How to cure atrophic pharyngitis forever

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Shutofedova Ksenia Yurievna

General practitioner

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Pharyngitis refers to diseases of the ENT organs that affect the throat and pharynx area. In medicine, there are several types of this disease, one of which is considered chronic atrophic pharyngitis. This process is usually understood as low-grade inflammation. Over a long period of time, it gradually leads to thinning of the oral mucosa and loss of physiological functionality.

Causes

There are several factors that can lead to chronic atrophy of tissue structures:

• metabolic disorders;
• diseases of the nasopharyngeal and oral cavity of bacterial origin:
• entry of contaminated air into the respiratory tract;
• bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol;
• diseases of teeth and gums;
• diseases of the digestive tract;
• abuse of nasal drops;
• eating hot or cold foods;
• the presence of pathologies with blood vessels;
• hereditary predisposition;
• mechanical or chemical injury to the mucous membrane;

With this exposure, the histological structure of the respiratory tract is disrupted. Metabolic processes in cells slow down. Against this background, damaged tissues are regularly re-infected.

Treatment of atrophic pharyngitis should begin after an accurate diagnosis has been made. Only a doctor can do this, not only based on the symptoms of the disease, but also on the test results. If the patient begins to select therapy on his own, this will lead to a lack of effect and serious complications.

How to treat the disease depends on the cause of development. If the mucous membrane is negatively affected by dirty air, then you should change your job or place of residence. In the presence of other chronic pathologies, the underlying disease should be treated.

Features of atrophic pharyngitis

With the disease, gradual atrophy of the mucous membrane occurs, which has been swollen and inflamed for a long time. At first, the vessels in the tissues thicken, and then their lumen narrows significantly.

The glands of the mucous membrane, which secrete a secretion that moisturizes it, outgrow to work properly, which is why the pharynx becomes dry and loses its ability to resist bacteria and viruses.

Further, as the disease progresses, there is a gradual necrosis of the nerve endings in the pharynx, due to which the pharyngeal reflex initially partially and later completely disappears. Treatment of atrophic pharyngitis is very long.

The symptoms of this condition are clear, and the patient cannot ignore them. The fact that atrophic pharyngitis occurs can be understood by the following symptoms of the disease:

• constant sore throat, causing a desire to cough, and also creating the illusion of the presence of a hair on the mucous membrane;
• severe pain, which intensifies during swallowing and disrupts normal food intake;
• clearly visible white crusts on the back of the throat;
• constant hoarseness of the voice and a pronounced change in its timbre.

Upon examination, it is clear that the mucous membrane is very pale and dry. The vessels are visible through it and visible without any instruments.

The initial stage of the disease is subatrophic, and treatment is still possible, since complete death and critical thinning of the tissues have not occurred.

When treatment measures are not taken, atrophic pharyngitis occurs directly, which can no longer be dealt with.

As a result of the disease, partial replacement with mucous connective tissue begins. Therapy for the disease is purely supportive.

Clinical picture

In practice, there are two currents: acute and chronic. In the first case, signs of the disease manifest themselves as severe discomfort in the pharynx and an increase in temperature.

Atrophic pharyngitis is not always characterized by pronounced symptoms. In most cases, it has a chronic form, which periodically manifests itself with exacerbations and remissions. It is difficult to distinguish the disease from another pathology, because it has similar symptoms in the form of:

• unpleasant painful sensations in the throat, feeling of a foreign object in the throat, itching and burning;
• dry mouth;
• the presence of difficult-to-exceed sputum;
• dry and irritating cough. An increase in symptoms is observed during a relapse;
• unpleasant odor from the mouth.

With atrophy of the mucous membrane, an increase in dry crusts is observed. When you cough, they begin to move away, which leads to tissue injury and slight bleeding.

As a result of constant unpleasant sensations in the throat area, a person becomes irritable. This affects the conduct of the usual lifestyle, sleep.

If we talk about general well-being, it is extremely rarely disturbed. Temperature values ​​in the first days of exacerbation can reach 37.5 degrees. During the examination, you can see how the mucous membrane turns pale. Sometimes it gives off shine.

