physiotherapy is used: UHF, quartz.

The causes of chronic pharyngitis:

Chronic diseases of the pharynx and nasopharynx: chronic tonsillitis , chronic rhinitis, purulent sinusitis .
Often the cause is difficulty in nasal breathing or excessive enthusiasm for vasoconstrictor nasal drops that flow down the nasopharynx and enter the pharyngeal mucosa.
Occurs after tonsillectomy with subsequent atrophic changes in the pharyngeal mucosa.
It develops against the background of other diseases (ARVI, Influenza, adenovirus infection, Measles, Scarlet fever).
Dysbiosis of the oral cavity and mucous membranes of the pharynx associated with increased colonization of the mucosa by bacteria of staphylococcus, streptococcus, gonococcus, arcanobacteria, viruses (rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza and Parainfluenza virus), Candida fungi.
Diseases of the oral cavity: stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, complicated caries.
The ingress of acid into the pharynx in a dream when it is released from the gastrointestinal tract due to diseases such as hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm, gastroesophageal reflux disease .
Dry indoor air, dusty or gas-polluted atmosphere, chemical vapors, smoking.
Systemic diseases (diabetes mellitus, pulmonary, heart failure, allergies, renal failure, endocrine diseases).