Features of acute rhinopharyngitis

Doctors most often diagnose patients with acute rhinopharyngitis - this is the most common type of nasopharyngitis. The disease develops very rapidly, the patient feels the symptoms quite acutely. Diagnosis is not difficult, since even with an external examination and anamnesis, it is possible to accurately determine the type of violation. This ailment does not pose a danger to human life, therefore it is often ignored, but in vain. The most unpleasant thing that can happen with untimely treatment in an adult is the transition of rhinopharyngitis into a chronic form (atrophic, catarrhal, hypertrophic), and in young children a false croup can occur, in which breathing stops completely.

Features of the disease

Acute nasopharyngitis has common features with two diseases at once: rhinitis and pharyngitis. Consequently, the patient begins pathological changes in both the nasal cavity and the throat. The infection most often descends into the nasopharynx from the nose, but it may also be that it begins its development in the lower section, and then rises up. In any case, treatment of two organs at once is required to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and achieve the desired results.

It is important to detect acute rhinopharyngitis in time and begin its effective treatment in order to prevent complications from joining. This can be done by a doctor after an instrumental examination of the patient, taking anamnesis and conducting laboratory tests.

Therapy is selected depending on the causative agents of the disease.

Causes of the violation

Acute nasopharyngitis develops quickly enough, within 12 hours the patient feels all the symptoms characteristic of this disease. It can arise due to the negative influence of pathogens that multiply on the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. The causes of the disease are:

• bacterial infections;
• viral infections;
• severe hypothermia of the body;
• allergy.

However, under normal conditions, our body copes with pathogenic microorganisms and severe hypothermia on its own, giving an immune response. In order for acute nasopharyngitis to develop, special conditions are necessary, among which are:

• drop in general and local immunity;
• change in climatic conditions;
• constant stress, nervous tension, fatigue;
• improper nutrition;
• unfavorable ecological situation;
• the presence of infections in the body, the agents of which can migrate to any organs;
• dryness of inhaled air or high dustiness of the room;
• alcohol abuse, tobacco smoking, drug addiction.

Symptoms of the disease

The disorder develops quite rapidly, already on the first day the patient may feel discomfort in the throat or nose. If the infection has started spread in the lower section, then the first symptoms will be similar to angina, if in the upper, then with rhinitis. However, after half a day, the full range of characteristic features of acute nasopharyngitis appears:

• shortness of breath, accumulation of mucus in the nose and its constant flow;
• sneezing and watery eyes;
• sore throat, pain when swallowing;
• hoarseness of voice, nasality;
• a slight increase in body temperature (37-37.9ᵒ);
• malaise, decreased ability to work, muscle pain;
• headache due to increased intracranial pressure;
• hearing impairment, ear pain (observed when the infection passes to the Eustachian tube).

Stages of violation

The acute form of rhinopharyngitis has 3 stages of course, each of which has its own characteristic features. It is important to start treatment at a time when the disease is just developing, this will help prevent the spread of infection to nearby hearing organs.... Let's consider in more detail all stages of the disease.

• Phase 1 - initial. At this time, the patient is just beginning to understand that he is getting sick. There is a slight malaise and aches in the body, fatigue increases, one or both nostrils are blocked, there is a slight pain or tingling sensation from the throat, dryness of the mucous membrane, and a reflex cough appears. At this stage, pathogens begin to integrate into healthy tissues.
• Phase 2 is active. At this time, viruses or bacteria are taken for mass reproduction, the body gives an immune response, directs mast cells to the site of inflammation, which leads to swelling of the mucous membrane. The blood supply to the nose and pharynx improves, the capillaries and blood vessels are filled with blood, an active process of combating pathogenic agents is underway. In this case, the patient feels an ache in the body, the temperature rises, the head and throat begin to ache, and a severe runny nose appears. There is a general intoxication of the body, as viruses and bacteria begin to actively release their waste products.
• 3 phase - resolution. This is the period of completion of the disease, which is characterized by an increase in the patient's appetite, a decrease in pain and a decrease in the amount of mucus in the nose. The body has coped with the infection, it is actively recovering, cleans the mucous membranes. At this time, you need to be especially careful about nutrition, fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins should prevail in the diet, it is best for the patient to rest more, active physical activity is prohibited.

Drug therapy

The doctor prescribes treatment for acute nasopharyngitis after the causative agent of the infection has been identified. Therapy includes drugs of local and systemic effects, vitaminization of the body is also shown, it is necessary to increase resistance to pathogens.

Let us consider in more detail what remedies help to get rid of the disease.

Folk remedies

It is possible to carry out treatment with medications in combination with folk remedies. It is recommended to use medicinal decoctions and infusions herbs for gargling, rinsing the nose and inhalation. Let's consider the most effective ones.

1. Throat gargles. You need to use decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs with antiseptic properties. These can be flowers of a pharmacy chamomile, coltsfoot, sage, calendula. You can also use a solution of sea salt and boiled water for rinsing. The procedure is carried out between meals 4-6 times a day, after which it is advisable not to talk for 20-30 minutes, not to consume food and drinks.
2. Inhalation.Inhalation of healing vapors also has a positive effect on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and nose. For the preparation of inhalations, you can use the same infusions and decoctions of herbs as for rinsing. Services juridiques, conseil juridique gratuit, avocat divorce en ligne, avocats permis de conduire avocats.link permis de conduire Alkaline mineral water has proven itself well, it helps to relieve inflammation and disinfect the affected tissues. You can use "Borjomi" or "Essentuki".
3. Rinsing the nose. It is important to properly cleanse the nasal cavity from mucus and constantly moisturize. For washing, you can use pharmacy products; a self-prepared solution of sea salt and soda is also suitable. The procedure is carried out 3-4 times a day.

Additional measures

In order to recover as quickly as possible, it is worth creating the ideal conditions for this. The patient should be completely calm, especially on days when nasopharyngitis is most aggressive.

To eliminate the disease, you need to follow these tips:

• provide the patient with bed rest in the first 3-4 days of illness;
• ventilate the room and do wet cleaning as often as possible;
• use a household humidifier so that the mucous membranes of the nose and throat do not dry out;
• observe the optimal temperature regime in the room (20-22ᵒ С);
• correctly formulate a diet for the patient, it should not contain fatty, heavy, spicy and salty foods, preference should be given to light broths and soups, mashed potatoes, cereals, fruits and vegetables;
• to organize the correct drinking regime for the patient, in order to avoid dehydration of the body, you need to drink at least 2-3 liters of liquid, it can be non-carbonated mineral water, natural teas, medicinal decoctions and infusions.

Precautionary measures

You can overcome acute nasopharyngitis at home, hospitalization is carried out only in very severe cases, or when young children are ill. The patient must follow all the doctor's recommendations in order to recover as quickly as possible.

It is strictly forbidden to independently prescribe any medications or folk remedies to yourself, as they can cause personal intolerance and only aggravate the condition.

For the duration of treatment (7-10 days), a sick leave is issued. During this period, the patient is strictly prohibited from engaging in active physical work; the daily routine must be strictly observed.

Remember that decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs can speed up recovery, but they are not able to completely replace drug therapy.

In conclusion

It is quite easy to cope with acute nasopharyngitis if you seek qualified help in time. The disease lends itself well to correction and rarely causes serious complications, provided that the therapy is correctly selected. However, if you ignore the first symptoms and do nothing, the disease can turn into a chronic form, which is much more difficult to treat.