When the patient does not restore the pharynx, the condition worsens even more. Atrophic changes in vegetative and sensory axenes lead to disruption of swallowing processes. This leads to constant discomfort.

If the cause of pharyngitis is a malfunction of the digestive organs (for example, reflux disease), then the patient complains of belching and heartburn.

Therefore, if atrophic pharyngitis occurs, symptoms and treatment should be determined as quickly as possible. This will avoid serious complications and prevent further thinning of the mucous membrane.

The most dangerous and most difficult disease to treat is atrophic pharyngitis.

Among the different forms of pharyngitis, it is the atrophic one that is considered the most dangerous for the patient and difficult even for symptomatic treatment.

This is a chronic stage of the disease , which develops due to the lack of adequate treatment of the underlying disease.

Atrophic pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory disease of the mucous membrane and tissues of the posterior wall of the larynx .

In the atrophic stage, the pathology develops to such an extent that the process of degradation and death (atrophy) of laryngeal tissue cells occurs .

As a result, these tissues become thinner and lose the ability to function normally.

Treatment in this case is possible, although difficult, since atrophic pharyngitis in most cases develops a number of concomitant pathologies as complications.

Photo

The photo shows signs of atrophic pharyngitis:

Causes of the disease in adults

Atrophic pharyngitis requires not only timely diagnosis, but also the establishment of the reasons why it developed - this will help simplify treatment by prescribing an adequate appropriate course.

Experts identify the following reasons for the development of the disease:

• constant exposure to polluted or hot climates . It does not matter whether a person lives in such conditions or is forced to work in them every day;
• alcohol and smoking abuse;
• pathologies of the respiratory organs , in which a person is forced to breathe through the mouth, as a result of which more pathogenic microorganisms get onto the surface of the mucous membrane;
• pathology of the immune system , which is not able to fight pathogens;
• foci of chronic infection in the mouth , throat or maxillary sinuses;
• long-term treatment with the use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops ;
• postoperative complications;
• thermal, chemical or mechanical injuries to the throat.

Symptoms

Atrophic pharyngitis is characterized by the following symptoms and signs:

• dry non-productive cough ;
• feeling of dry throat;
• pain and sore throat ;
• bad breath ;
• pale color of the mucous membrane upon visual examination;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• the mucous membrane becomes dry and appears shiny, as if covered with varnish.

How is diagnosis done?

First of all, the patient is examined by an otolaryngologist , who draws conclusions about the presence of an atrophic form of the disease, both based on the anamnesis and after the pharyngoscopy procedure.

This is due to the fact that a number of chronic gastrointestinal diseases can provoke the development of an atrophic form of pharyngitis.

Next,
virological and bacteriological examination of the material obtained by taking a swab from the throat is performed.
This step makes it possible to accurately determine the causative agent of the disease and determine the resistance or susceptibility of such microorganisms to certain drugs, which should subsequently be included in the course of treatment.

Treatment of atrophic pharyngitis in adults

The main course of treatment for atrophic pharyngitis is aimed at relieving symptoms , and above all, eliminating the constant feeling of dryness in the throat .

At the same time, the ENT will not be able to guarantee a complete cure, but by following the doctors’ recommendations, which must be followed during treatment, the patient can already alleviate his condition:

1. It is necessary to maintain an optimal temperature level in the room . It should be between 19 and 22 degrees Celsius, while the humidity should vary between 50-70%.
2. The drinking regime must be stable : you need to drink at least one and a half liters of warm liquids that do not irritate the larynx per day. Teas (including herbal ones), non-concentrated juices and regular boiled water are suitable.
3. It is important to adjust your diet . In particular, exclude fatty, fried, spicy, overly salty, cold and hot dishes, as well as alcoholic and carbonated drinks from the menu, but add vegetables and fruits.
   At the same time, citrus fruits should also be excluded, as they irritate the mucous membranes.

Drug treatment

Direct drug treatment is focused on throat therapy, and the following methods are used:

• rinsing;
• inhalation;
• lubrication;
• irrigation.

Moreover, all these procedures must be performed regularly and daily , since short-term use of medications does not produce any results.

