To understand why and when complications of pharyngitis develop, you first need to find out what causes of the disease and how it manifests itself. Damage to the pharynx by the inflammatory process occurs after contact with an infection. These can be viruses, for example, adenoviruses or influenza, as well as bacteria (hemophilus influenzae, streptococci).
In 70% of cases, the cause is a virus that infects the throat mucosa through direct exposure or as a result of the spread of infection from the nasopharynx or tracheobronchial tree.
Another type of infection is fungi. They are represented by Candida or the mold group. Under certain conditions, human immunity can decrease, which is an excellent soil for active reproduction of opportunistic microorganisms. As a result, pharyngomycosis develops. In addition, a fungal infection can be activated with prolonged antibiotic therapy or taking cytostatics and hormonal agents.
The infectious nature of the origin of the disease is not the only one with pharyngitis. Its appearance can be facilitated by:
- long-term smoking;
- cold, dry, or dusty air;
- traumatic injury to the mucous membrane by solid food or a foreign object;
- hot or ice drinks;
- chronic diseases of the ENT organs, such as tonsillitis or sinusitis;
- an infection in the mouth (caries);
- work in cold and dusty rooms.
Symptomatically, the disease can be suspected based on the following clinical signs:
- dryness, perspiration, soreness in the oropharynx;
- discomfort, a feeling of a foreign element in the pharynx;
- swelling of the mucous membrane;
- subfebrile or febrile hyperthermia;
- fast fatiguability;
- increase and sensitivity when probing regional lymph nodes.
It is not difficult to guess about the appearance of pharyngitis, therefore, at the first symptoms, you need to start rinsing the oropharynx, which will reduce the progression of the disease.
Local complications
It is imperative to treat pharyngitis, because it is not as safe as it seems at first glance. The consequences of an untreated form of pathology can be very diverse, ranging from local lymphadenitis to sepsis, damage to the heart, kidneys and joints.
The severity of complications depends on the stability of the immune system, the aggressiveness of the provoking factor, as well as the therapy.
The most serious consequences develop with the infectious origin of the disease.
The course of the acute form of pathology can end in the chronization of the process, when the inflammation persists in the throat, but manifests itself in less clinical signs. A person notices a perspiration in the oropharynx, there is a desire to constantly swallow saliva, and dryness also worries. Fever is not observed during periods of remission.
As soon as immunity weakens somewhat, for example, after hypothermia or in the postoperative period, the risk of exacerbation of chronic pharyngitis increases. It is characterized by symptoms of the acute phase of the disease.
It is possible to make a diagnosis by analyzing the characteristics of the course of the disease, the history of life and the results of the examination. For this, the patient is sent for pharyngoscopy and examination of material from the oropharynx.
In chronic pharyngitis, the fungal form is especially difficult to treat, which practically does not give a chance for a full recovery.
In chronic pharyngomycosis, a person notices an admixture of white lumps in saliva, dryness and whitish curd deposits on the mucous membrane of the throat.
Peritonsillar abscess
The appearance of purulent inflammation in the throat indicates the bacterial genesis of the disease. Depending on the localization of the abscess in relation to the tonsils, several forms are distinguished (anterior, posterior, anterior, posterior, and also a lateral abscess).
Usually the complication is one-sided. Clinically, it is manifested by a pronounced pain syndrome when swallowing in the oropharynx area, which gradually increases and spreads to the ear or the area of the teeth. Also, a person notices:
- difficulty opening the mouth;
- unpleasant odor;
- increase and soreness when probing regional lymph nodes;
- febrile fever;
- severe weakness.
On examination, the gland deviates in the healthy direction, a purulent plaque on the mucous membrane of the throat, swelling and hyperemia is visualized. The abscess feels like a fluctuating focus.
To confirm the diagnosis, analysis of throat swabs and bacterial culture of the material is used.
Retropharyngeal abscess
Suppuration covers the pharyngeal space of the throat (lymph nodes, tissue). Symptomatically, the pathology manifests itself:
- hectic fever;
- severe weakness;
- increased sweating and salivation;
- Difficulty opening the mouth;
- intense sore throat;
- regional lymphadenitis (the posterior and cervical lymph nodes become painful and swollen to the touch);
- tension of the occipital muscles.
In addition, the symptoms depend on the location of the abscess:
- if the abscess is located at the top of the pharynx, the person notices nasality and difficulty breathing through the nose;
- when an abscess forms in the oral region, there is a violation of swallowing;
- the appearance of an abscess in the lower part is accompanied by difficulty breathing, distant wheezing, hoarseness and difficult passage of the food lump through the esophagus.
Purulent consequences of pharyngitis are diagnosed by analyzing anamnestic information, complaints, physical examination with palpation of the lymph nodes, as well as instrumental diagnostics. Evaluation of the patient includes pharyngoscopy, computed tomography, or pharyngeal x-rays.
