Viral angina occurs more often bacterial tonsillitis, and significantly less likely to cause serious complications. To protect against infection viral sore throat, you should take steps to avoid exposure to the virus.

The agents of viral sore throat may include:

• Rhinoviruses;
• Influenza viruses;
• Parainfluenza virus;
• Enteroviruses;
• Adenovirus;
• The measles virus;

In rare cases, angina can be caused by Epstein-Barr virus. As a rule, sore throat caused by a virus that flows in the most severe forms.

The symptoms of viral tonsillitis

The most common symptoms of a viral sore throats are sore throat, redness of the rear surface of the throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, the formation of a light raid on the tonsils, fever, headache, abdominal pain, change in voice or loss of voice, sneezing. Sometimes patients with viral sore throat also complain of cough and runny nose. High fever in this disease is rare in most cases, the body temperature does not rise above 38.3S; Sometimes a viral sore throat takes place without any increase in temperature.

Viral sore throat - symptoms in children

This disease is almost identical symptoms in patients of all ages, but young children when a viral flu, in addition to the above signs, often observed uncharacteristic irritability or, on the contrary, lethargy and sleepiness. Children often refuse to eat because of severe pain in the throat.

Diagnostics

Although viral sore throat usually been mild, with suspected angina should still see a doctor. It is important, first of all, because a person without a medical education will not be able to distinguish itself from viral from bacterial tonsillitis; to establish a pathogen, need special tests. Timely detection and treatment of bacterial sore throat can sometimes help avoid a number of serious complications. When angina caused by viruses, too, may need medical assistance. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with enterovirus sore throat or sore throat, caused by Epstein-Barr virus, the treatment will take place under the supervision of a physician, as these diseases are also sometimes lead to serious complications.

Viral sore throat in young children, regardless of the pathogen, also requires monitoring by a doctor.

How to cure a viral sore throat

When a viral angina great help home remedies and over the counter drugs. Antibiotics for viral sore throat is not used - they help only with bacterial tonsillitis. Antiviral drugs are also used since they are effective in the treatment of viral angina very low. Patients with viral sore throat is recommended:

• Until full recovery does not go to school or to work, to rest and to avoid significant physical exertion;
• Regularly do gargling and inhalation. For gargling recommended to use saline solution for inhalation - just hot water, herbal teas medicinal herbs (such as mint Mint and its useful properties: aromatic freshness , Camomile, sage), or water with a small amount of essential oils;
• Drink plenty of liquids - for quick recovery of the body must get enough moisture;
• Take steps to strengthen the immune system Strengthening the immune system - help the immune system   - To include in your diet as many fresh fruits and vegetables, drink fresh juices. You can also take pills with vitamin C or multivitamin;
• Take medications to relieve the symptoms of viral tonsillitis. For most patients, a very effective and safe are aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and various sprays from a sore throat, propolis tincture and medicinal herbs. Despite the fact that over the counter analgesics and antipyretics safe enough, before using them must be carefully studied information on the package regarding contraindications and drug interaction.

Treatment for viral sore throats in children Sore throat in children - a common disease   and adult passes virtually the same, with the difference that a sick child should not be given aspirin and alcohol tinctures. Gargling usually made only for children older than four or five years.

Treatment for viral sore throats usually takes more than a week, although some symptoms, such as coughing and throat irritation may persist for up to ten days. If during this time began to improve, you must consult a doctor.

Prevention of viral sore throats

If someone in the family has strep throat, you should regularly clean the surface on which you are cooking food, door handles, and any objects which could get the virus. At least twice daily, ventilate all rooms in the house. The patient should use separate utensils and towels. Healthy family members need to strengthen the immune system - to take vitamins, eat right, spend more time outdoors and sports. It is also recommended to eat garlic Garlic health: almost a panacea   and onions - they contain substances that help the body defend itself against infection.

Strep throat - a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the tonsils. This kind of angina is one of the most common bacterial infections in the world; approximately 15% of patients complaining of sore throat, strep sore throat is detected. It is most common among children, but in adults the disease is also quite common.