It is most convenient to do this on your own by rinsing, and it is better to use furatsilin, saline or “sea water” (a solution of salt and iodine in water).

Such procedures must be performed immediately after waking up in the morning, and during the day - after each meal (although, on the recommendation of the attending physician, rinsing can be done more often).

When thick viscous mucus is secreted, as well as when crusts are too hard, it is necessary to perform inhalations with saline solution and mineral water containing alkalis.

Such procedures are performed using a nebulizer.

If this does not help remove the crusts, you can use the inhalation drugs Fluditec and Bronchoboss.

In general, lubricating with oil solutions of vitamins A and E . They are used to treat the back of the throat, but they can also be instilled into the nose.

Antibiotics

In severe cases, antibiotics may be prescribed .

This is mainly phenoxymethylpenicillin, which, in case of allergies to penicillins, can be replaced with antibiotics of the macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin) or cephalosporin (cefuroxime, cefixime) groups.

But such drugs can only be used as prescribed by the attending physician.

Traditional methods

For atrophic pharyngitis, it is better not to abuse folk remedies , since in most cases they are not effective enough.

, you can resort to herbal medicine (herbal treatment) as an additional method of treatment

So, you can lubricate the sore larynx with sea buckthorn or eucalyptus oil , and in addition, 3-5 drops of both of these products can be added to tea .

Honey helps well with the atrophic form : it is used for rinsing, but there are no strict criteria for preparing the solution.
It is simply dissolved in boiled water and gargled with it an arbitrary number of times a day. The optimal remedy is one in which a tablespoon of honey is added to one glass of water.

Possible complications

Atrophic pharyngitis in itself is a complication , although over time this disease can lead to more serious consequences .

In particular, the patient begins to eat much less , since the very process of swallowing food causes him physical pain. As a result, weight loss occurs over time, and a number of gastrointestinal pathologies may also develop .

Other complications of the atrophic form include :

• tracheitis;
• bronchitis;
• oncological formations;
• systemic complications affecting the heart;
• joint diseases;
• kidney pathologies;
• peritonsillar abscesses.

Disease prevention

A preventive measure for atrophic pharyngitis is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits .

This also applies to the habit of eating too hot, cold or spicy foods, which greatly irritate the larynx.

also avoid long stays in places where a person can be negatively affected by negative external factors. We are talking about smoky and dusty rooms and places where the air temperature is too low or very high.

If it is impossible to avoid this due to the fact that you have to work in such conditions, you must use a protective mask or respirator.

From this video you will learn everything about chronic pharyngitis:

Atrophic laryngitis is a serious reason to visit an otolaryngologist, since further delay in treatment can lead to serious and irreversible consequences.

Source: https://prostudanet.com/bolezni/gorlo/faringit/atroficheskij-far.html

Diagnosis of the disease

When the first signs appear, you should seek help from a doctor. To begin with, he recognizes the patient’s complaints and takes an anamnesis. This will help in identifying the cause of the disease. After this, pharyngoscopy is performed. This method refers to examining the throat and pharynx using a small mirror.

The attending physician collects material from the throat. This is necessary to determine the causative agent of the disease. A thin layer of mucus is placed on a special glass. Then it is stained with special means and examined under a microscope. If viruses are the cause of the disease, a serological test is performed.

An important point is the correct differentiation of atrophic pharyngitis from other types of inflammatory process. With another type of disease, the mucous membrane becomes hyperemic and swollen due to inflammation. When a granulosa-type disease occurs, nodules that are formed from overgrown glandular tissue are visible on the pharynx.

Since pharyngitis is characterized by a dry cough and the formation of mucus, it is necessary to distinguish it from other inflammatory pathologies such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. To exclude them, spirometry, sputum collection, and x-ray examination are prescribed.

Treatment methods

If all symptoms and signs indicate atrophic pharyngitis, treatment begins as soon as possible. This process is time-consuming as it consists of several stages. All activities are carried out comprehensively.

