Everyone is familiar with tonsillitis firsthand - this unpleasant disease is characterized by inflammation of the tonsils. Sore throat manifests itself as a sore throat and redness of the inflamed tonsils. In medicine, sore throat is called tonsillitis. And they treat her with Lugol.
Despite the fact that this drug is far from new (it has been used since the 19th century), it still enjoys well-deserved popularity and receives mostly positive reviews, although many new drugs have appeared that promise instant relief from sore throat.
Many still use Lugol's drug - an old, proven remedy that helps with both ordinary and purulent, and even herpes sore throat. The following provides detailed instructions for its use.
How to use Lugol's solution for sore throat
To treat a sore throat, you need to soak a cotton swab in the solution, grab it with tweezers and lubricate the mucous membrane of the tonsils. The procedure is carried out 3-4 times a day. The duration of use depends on the severity of the disease.
Lugol in the form of a spray allows you to dose the product correctly
It is more convenient to use Lugol in the form of a spray. Before injection, inhale and hold your breath. Irrigation of the throat is carried out by pressing the spray nozzle. Depending on the severity of the symptoms of the disease, the procedure can be performed 2 to 6 times a day.
Lugol's with glycerin can be used to gargle for sore throat. In order to prepare the remedy, dissolve one teaspoon of the medicine in a glass of warm water. Gargle for 5 minutes. Carry out 2–3 procedures per day.
You can also prepare an effective solution for gargling in adults. To do this, dissolve one teaspoon of table or sea salt, the same amount of baking soda and 15 drops of Lugol's in a glass of warm water. Apply the remedy three times a day until the symptoms of the disease disappear.
Which form of medication to choose
Lugol comes in the form of a liquid or aerosol. The choice depends on the patient’s age and the degree of pain reaction during treatment. When treating tonsillitis in children, an aerosol form is prescribed; it is more gentle.
Solution option
For purulent sore throat, Lugol's solution is a traditional form of treatment. The liquid contains glycerin, which is necessary for the substance to remain on the affected area for a long time. If you use Lugol in its pure form, it drains faster.
For the procedure, use cotton swabs soaked in the product. They lubricate the area of suppuration. As a result, the glands secrete mucus in large volumes, which flows down the throat, washing away pathogenic microorganisms. Lugol has disinfectant properties and destroys isolated bacteria. The throat is treated 3-4 times a day to prevent the re-growth of bacteria.
The procedure is unpleasant and painful. Therefore, doctors do not recommend using it for children. After the child has learned to gargle, add a little Lugol to warm water. They gargle with it 3-4 times a day. The duration of therapy is no more than 2 weeks.
Aerosol form
The aerosol form of Lugol is considered more gentle for sore throat. During treatment, the patient does not feel pain or discomfort, and there is no gag reflex. The method is applicable for adults and children. The convenience of the aerosol form is in a bottle that you can carry with you.
The product has a local antiseptic effect and destroys pathogenic microorganisms. The spray is used after gargling, applying to the affected purulent areas. After spraying the spray, laryngospasm is possible; doctors advise holding your breath for a few seconds. This completely eliminates this complication of the condition.
Lugol for sore throat can be used in the form of a spray for children starting from 5 years old. Before this age, doctors recommend other remedies due to the possibility of developing adverse reactions. Some therapists are of the opinion that in small concentrations the substance is not dangerous for babies. They advise dipping the pacifier in the solution and giving it to the baby. This will treat a sore throat.
Contraindications
Lugol should not be used in the following cases:
- renal or heart failure;
- severe liver dysfunction;
- period of radioactive iodine therapy;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- tuberculosis;
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- hypersensitivity to iodine or other components of the drug.
Treatment with Lugol is best started at an early stage of the disease, when the patient just begins to experience throat discomfort and difficulty swallowing. In this case, the use of the drug will stop the development of sore throat.
Despite the fact that the remedy was previously used to treat children, it is still not recommended to use Lugol for sore throat in children under 5 years of age.
How to use Lugol's to treat sore throat
Solution. Using a cotton swab or pencil with cotton wool wrapped around the tip, lubricate the tonsils and oral cavity. Even if it is not possible to get the tonsils due to the patient’s gag reflex, the drug, along with saliva, still ends up in the throat. Another old and effective way to use Lugol is to suck on a sterile piece of cotton wool, previously soaked in the solution, for several minutes.
Lugol's spray for sore throat is certainly more convenient to use. To irrigate the mouth, throat and throat, press the pre-attached spray head once. Before using the spray, take a deep breath and hold your breath. After using the medicine, do not drink or eat for at least 30 minutes.
It is necessary to take into account that the spray and Lugol's solution dries out the mucous membranes somewhat, so it is better to use the drug that contains glycerin. The course of treatment should not exceed ten days. It is recommended to use two to six times a day.
How safe is Lugol?
The instructions do not indicate how safe the spray and Lugol's solution are for mucous membranes, which worries some buyers who leave reviews about the drug. According to doctors, iodine, contained in large quantities in the drug, is safe for the mucous membrane of the larynx thanks to the glycerol included in the composition, which softens its effect.
