What should I do if I have acute pharyngitis?

Acute pharyngitis is a type of viral pharyngitis that often occurs in summer and autumn. It is caused by Coxsackie A virus and usually occurs together with pneumonia, influenza, rhinitis, etc. This disease often occurs in young children. If the patient suddenly has a high fever but does not have symptoms such as coughing or runny nose, it is necessary to check whether he has herpes. So what should you do if you have acute pharyngitis?

1. Causes

1. Viral infection

Coxsackievirus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza virus are the most common, and are mostly transmitted through droplets and close contact.

2. Bacterial infection

The main bacteria are streptococci, staphylococci and pneumococci, as well as fusobacteria and others. If bacteria or toxins enter the blood, purulent lesions may even occur in distant organs.

3. Causes

Many pathogens are conditional pathogens, which usually coexist in the oral cavity of healthy people without causing disease. However, when the body's resistance is reduced, such as due to excessive fatigue, malnutrition, excessive stress, depression, poor environmental hygiene, vitamin deficiency, gastrointestinal diseases, unclean mouth, caries, cachexia, blood disease, poisoning, etc., this disease can be induced. It can also be transmitted through sharing eating utensils.

2. Clinical manifestations

Herpetic pharyngitis in children is more common in children aged 3 to 10 years old and is more common in summer and autumn. The disease may occur multiple times in the same patient, each time caused by a different type of virus. The incubation period is 3 to 10 days. It usually starts with a sudden high fever, which can reach a peak within 24 to 48 hours, rising to 39 to 41°C, accompanied by headache, throat discomfort, myalgia, etc. Infants and young children often vomit, refuse to eat, and even have febrile convulsions. However, most of them are mild cases, which are self-limited and improve in 1 to 2 weeks.

3. Treatment

1. General treatment

Rest in bed, avoid fatigue, keep warm, maintain a good mood, drink plenty of water, eat soft food, avoid smoking and drinking, avoid spicy food, and keep bowel movements open.

2. Anti-infection treatment

For those with bacterial infections, antibiotics can be given orally, by intramuscular injection, or by intravenous drip. Penicillins or cephalosporins are the first choice. Sensitive antibiotics can also be selected based on the results of bacterial culture and drug sensitivity tests. For those infected with the virus, oral antiviral shock, acyclovir, famciclovir and other antiviral drugs can be taken three times a day, or intravenous vitamin C can be given once a day.

3. Symptomatic supportive treatment

The human body needs to consume 2000 ml of fluid every day. If the throat pain is severe and you are afraid to swallow, you can give glucose, saline, energy mixture, etc. intravenously to supplement your physiological needs. Patients with fever should receive more fluids due to evaporation of sweat. If the fever is above 38.5℃, ice packs or alcohol baths can be given. Children with high fever are prone to convulsions, and their temperature should be actively reduced before convulsions occur.

4. Local treatment

Gargle with compound borax solution, normal saline or 3% hydrogen peroxide. Take 6 Qingyan Drops or 2 Dianshe Pills orally three times a day to help relieve throat discomfort.