To speed up the recovery process, the doctor advises following some recommendations:

1. Maintain the room temperature within 18-22 degrees. You need to monitor the air humidity in the room. Regular ventilation and use of a humidifier will help solve the problem.
2. Compliance with drinking regime. This will help avoid excessive dryness of the mucous membrane. Doctors allow the use of still water, green and black tea, fruit drinks and compotes. Drinks must be warm.
3. Dieting. All products that can lead to throat irritation are excluded from the menu, in the form of spices, herbs, fatty and fried foods, solid foods, crackers, pickles, and smoked meats. Food should have a puree-like consistency.
4. Give up bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.

Therefore, only an experienced doctor can tell how to cure atrophic pharyngitis, based on the cause of the disease.

Medication

Therapeutic measures begin with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and clearing the throat of pathogenic flora and mucus. To do this, it is recommended to gargle with saline solution or herbal infusion.

After the procedure, treat the mucous membrane with antiseptic or antibacterial medications. They will also help in getting rid of crusts. Suitable for such purposes:

• Rotokan;
• Hexoral;
• Lugol;
• Chlorophyllipt.

To destroy the pathogen, systemic and antiviral drugs are used. The following are prescribed as antibiotics:

• Amoxiclav;
• Augmentin;
• Sumamed;
• Azithromycin;
• Suprax;
• Tsiprolet.

For a viral infection, it is better to take:

• Kagocel;
• Arbidol;
• Remantadine;
• Ergoferon.

To moisturize the tissues in the throat and soften the crusts, inhalations are carried out with the addition of proteolytic enzymes. For accumulated sputum, Ambrobene, Mucaltin tablets, and ACC are prescribed.

Local antibiotics also help. They are produced in the form of absorbable tablets and exhibit a pronounced antiseptic effect. This group includes:

• Faringosept;
• Lysobacter;
• Grammidin Neo.

Taking any drug must be agreed with your doctor.

Physiotherapeutic

Physiotherapy not only enhances the effect of medications, but also improves blood circulation. Thus, it is possible to slow down degrading processes.

Patients are often prescribed:

• ultrasound therapy;
• ultraviolet irradiation;
• laser treatment;
• electrophoresis.

Such manipulations are performed only after the throat has been cleared.

Therapy with folk remedies

It is recommended to use folk treatment for atrophic pharyngitis with extreme caution. Many of them have a drying effect. It is also prohibited to use products that irritate the mucous membrane, such as soda, garlic and onions.

You can moisturize the tissues in the pharyngeal cavity using eucalyptus or sea buckthorn oil. They are used as aerosols or lubricated with a moistened cotton pad. These components can be added in small quantities to a tea drink.

A harmless solution is one to which a little honey is added. There are several recipes:

1. Take a beekeeping product and dilute it in a mug of warm water. Rinse your throat with the prepared product up to 3-4 times a day.
2. We take sage herb. Has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Add boiled water to a mug. Let it sit for 1-2 hours. Strain and add a spoonful of honey. Take the medicine 3 times a day before meals.
3. To restore the mucous membrane and the entire body as a whole, it is recommended to make a decoction of linden, flax and clover. After brewing, add a little honey. Taken orally.

The treatment course lasts from 14 to 20 days. Act as additional therapy.

How to treat atrophic type of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis can be cured only after eliminating the cause that caused the development of atrophic processes. If a person works in an industry that involves inhaling dust and other harmful substances, he is recommended to change his place of work. If the cause of the development of the disease is a violation of nasal breathing, it should be improved by conservative or surgical means.

Frequent wet cleaning of premises and the use of devices for air humidification will help to avoid exposure to household factors.

Patients are advised to follow a diet. It is necessary to exclude from the diet any irritating food that causes atrophy of the mucous membrane of the throat.

Local treatments

For pharyngitis, accompanied by atrophic processes in the pharyngeal mucosa, several methods of local therapy are used. These include:

• gargling and lubricating the throat with medications,
• inhalations with the addition of herbs and medicines,
• novocaine blockades,
• cauterization of foci of inflammation,
• physiotherapeutic procedures.

There are many antibacterial drugs that can completely eliminate the disease in a short time. However, the danger of using them is that fungi take the place of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, it is important to use antibiotics that have an antimycotic effect.

