Why does fungus appear in the nasopharynx, the symptoms of this disease - such questions concern patients. The main forms of fungal diseases of the nasopharynx are candidiasis, fungal diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The causes of these diseases are different. Those most often affected are those who have taken antibiotics uncontrollably, people with weakened immune systems, people who have recently suffered from colds, and those suffering from diabetes.
Candidiasis is an inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa caused by fungi. In the vast majority of cases, the causative agents are yeast-like fungi, in the rest - molds. It is equally common in children and adults. The course of the disease is more severe than inflammatory diseases of the pharynx of other etiologies.
Causes of the disease
This disease rarely occurs in healthy people. Main causes of the disease:
- the main role is played by decreased immunity as a result of tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, HIV;
- long-term or uncontrolled use of antibiotics, treatment with glucocorticosteroids, chemotherapy drugs;
- use of removable dentures.
Fungi also live in the oral cavity of healthy people, but they do not manifest themselves in any way. When immunity is reduced, fungi invade the cells of the mucous membrane and begin to actively multiply. As a result, inflammation of the mucous membrane occurs. If the wall of a vessel is damaged, toxins enter the blood, causing general intoxication of the body.
Newborns and children under one year old are especially often affected. The reason for this is unformed immunity and stable microflora. Most often, infants become infected from their mother, but it happens that the source of infection is workers in maternity hospitals and hospitals. In children, fungi settle on the inside of the cheeks, tonsils, and tongue. At first, slight redness appears, and small blisters appear on the mucous membrane. Then they grow and become like a milky film, hence the name - thrush.
If the disease is not treated, the affected areas enlarge, merge, and erosions and ulcers form. The child experiences pain in the mouth, especially when eating, and refuses the breast and bottle. Sleep is disturbed, the child becomes capricious.
Causes of fungal infection in the sinuses
Not so long ago, fungal infection of the nose was considered a fairly rare disease.
However, due to the deterioration of the environmental situation and the weakening of the immune system of most people, the number of cases of such ailments has increased significantly. Doctors explain this phenomenon by the fact that the nasopharynx is constantly in contact with irritating factors. In addition to the deterioration of immunity, the cause of problems is the following:
- damage to the nasal mucosa;
- swimming in polluted waters;
- increased blood glucose levels;
- long-term use of antibiotics and drugs containing hormones;
- excessive use of drops, ointments and other nasal preparations;
- vitamin deficiency in the human body;
- chronic pathologies.
There is also a risk of contracting a fungus after visiting the dentist. Particularly dangerous in this regard are manipulations with teeth located in the upper jaw. This is due to the fact that they are in close proximity to the paranasal sinuses. Dental caries can also be considered a provoking factor.
Treatment of nasopharyngeal fungus
A fungus in the nasopharynx, the symptoms of which are described above, requires complex treatment.
First of all, all antibiotics should be stopped if the person was taking them. Tablets are prescribed to treat fungus, and ointments and creams are prescribed for topical use. If timely treatment is not carried out, the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx will further deteriorate. Ulcers appear on it, and if they become infected, this will cause secondary inflammation and abscesses may occur.
From the nasopharynx, the fungus can spread to the respiratory tract and digestive organs. In weakened people, candidiasis can develop into a generalized infection requiring hospital treatment. Sometimes a fungus settles in a person's nose, causing fungal rhinitis.
Diagnosis of fungus in the nose
If you notice suspicious symptoms, you must immediately make an appointment with a doctor. The specialist who can correctly diagnose the disease is an otolaryngologist or infectious disease specialist. If, during a visual examination, a fungal infection is detected in the nose with characteristic signs, a laboratory test is prescribed, which will clarify the diagnosis. To determine the type of infection and the extent of damage, the following can be used:
- scraping of biomaterial and microscopy;
- histological or mycological examination;
- immunological methods.
The established clinical picture serves as the basis for choosing drugs and determining a treatment regimen. In this case, the individual characteristics of the patient and the general condition of his body are taken into account, which helps to avoid complications.