The name of the infection received the title of microorganisms, which are its agents - is Streptococcus, the genus of bacteria that can cause numerous diseases, from sore throats to pneumonia and meningitis. Although strep throat can get sick at any time of the year, the peak incidence is usually marked in winter and early spring.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of strep throat:

• Severe pain in the throat. As a rule, streptococcal sore throat throat starts to hurt suddenly, it is not preceded by symptoms such as sore throat or a slight cough;
• High body temperature (more than 38.3S);
• Enlarged tonsils;
• The bright red color of the back surface of the throat;
• White or yellow coating on the back surface of the neck.

Often streptococcal sore throat and causes headaches and abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms . Less common symptoms of this disease are red skin rash, vomiting, lack of hunger, pain in muscles and joints.

Cough, nasal congestion and sneezing, accompanied by severe pain in the throat, for strep throat are not typical - most likely a sign of a viral infection. In addition, streptococci rarely penetrate into the throat, hoarse voice, and often not a symptom of bacterial and viral sore throats Viral sore throat, when sore throat .

Strep throat is spread from person to person by droplet infection, although streptococci are considered less infectious than, for example, viruses that cause the common cold. At the moment of contact with the bacteria, pathogens and the appearance of symptoms may take from two to five days.

To diagnose strep throat Angina - is it worth it to carry "on their feet"? It is often sufficient to carry out a quick analysis, the results of which are known for ten minutes. In some cases, rapid analysis does not show the infection, and then may require longer laboratory tests.

Causes

Streptococci live everywhere. Approximately 20% of the people they live on the skin, and 10% of children live in the throat. However, these bacteria do not always lead to the development of angina - this prevents the normal protection provided by the immune system. The causes of angina may be, for example, smoking and alcohol abuse - these bad habits lead to damage to the mucous membranes in the throat, thereby increasing the risk of bacterial infection. Frequent heartburn also cause irritation of the throat, which is why there is located tonsils may become more prone to infections. Patients whose immune system is weakened by diseases such as HIV / AIDS, diabetes, or prolonged use of corticosteroids, chemotherapy or radiotherapy Radiotherapy in cancer treatment: irradiation aid Also at increased risk for strep throat.

Of particular danger is a strep throat infection in the hospital. It is not only the fact that there are more people with weak immunity, but also that in hospitals often live bacteria that have developed resistance to many types of antibiotics. To cure infections caused by such bacteria, it can be very difficult.

Before the advent of the first antibiotics Strep throat often leads to serious complications such as acute rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, and others. Today, fortunately, these complications can usually be avoided, but in the absence of timely treatment of angina may still pose a serious health hazard.

Treating strep throat

Often, in order to cure strep throat, it is enough for 5-7 days of bed rest, drink plenty of fluids (water, tea, fresh juices, warm milk with honey), fully fed, making inhalation and gargling .  If necessary, you can take antipyretics and analgesics, which are sold without a prescription, such as paracetamol or aspirin .  Patients sixteen aspirin is contraindicated, and pregnant and lactating women can be taken only after consultation with a doctor .  You can also use a variety of throat sprays containing painkillers and antiseptic agents .  Natural medicines - herbs, honey, propolis - help to alleviate the symptoms of strep throat .  In most cases, the use of these resources is sufficient, that help the body cope with the disease .  Antibiotics for strep throat are assigned when a period of five days or more is not observed any signs of improvement, if the sore throat is very severe symptoms, or if the patient has a disease or is taking medications that weaken the immune system .

Drugs of first choice for streptococcal sore throat are penicillin antibiotics group, such as amoxicillin. If you can not take penicillin, or they have proved ineffective, it can be assigned to cephalexin, or macrolide antibiotics. Treatment usually lasts five days, in some cases - up to ten days; noticeable improvement may come in two or three days after the start of antibiotic therapy.

Do not interrupt treatment until the end of therapy. Currently, all the more pressing problem is the antibiotic resistance, and you can make a contribution to the fight against it, taking antibiotics exactly as directed by your doctor. If you stop treatment prematurely, this may lead to relapse and to ensure that the bacteria learn how to resist the effects of an antibiotic that you take, and the next time it will not help you.

The most common side effects of antibiotics used to treat strep throat, are diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, antibiotics may cause allergic reactions, the main features of which are: shortness of breath, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. When these symptoms should immediately call an ambulance.