When gargling, the use of soda solutions, iodine and propolis, which have a drying and irritating effect, is not allowed.

If the mucous membrane is atrophied due to pharyngitis, Fuzafyungin is prescribed as a local antibiotic. Drugs that have an antiseptic effect include:

If the causative agent of pharyngitis is fungi, the following antimycotic agents must be used:

When using herbal preparations, you should ensure that there is no allergic reaction. To increase local immune protection, the list of therapeutic agents includes IRS19, Likopid, Imudon, Bronchomunal.

If pain is felt, Strepphen or Tetracaine lozenges will help relieve it. With their help, it will be possible to reduce the degree of inflammation.

Inhalations with saline help reduce the viscosity of mucus in the throat and remove crusts. Oil solutions of vitamins A and E help reduce the manifestations of the disease. They are dropped into the nose or lubricated at the back of the throat.

Novocaine blockades provoke the production of mucus, relieving dryness and sore throat.

Systemic treatment and physiotherapy

If bacteria are the cause of the development of pharyngitis and subsequent atrophic changes, the patient is prescribed internal antibiotics of the penicillin group. If penicillin is intolerant, cephalosporins or macrolides can be prescribed.

Physiotherapy is used as an additional therapy. It allows you to enhance the effect of the treatment used.

For atrophic processes in the throat, the following procedures are prescribed:

• ultraviolet irradiation,
• electrophoresis with the use of drugs,
• ultrasound therapy and others.

What is prohibited to do

Atrophic pharyngitis is one of the serious diseases. Therefore, there are activities that are strictly prohibited.

The patient is not advised to:

• smoking and drinking alcohol;
• eat hot dishes with added spices and seasonings;
• carry out steam inhalations;
• talk a lot. Especially when there is an acute course;

take strong and sharp breaths. This phenomenon occurs when climbing stairs or doing physical exercise.

You should take care of your throat, since atrophic pharyngitis has a chronic form.

Possible complications

This type of disease most often develops as a result of chronic pathologies that occur in other organs and systems. In most cases, the disease is diagnosed in patients over 45 years of age.

If therapeutic measures are absent, destructive processes will occur in the mucous membrane. The symptomatic picture will begin to manifest itself even more strongly, the quality of life will deteriorate, and the paroxysmal cough will not give rest.

Atrophy of oropharyngeal tissue is a precancerous condition. The risk of degeneration into a malignant formation increases significantly with regular exposure to unfavorable factors.

Another complication is impaired swallowing processes and hypoxia of internal organs. Occurs as a result of the accumulation of large amounts of thick mucus. This leads to difficulty breathing and little oxygen.

Pharyngitis: its types and causes

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the posterior pharyngeal wall, which also affects the mucous membrane located around the tonsils.

Doctors distinguish 3 forms of the disease. Each of them develops after the previous one was not properly treated. Atrophic pharyngitis is the last stage of the disease.

1. Catarrhal form. This is primary pharyngitis, which occurs due to irritation of the mucous membrane by allergens or damage to it by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. This type of lesion occurs in an acute form and with proper therapy goes away completely. If acute pharyngitis is not fully treated several times in a row, it progresses to the next form.
2. Hypertrophic form. With such an inflammatory process, which develops over a long period of time, a significant thickening of the mucosa occurs, which leads to its pronounced proliferation. The disease is chronic, with regular exacerbations. If you start therapy even at this stage of the disease, it can be fully cured and the appearance of the next form of pharyngitis can be prevented.
3. Atrophic form. The last stage of pharyngitis, in which thinning of the mucous membrane develops. This process is already irreversible, and it is impossible to fully cure the disease at this stage. Therapy is aimed only at maintaining a satisfactory condition of the patient and preventing the appearance of cancerous tumors.

Only timely consultation with a doctor can prevent the progression of the disease and stop it as soon as the first signs of atrophy appear.

Often, the atrophic form of pharyngitis develops already in childhood, when parents do not fully treat the child’s sore throat for a long time. The longer the solution to the problem is delayed, the higher the likelihood that the disease will reach an irreversible stage.