Sore throat can cause a lot of unpleasant sensations and noticeably complicate the life of any person, especially if they do not go away for a long time. In this case, the correct diagnosis, as well as a timely visit to a doctor, play an important role.
Causes and development
Everyone has experienced severe pain in the larynx at least once in their life and knows how difficult it is to eliminate this unpleasant symptom, especially if the throat hurts for a long time.
Most often, short-term or long-term painful symptoms are caused by various pathologies of an infectious nature, accompanied by high fever, severe runny nose and cough. The process of development of such a disease completely depends on the state of immunity of a particular patient, as well as the ability of his body to cope with the effects of microbes.
The defense factors of the immune system are of great importance, it is their activity that significantly affects the course and duration of a particular disease.
When the first symptoms clearly make themselves felt, an increased production of interferon begins in the body. This protein reliably protects cells from the penetration of dangerous microbes; the peak of its activity usually occurs on the third day after the infection enters the body. Usually, by this time, the patient's well-being should already have improved slightly, the temperature is gradually returning to normal, a runny nose and discomfort in the throat cause fewer problems. Special antibodies - lymphocytes are formed in the lymphatic system precisely during the period of interferon activity and begin to affect dangerous microorganisms after six days.
The process described above represents the optimal course of pathological conditions of the larynx, which is typical for people with a good immune system. But quite often, the throat can hurt for much longer, sometimes the process is delayed for several weeks or months. In this case, it is impossible to do without the help of a doctor who will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a full course of treatment.
Symptoms
When the pain does not go away for a long time, many patients complain of similar symptoms, each with a different degree of intensity. The list of the most common ones includes:
- Intense burning and rawness;
- Chafing and scratching;
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sensation of a foreign body in the larynx;
- Dry or wet cough.
There are pathologies in which such symptoms occur in the overwhelming majority of cases. During the examination, the doctor first of all tries to exclude the presence of laryngeal cancer, which most often proceeds without an increase in temperature. With the development of a tumor, patients complain of a prolonged cough, sometimes with blood, painful symptoms when swallowing, and a sharp weight loss. In second place in terms of severity and complexity of treatment are diseases included in the group of diseases caused by streptococcal infections. Usually these include scarlet fever, fever, the formation of boils and abscesses due to diseases transmitted by airborne droplets.
The most common cause of pain that lasts a week is tonsillitis: it provokes a sharp increase in the glands and the appearance of unpleasant sensations when swallowing.
It is also quite often that patients who say that they have a sore throat are diagnosed with acute pharyngitis; its appearance is affected by the cold air inhaled by a person and dusty, polluted rooms where the patient previously spent a lot of time. All such factors lead to additional stress on the larynx, which ultimately becomes inflamed.
Untreated acute respiratory infections, as well as smoking, provoke the development of laryngitis, in which migraine and a hoarse cough are added to the symptoms characteristic of acute respiratory viral infections.
Only an otolaryngologist can make an accurate diagnosis and determine the stage of the disease after a thorough examination and comparison of all the symptoms and complaints of the patient. It is necessary to consult a doctor in any case, especially if the discomfort has appeared for a long time.
Complications and additional pathologies
In the event that the sore throat persists for two weeks, the cause may be incipient complications or diseases of other organs. In some people, the tissues in the tonsil area become inflamed, which causes trismus of the masticatory muscles, it is classified as a particularly severe risk factor and special treatment is prescribed.
Many pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract contribute to the development of symptoms of pharyngitis, in which patients clearly feel a characteristic "lump" in the larynx.
Similar signs occur with gastritis, stomach ulcers or esophagitis and require special monitoring by a gastroenterologist.
When there is a sore throat with sinusitis or adenoiditis, patients have a severe wet cough and perspiration with copious amounts of phlegm. It mainly develops when you abuse cigarettes or inhale too dry air. The development of most acute respiratory infections is directly related to the patient's profession; many singers may experience difficulties in overstraining the ligaments and muscles during heavy loads. Another serious cause of unpleasant sensations when swallowing can be osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in an advanced stage. It is worth noting other pathological conditions in which pain can last more than 2 weeks, these are:
- Sexually transmitted infections;
- Angina with complications in the larynx or tongue;
- Fungal lesions of the tonsils and the back of the throat;
- Unilateral paratonsillitis;
- Varicose veins of the esophagus.
What actions to take
Unpleasant pains become a problem from the very first day of their onset, which prompts many people to use topical medications, such as tablets, lozenges or sprays, to relieve symptoms at least temporarily. Such drugs were able to prove themselves on the good side, but it should be borne in mind that each specific disease can be classified as serious, in such cases the patient always needs the help of an ENT or a therapist. Emergency medical attention is needed when the patient is unable to swallow saliva or, due to severe swelling of the throat, cannot breathe in deeply as usual.
Many are wondering what to do if such symptoms persist for a long time. It is worth knowing about a number of ways by which you can significantly alleviate your condition while at home. First of all, you need to control your breathing and try to breathe through your nose, since the heated and humidified air in the nasopharynx area has a good effect on the vocal cords and larynx. Because of severe pain, you should speak more quietly than usual, do not shout and, if possible, protect your voice. For the period of treatment, doctors recommend forgetting about cigarettes and drinking as much liquid as possible, as well as avoiding food that irritates the throat mucosa.
For some people, additional humidification of the air is very beneficial.
Depending on the nature of the disease, the otolaryngologist prescribes special medications, the duration of their intake must be agreed with the doctor. Rinses with water and added salt, furacilin, romazulan, or other antiseptics are usually good adjuvants.
Preventive measures
It is better to prevent any illness in advance, this also applies to acute respiratory infections, which are mainly caused by a weakened immune system. In case of serious disorders of the immune system, the disease, the list of symptoms of which also includes pain in the larynx, lasts for a long time and is much more difficult to treat.During this period, the body is already especially weakened, sometimes this contributes to the development of secondary infections, which has a very negative effect on the entire course of drug therapy. First of all, it is necessary to give up bad habits, correct nutrition and take suitable vitamin complexes.
You also need to pay attention to special hardening procedures that should be carried out after the end of the course of treatment. The occurrence of infections is strongly influenced by dust and too warm air in the room, which is why it is recommended to clean the house more often, ventilate the rooms every day, and buying a humidifier would also be a good solution. You should definitely revise the daily routine and include walking, practicing a suitable sport.
The psychological state also affects immunity, so doctors advise trying to maintain composure even in the most stressful situations.
An important role for maintaining immunity is played by the diet, which must contain all the necessary substances, including essential amino acids and trace elements. It is not at all difficult to adhere to all these recommendations, it is enough just to start, and the results will be visible already in the very near future. This is the most suitable lifestyle for those who want to forget about sore throat forever.