To establish the cause and type of infection, smear analysis and bacterial culture of material taken from the oropharynx are performed. Lack of treatment for abscesses leads to:
- airway obstruction, which causes shortness of breath in a person;
- mediasthenitis, which is characterized by the spread of pus into the mediastinum;
- sepsis;
- the formation of a purulent focus in the brain.
Sepsis is accompanied by the formation of purulent foci in various organs (kidneys, lungs, bones).
Inner ear affection
If the infection spreads through the auditory tube, the risk of developing eustachitis and labyrinthitis increases. These consequences can be suspected based on the following symptoms:
- dizziness. A person notices the rotation of surrounding objects around him. Dizziness in acute form occurs in the form of attacks lasting from a couple of minutes to 3 hours;
- nystagmus (can change its direction during the course of the disease);
- violation of gait, inability to maintain balance. The degree of coordination disorder can vary from a slight deviation when standing to falls and a complete inability to keep the body upright;
- vegetative disorders are represented by a change in the color of the skin, pulse rate, vomiting, nausea and angina pectoris;
- hearing impairment, which can cause tinnitus or hearing impairment. Hearing loss caused by serous inflammation can be cured during treatment, which is not observed in a purulent process. The fact is that pus leads to a massive melting of auditory receptors and the appearance of persistent hearing impairment.
Dizziness attacks are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, pale or reddening of the skin. In chronic labyrinthitis, the attack lasts no longer than 5 minutes.
Among the complications of labyrinthitis, it is worth highlighting the risk of developing neuritis of the facial nerve, meningitis, brain abscess, mastoiditis and purulent inflammation of the temporal bone.
To make a diagnosis, consultation of an ENT doctor, neurologist and infectious disease specialist is required. The patient is referred for oto-, microotoscopy, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Lumbar puncture and sowing of the discharge from the ear when the membrane is melted is also performed.
Laryngitis
The spread of infection and inflammation to the larynx is accompanied by the development of laryngitis. It can take different forms:
- for catarrhal - characterized by damage to the vocal cords, false croup and respiratory failure;
- phlegmonous appearance is manifested by damage to the muscles, cartilage and ligaments of the larynx.
In the case of chronic laryngitis, the catarrhal form is manifested by redness, swelling of the mucous membrane and the accumulation of a small volume of mucus. Hyperplastic processes in the larynx are accompanied by mucosal hypertrophy and the appearance of growths on the vocal cords. With atrophy, crusts appear on the mucous membrane.
At the stage of development of laryngitis, the following symptoms gradually appear:
- hoarseness of voice;
- sore throat;
- labored breathing;
- febrile hyperthermia;
- choking;
- dry, barking cough.
With a complicated course, pharyngitis is dangerous in that the risk of developing croup increases with damage to the vocal cords. Symptomatically, croup is manifested by difficult, noisy breathing, increasing shortness of breath, blue skin, as a sign of hypoxia and respiratory failure. With the progression of the pathology, complications from the cardiovascular system are added.
For diagnostics, pharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy, smear analysis, bacterial culture of the material and PCR are used.
Systemic complications
What is the danger of pharyngitis for distant organs? One of the most serious diseases is rheumatism. Its development is due to the infection of the body and the intensive reproduction of streptococci. Human immunity produces antibodies against any pathogenic microorganism that enters the body. In the case of streptococcal infection, the microbes have structural parts similar to the myocardium and joints.
As a result, the immune system begins to produce antibodies against its tissues, causing autoimmune inflammation. Symptomatically, the disease manifests itself as angina pectoris, shortness of breath of cardiac origin, tachycardia, joint pain and skin rash.
The long course of rheumatism is accompanied by the formation of cardiac defects, the development of heart failure, arrhythmia and polyarthritis.
From the side of the skin, the appearance of nodules is observed, as well as annular erythema. To make a diagnosis, an ECG, an ultrasound of the heart, a chest x-ray, throat swabs, and blood tests are done.
Joint damage as a complication of pharyngitis can manifest itself in the form of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. When bacteria enter the renal tissue, they lead to inflammation and disruption of the functioning of the glomeruli of the kidneys.
Clinically, the pathology is manifested:
- nephritic syndrome, which is characterized by tissue edema, increased pressure, damage to the cardiovascular system and the appearance of hematuria;
- soreness in the lumbar region;
- thirst against the background of a decrease in the volume of urine excreted per day;
- malaise.
If you notice the symptoms in a timely manner and start treatment, the daily diuresis is restored, the edema decreases, the indicators in urine tests and the level of blood pressure are normalized.
The progression of the disease is accompanied by renal insufficiency, hypertensive crises, infectious toxic shock and heart failure.
Diagnostics requires laboratory and instrumental examinations, such as ultrasound, puncture, urine and blood tests.
Now you know how dangerous common pharyngitis is, if you do not pay proper attention to its treatment. At the initial stage, the disease does not pose a threat, it is enough to start gargling. If the pain when swallowing radiates to the ear, neck or nose, it's time to see a doctor. Ignoring the symptoms leads to serious consequences, which can sometimes be completely cured.