Symptoms of the disease
The symptoms of ordinary and fungal rhinitis are very similar, only a specialist can distinguish them. The main signs of fungus in the nose:
- severe itching that does not subside despite treatment;
- constant sneezing, this is the main difference between rhinitis and fungus; with a normal runny nose, sneezing continues for the first two days, then its intensity decreases and completely disappears; with fungal rhinitis, a person sneezes constantly and the intensity does not decrease;
- Nasal congestion is also one of the main signs of fungus;
- strong nasal discharge with an unpleasant odor;
- headache.
If the nasal discharge is white, cheesy or milky film-like, then most likely it is a fungus of the genus Candida. If the cause of the disease is mold fungi, the discharge is thick and has an unpleasant odor. If these symptoms do not go away within a week with intensive treatment, it is best to consult a doctor for advice. Treatment for fungal rhinitis should only be prescribed by a doctor.
Risks of the disease
It is worth immediately noting that the risks of developing various types of mycoses are quite high where there are mucous membranes. And the entire system of ENT organs is just a large number of mucous membranes. Depending on the location, fungal infections have their own names: in the nose - rhinomycosis, in the ear - otomycosis, in the pharynx - pharyngomycosis. Laryngomycosis, which is found at the level of the laryngopharynx, is least common.
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Among the common symptoms characteristic of all types of fungi in the ENT system is severe itching at the site of infection. There may be discharge, for example, if it is Candida fungus, which is represented by a cheesy coating. It is worth understanding that if you have an itch somewhere, you do not need to immediately run to the pharmacy for a remedy for the fungus. After all, pathology of the trigeminal nerve can also itch when it is irritated. But it’s worth visiting a specialist if you have such a sign. Also among the symptoms are crusts, plaque and manifestations of intoxication of the body, when there is an increase in temperature, weakness and muscle pain.
Most often, a person suffers from fungal infections caused by opportunistic microorganisms such as Candida, Penicillium, Mucor and others. And here it is important to understand that infection when encountering such a pathogen does not occur in every person. As a rule, the development of infection during infection occurs in those who have noticeably reduced immunity. Only then can the fungus gain a foothold in the body and begin its vigorous activity. At risk may be:
- People with immune problems;
- Those diagnosed with blood diseases;
- People with cancer pathologies;
- Those who are diagnosed with AIDS;
- Suffering from diabetes and bronchial asthma.
If you suspect the presence of fungi, you should definitely visit a specialist and undergo a full examination.
Treatment with folk remedies
A fungus in the nasopharynx, when the symptoms are mild and the course of the disease is mild, can be cured with traditional medicine. This recipe is effective: mix the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of golden mustache juice in a glass of water. Gargle with this solution. After some time, the fungus will begin to come out in the form of white flakes. Mix a teaspoon of chopped St. John's wort with 200 ml of vegetable oil. Treat the throat 3 times a day.
Add water to cranberry juice in a 1:1 ratio. Gargle after eating. You can use Kalanchoe juice for rinsing. During treatment you should follow a diet. It is advisable to include fish, buckwheat, eggs, cabbage, onions, garlic, and herbs in your diet. During illness, you should not eat sweets, dishes containing vinegar, yeast; pickles, sauerkraut, and alcohol are prohibited.
Fungal rhinitis can be successfully treated using traditional medicine. As you know, fungus cannot exist in an alkaline environment. The following recipe is based on this: dissolve a teaspoon of soda in a liter of warm boiled water and rinse your nose with this solution. It is useful to rinse the nose with decoctions of herbs such as chamomile, calendula, and rosehip flowers. The affected areas on the nasal mucosa are lubricated with carrot or beet juice.