If the drug is used in recommended doses, only minor absorption of iodine occurs through the mucous membranes. In addition, the body quickly gets rid of excess of this element. Iodine falls into the larynx during swallowing, after which it accumulates in the pancreas and is excreted by the kidneys, as well as through sweat and feces. It is worth noting that the drug also passes into women's milk during lactation.
The use of Lugol for sore throat in children
Reviews from parents who have tried to use this drug are positive - after 1-2 uses there are noticeable improvements in the condition of the children. The only drawback of Lugol: the need to lubricate the tonsils causes a gag reflex. Many parents limit themselves to lubricating the oral mucosa, after which the iodine itself enters the throat with saliva. The spray is much more convenient to use.
Sore throat spray for children
Use of Lugol for sore throat during pregnancy
The instructions for use indicate that taking the drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, but this fact does not prevent many doctors from prescribing it to pregnant women.
This is due to the fact that the opinions of doctors categorically differ on this issue: some consider Lugol for sore throat absolutely safe for expectant mothers, others have a completely opposite opinion. The problem is that there is no data on the safety of Lugol during pregnancy.
During lactation, Lugol is allowed to be taken only topically, and even then in small courses, since it is believed that it penetrates into mother's milk, having an unpredictable effect on the functioning of the child's thyroid gland. It is better to replace it with a more studied drug during lactation.
Possible side effects
In most cases, the drug is well tolerated. But the instructions for it indicate that the patient may experience hypersensitivity reactions (rash, itching, lacrimation, runny nose).
Uncontrolled use of Lugol may lead to the development of iodism, which is characterized by the appearance of a rash.
With prolonged uncontrolled use of the drug, iodism (excessive amount of iodine in the body) may occur. It is characterized by the presence of a rash (iodine acne) on the skin of the neck, face, limbs and scalp. Side effects from the digestive system include nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea.
In case of an overdose of the drug, symptoms of iodism, muscle weakness and lethargy may also appear. Therefore, you should not abuse Lugol yourself in the form of a solution or spray.
Causes of the disease
Laryngitis does not occur independently. It is accompanied by other inflammatory reactions occurring in the respiratory passages. The main reason for the manifestation of all diseases of the respiratory system is the presence of ARVI, whooping cough, diphtheria, tuberculosis, measles or syphilis.
In medical practice, cases of laryngitis occurring in the presence of an infection in the body caused by dangerous bacteria (streptococcus, staphylococcus) have been reported. It penetrates into the blood due to weakening of protective functions and re-infection of the pharyngeal cavity.
Acute laryngitis also develops if:
Checking a patient's throat
- a person regularly inhales air that contains particles of dust, dirt, and gas;
- a person is exposed to plant, chemical, food allergens;
- there is a constant load on the vocal cords;
- a person smokes;
- the laryngeal cavity is exposed to too hot or cold food.
- a person has gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid from the stomach enters the upper respiratory tract and irritates it).
Factors associated with the spread of chronic laryngitis
- Frequent manifestations of acute laryngitis.
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Active smoking.
- Inflammatory reactions of a chronic nature that occur in the upper respiratory passages.
- Inhalation of dirty, dusty air.
- Constant increased load on the vocal apparatus.
Advantages and disadvantages
Lugol's for sore throat is one of the most proven remedies, as it has been used to treat throat diseases for many decades. This medicine is inexpensive and can be purchased at almost every pharmacy. Lugol in the form of a dosed spray makes it possible to accurately measure the required amount of the drug.
Since the drug has a local irritating effect, blood circulation improves in the area of its application, which helps reduce the inflammatory process and rapid tissue regeneration.
Lugol's disadvantages include:
- quite specific taste and smell. Often the use of the drug leads to vomiting. The gag reflex is especially often observed when the throat is lubricated with Lugol in the form of a solution;
- a burning sensation occurs after the solution gets on the mucous membranes. Children are often capricious and refuse treatment precisely for this reason;
- the likelihood of developing allergic reactions.
According to patient reviews, Lugol in the form of an aerosol is very inconvenient to use, since the jet power is very high, and the atomizer itself is of poor quality and breaks quickly. When a solution or spray gets on clothes, stains appear that are very difficult to wash off.
When using the drug, you should avoid getting it on clothes, since stains are very difficult to wash off.
Some doctors say that it is better not to use Lugol's solution for purulent sore throat, since it is quite thick, which prevents the lacunae from being freed from purulent contents. They recommend using the drug in the form of a spray or gargle solution.
Composition of the drug
Lugol's contains iodine. Other substances are added to it to increase the functionality of the solution and protect the person.
- Water. Since iodine has a toxic effect when absorbed into the blood in large quantities, it is diluted with water.
- Potassium iodide is added to further dissolve iodine particles in water.
- Glycerin or glycerol is added to the liquid so that it lubricates the affected areas more effectively. This prevents increased penetration of the active component into the bloodstream and eliminates the burning sensation on the inflamed mucous membrane.
