Pharyngitis - When is it dangerous?

Sore throat is a common disease in the community, especially when the environment is seriously polluted like now in cities and industrial zones; The incidence is high in children under 7-8 years old. There are up to 200 strains of the virus that cause sore throats and usually go away on their own if the body's resistance is good. On the contrary, if the body is weak, the resistance decreases, the patient may be infected with bacteria.
When is it dangerous?
Pharyngitis is called dangerous when the cause of pharyngitis is caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The cause is because the shell of this streptococcus has a structure similar to that of the kidney, pericardium, and joint membranes. Therefore, when the disease is not treated and is not treated in time, the body produces antibodies against this type of streptococcus, and also attacks the kidneys, heart and joints, causing arthritis, glomerulonephritis, and rheumatic fever. have very serious consequences for the patients themselves and the community.
Some important factors to detect pharyngitis caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus include:
- The disease usually has a sudden onset with a high fever of 30-40 degrees Celsius, fatigue.
- Examination of the throat found dirty white pus in the slits and tonsils on both sides. The submandibular lymph nodes are palpable on both sides, mobile, and tender.
- Neutrophils are elevated when blood is taken for testing.


Prevention is an effective measure

When the first symptoms of a sore throat appear, the patient needs to go to a medical facility specializing in otolaryngology to detect or rule out a dangerous type of pharyngitis. this and give the most appropriate treatment to avoid the long-term condition becoming chronic pharyngitis. Each type of pharyngitis has different causes except for outbreaks. Each cause causes specific lesions, but based on the signs present on the specific pharyngeal mucosa, then the doctor will give the most reasonable treatment such as using antibiotics or not using antibiotics, if necessary. Use which resistance group is most effective for the patient himself, avoiding drug abuse. The best treatment is to take throat swabs and culture them to determine the type of bacteria causing the disease and make an antibiotic chart.
Treatment is usually combined with disinfecting the throat area with physiological saline in the throat, gargling with a dilute alkaline solution. Nasopharyngeal aerosol as indicated with menthol, antibiotics, soluble anti-inflammatory drugs. Apply hot towels on both sides of the neck.
Prevention is very important, especially when there is a nasopharyngitis epidemic. Keep the neck area warm, avoid sitting, sleeping, bathing... in a drafty place. Eat a lot of fruits containing a lot of vitamin C to strengthen the body's resistance and nose and throat.
According to Dr. Tran Quoc Ninh - Real Estate