The fungus in the nasopharynx also manifests itself as a swollen tongue covered with white spots. The same spots cover the tonsils and palate. Sometimes small bubbles form. The following mixture of herbs can be used for both treatment and prevention of fungus. You need to take St. John's wort, calendula, mint, birch leaves and bird cherry flowers in equal proportions and brew the mixture of these herbs with boiling water. You can breathe over the steam, or you can gargle with the infusion. Methods of prevention. The main thing in prevention is strengthening the immune system in all possible ways - hardening, walks in the fresh air, proper nutrition. A strong immune system can reliably protect the body from fungus.
In nutrition, it is better to avoid rough, spicy foods. It is poorly absorbed, and can even injure the mucous membrane, creating an entry point for infection. It is advisable to include porridge, purees, and soups in the menu more often. You should not take antibiotics uncontrollably, without a doctor’s prescription.
Treatment
Professional antimycotic therapy can cure a patient in an average of 2-3 weeks. In severe pathogenesis, surgical removal of the affected mucosa and endoscopic sanitation of the nasal sinuses are performed.
To avoid relapses, a re-examination is scheduled after 4 months, but no later than six months.
Medicines
If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, treatment takes place at home. Local drops and ointments and nasal spray are prescribed.
Antifungal drugs include a group of azoles that destroy fungal cells: Intraconazole, Fluconazole, Bifonazole, Clotrimazole. If Staphylococcus aureus is detected, Nystatin and Levorin are used. Sinuses affected by histoplasmosis and mucormycosis are sanitized with a solution of the drug Amphotericin.
To neutralize an allergic reaction, desensitizers are prescribed, to facilitate breathing - vasoconstrictor aerosols, and to increase the body's resistance - vitamin complexes.
Traditional methods
The combination of pharmacy and home antifungal remedies speeds up recovery.
- It is useful to rinse the sinuses with herbal decoctions. Steam a tablespoon of dry string herb, oak bark, chamomile flowers, rose hips, calendula (optional) with a glass of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Use the filtered liquid to rinse your nose 3-4 times a day.
- Freshly squeezed carrot or beet juices work as antifungal nasal drops; they are instilled up to 4 times a day.
- If you make oil applications daily, the peeling of crusts and wound healing will accelerate. Cotton or gauze wicks are dipped in sea buckthorn oil, a mixture of tea tree and olive oils. Inject into each nostril and hold for half an hour.
- To disinfect and relieve swelling, rinse the nasopharynx with a weak soda or saline solution (a quarter teaspoon of dry ingredient per glass of water). Each type of rinse can be alternated. 5-6 sessions are recommended. Treatment of the nasal sinuses with a solution of the same amount of sea salt and a couple of drops of iodine works well. The liquid is drawn into a small rubber bulb or syringe (injected into the cavity without a needle).
Causes
Fungi that cause diseases of the ENT organs are divided into opportunistic and pathogenic. Infection occurs when fungal microorganisms enter the nasal cavity from the outside or through self-infection.
In most cases, mycoses occur against the background of a decrease in local and general immunity. This can lead to:
- Inflammatory processes of the ENT organs (rhinitis, rhinosunusitis).
- Acute respiratory viral infections, influenza.
- Advanced caries, wearing dental processes.
- Taking antibacterial drugs.
- Treatment with corticosteroids, immunosuppressants.
- Radiation and chemotherapy for cancer.
- Nose injuries, surgical interventions on ENT organs.
- Endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction).
- Severe pathologies of internal organs, systemic blood diseases.
- Frequent stress, psycho-emotional stress.
In all of these cases, a person’s own opportunistic fungal flora is activated.
Transmission of infection from a sick person to a healthy person occurs when:
- Treatment in a hospital (intensive care unit, intensive care unit). In this case, the source of infection may be the endotracheal tube, nasogastric tube, or catheters.
- Close household contact. The fungus can be transmitted by airborne droplets, shaking hands, kissing, or using shared personal hygiene items.
- Eating contaminated foods and drinks.
- During pregnancy from a sick mother to a child.
It is important to remember that fungal infections usually develop in people with weakened immune systems - infants, elderly people, patients with severe chronic pathologies and cancer.