Lugol for angina is not used as a single therapy. To improve the effect, it is used in conjunction with other drugs, as well as with rinses and inhalations. Therapy is considered most effective if it is applied immediately after the onset of sore throat symptoms. Antiseptic actions can be used for adults and children. Lugol is effective when applied topically during inflammation.
Features of application
In order to quickly get rid of the disease and at the same time avoid negative consequences, it is necessary:
- Apply Lugol's solution or spray exclusively to the tonsils. If it gets on the back wall of the larynx, a burn may occur;
- do not use the drug to treat herpetic sore throat, as it does not act on the causative agent of the disease, but may cause increased pain in the throat;
- do not eat or drink liquids for half an hour after using the drug;
- Do not use Lugol simultaneously with hydrogen peroxide or other disinfectants.
The drug is not intended for oral administration and should not be inhaled. If the product gets into your eyes, rinse them with plenty of water.
The gargling solution must be prepared immediately before use, as it cannot be stored.
Treatment with Lugol is best started at an early stage of the disease, when the patient just begins to experience throat discomfort and difficulty swallowing. In this case, the use of the drug will stop the development of sore throat.
Lugol's with glycerin can be used to gargle for sore throat. In order to prepare the remedy, dissolve one teaspoon of the medicine in a glass of warm water. Gargle for 5 minutes. Carry out 2–3 procedures per day.
For severe forms of angina, Lugol is used in complex treatment along with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Despite the fact that treatment with this drug gives a good effect, it is not recommended to use it independently, especially for the treatment of sore throat in childhood. Before using Lugol in the form of a solution or spray, you should consult an otolaryngologist.
Purulent sore throat
A very well-known and quite serious disease. It is rare to meet a person who did not suffer from this disease, the so-called tonsillitis, in childhood. There are several types of sore throats, and purulent is one of the types. Characterized by purulent plaque on the tonsils. People suffer from this sore throat very often, but many patients, having fallen ill, do not attach due importance to timely and high-quality treatment. Why does such a combination of circumstances give rise to its transition to a chronic state?
The method of transmission of purulent sore throat is airborne - when coughing, sneezing, talking with a patient who has this disease, which is why he must be isolated during the illness. It is important to note that one of the factors that contribute to the manifestation of the disease may be sore gums, as well as diseases caries, because they have a sufficient resource of pathogenic microorganisms. It should be said that even a runny nose that is not sufficiently cured can become one of the reasons for the development of this form of sore throat.
Purulent tonsillitis is characterized by chills and severe aches throughout the body. High temperature, enlarged tonsils, lymph nodes, the presence of an unpleasant taste in the mouth - all this can indicate obvious symptoms of this disease. During an illness, a patient may experience the appearance of a white coating on the tongue.
Contraindications to the drug
Before using the medicine, you should read the attached instructions. It contains several contraindications in the form of:
- strong sensitivity to the components of the drug;
- the presence of thyrotoxicosis and other diseases of the thyroid gland;
- the presence of serious kidney and liver diseases;
- children under three years of age when a spray is prescribed;
- gestation period up to 12-13 weeks.
The solution can be used to treat children of different ages. But a strict dosage must be observed.
Using Lugol's for laryngitis
Lugol should be kept in every person's home. It will help with pain and inflammation in the throat.
The drug contains iodine, which is considered an effective antiseptic.
Today, the pharmacy sells Lugol's spray and Lugol's solution. The first is convenient because it does not require additional means for treating the throat.
Lugol is used as an antifungal and antibacterial drug. The remedy also works well with purulent sore throat. However, this drug is not able to defeat the staphylococcus pathogen. In this case, more effective means are taken.
Doctors recommend using Lugol's solution, since when irrigating the throat, only small drops of the medicine reach the mucous membrane. Sprays are best used when treating children.
So, in order to use the drug, take 2 cotton swabs, which are generously moistened in the solution. Next, the drug is carefully applied first to one wall of the throat, then to the other. After applying the product, doctors recommend not drinking or eating for 40 minutes.
Treatment of the disease with medications
How to treat laryngitis with medications? The most effective method is the irrigation procedure. Doctors recommend mixing 200 ml of saline solution (0.9%) with five drops of iodine tincture (10%). Irrigation is done 3 times a day before meals. The dosage of the medicine should not exceed 40-60 ml. Treatment periods vary from 5 to 6 days.
Doctors advise treating loss of voice due to laryngitis with the help of anti-inflammatory and emollient drugs.
Menthol and an oily solution of sea buckthorn (1%) will have a good softening effect. A single dosage is 1.5-2 ml of the product. The procedure is carried out by infusing medicine into the larynx. The course of treatment is 10 days.
If laryngitis causes weakening of the nervous and muscular systems, doctors recommend the procedure of electrophoresis on the collar area with 5% calcium chloride.
The procedure is carried out within 15-20 minutes. If the patient suffers from severe pain, then electrophoresis is combined with novocaine.
It is recommended to treat voice loss using inhalations.
Medicines for illness
The following medications will allow you to properly treat cough with laryngitis:
