Almost every baby can get sore throat. All parents should know what angina looks like in a child. Timely detection of angina will prevent the development of dangerous complications of the disease in the future.
What causes?
Inflammation of the tonsils is called angina or acute tonsillitis. Various reasons can lead to the development of this condition. The most common childhood acute tonsillitis is caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi. With a decrease in immunity, as well as severe hypothermia, the child may experience adverse symptoms of the disease.
Angina almost never occurs in infants. This is due to the peculiarity of the anatomical structure of the tonsils in babies under two years old.
Babies receive a large number of maternal antibodies that protect their body from various infections. The peak incidence is between 3 and 10 years of age.
Infection most often occurs through airborne droplets. Disease-causing microbes enter the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and tonsils from a sick child to a healthy one. The most common outbreaks of acute tonsillitis are among toddlers attending educational institutions. In more crowded groups, the risk of contracting a sore throat increases many times.
What symptoms can you recognize?
It is very difficult to determine the disease at the initial stage. A lot of time passes before the appearance of specific signs of the disease. For viral sore throats, the incubation period is usually 3-5 days, with bacterial sore throats - from 7 to 10 days. Fungal infections do not appear until a couple of weeks after infection.
Angina is characterized by:
- Intense redness in fauces. It turns bright red and sore.
- The appearance of rashes and plaque on the tonsils.
- Increase in body temperature up to 38-40 degrees. It lasts for 2-4 days. A decrease in temperature occurs only under the influence of antipyretic drugs.
- Swelling and inflammation of the tonsils. They become bright red, edematous. If a spatula or spoon touches, bleeding increases, and pain also appears.
- Swollen lymph nodes. The process involves the cervical, parotid and occipital. The lymph nodes become thickened, tightly adhered to the skin. In severe cases, they can be seen from the side.
- A sharp deterioration in the baby's well-being. The child becomes more moody, eats poorly. In some cases, babies refuse to eat at all. The first days of the illness are accompanied by increased drowsiness. The kid is in bed almost all the time. Sleep brings a short-term improvement in well-being.
Kinds
Depending on the reasons that can cause the development of acute tonsillitis in babies, all sore throats can be divided into:
- bacterial;
- viral;
- fungal.
Symptoms and clinical manifestations are different for each sore throat. They usually depend on which pathogen caused the disease. Bacterial sore throats develop much harder and cause a whole range of adverse symptoms. Viral infections cause acute tonsillitis much less frequently and are much easier. The longest are fungal options. They usually occur in weakened and often sick babies.
According to the variant of the development of the inflammatory process and the appearance of symptoms all sore throats can be divided into several groups:
- lacunar;
- catarrhal;
- follicular;
- phlegmonous;
- fungal;
- herpes;
- ulcerative membranous;
- gangrenous.
Each type of acute tonsillitis has its own distinctive features. They are manifested by differences that can be found on examination of the pharynx and oropharynx. Each sore throat proceeds in a different way. It depends on the level of local immunity, the characteristics of the pathogen that caused the disease, as well as the presence of chronic diseases in the sick baby.
Catarrhal
It develops in most cases. It is characterized by a rather mild course. It responds well to therapy. After the treatment, the child fully recovers and recovers.
With catarrhal angina, there is a pronounced redness of the tonsils. Usually the process is two-way. The pharynx turns bright red. Tonsils - swollen, inflamed. The palatine arches somewhat increase in size and hang over the entrance to the pharynx. Soreness increases sharply during swallowing. Drinks or foods that are too hot and cold can make your pain worse.
Often this form of the disease begins with the onset of general symptoms of intoxication. The baby has a severe headache. The child feels overwhelmed, his appetite worsens. During the day, the baby notes severe drowsiness. By the end of the first day, the characteristic symptoms of inflammation in the pharynx join, as well as difficulty and pain when swallowing.
Catarrhal sore throat in babies under three years old is usually accompanied by a sharp jump in temperature. Usually it rises to 39-39.5 degrees. In older children, the body temperature can remain normal, only characteristic changes appear in the mouth and tonsils.
Lacunar
The peak incidence of this form of angina occurs in preschool age. Most often, babies are infected by airborne droplets. With lacunar angina, the palatine tonsils are greatly enlarged. They become swollen, swollen.
A characteristic light yellow bloom appears on the surface of the tonsils. It can be removed well with a spatula. With lacunar angina, the body temperature rises to 39-40 degrees. The submandibular nodes greatly increase in size, become dense, painful when felt. Already on the first day, severe pain appears when swallowing.
Lacunar angina is dangerous for the development of complications. With an unfavorable course, purulent inflammation passes to the nearby ENT organs. This contributes to the development of acute otitis media, sinusitis and conjunctivitis. The kid feels very bad. At a high temperature, fever appears, as well as severe chills.
Follicular
Often caused by streptococcal or staphylococcal flora. This form refers to purulent tonsillitis. This variant of the disease is characterized by the appearance of numerous yellow bubbles, which abundantly cover all surfaces of the tonsils. These rashes contain pus. When it expires, an unpleasant odor appears.
The disease is accompanied by an increase in temperature of more than 39 degrees. In the first days of the disease, it is difficult to reduce, even despite the use of antipyretic drugs. A sick child feels severe soreness in the muscles and joints. All symptoms are similar to flu.
To eliminate the adverse manifestations of follicular angina, high doses of antibiotics are required.
Phlegmonous
This form of the disease is extremely rare in childhood. It usually appears in adults. It is characterized by a very severe course and frequent development of complications. During phlegmonous sore throat, the pain when swallowing is unbearable. The child has no appetite at all. Speech becomes slurred.
Most often, the process is one-sided. The affected tonsil increases significantly in size. Inside, it is completely filled with pus. With an unfavorable course of the disease, purulent inflammation can go to other organs that are located nearby. Pus spreads through the lymphatic vessels, penetrating into the mediastinum.
Phlegmonous tonsillitis is considered an extremely unfavorable form of the disease. With a severe course of the disease, even surgical treatment is required. In this case, the inflamed tonsil is removed, after which a complete antiseptic treatment of the pharynx is carried out.
Fungal
Most often found in weakened babies, as well as in children suffering from diabetes mellitus or chronic diseases of the heart and blood vessels. In some cases, it is one of the manifestations of secondary immunodeficiencies resulting from viral infections.
With fungal sore throat, a cheesy white coating appears on the tonsils. When touched with a spoon or spatula, it crumbles easily and falls off. After the plaque leaves, bleeding wounds remain on the surface of the tonsils. For the treatment of this form of angina, antifungal and immunostimulating drugs are required.
Herpes
It occurs when infected with herpes viruses. It is characterized by the appearance of numerous bubbles on the tonsils. They contain a cloudy bloody fluid. Bubbles may burst when touched. The opening of such inflammatory elements occurs on the 5-6th day of the disease. After that, numerous ulcers and erosion remain on the mucous membrane of the tonsils.
The disease is accompanied by an increase in body temperature. Usually it rises to 38-39 degrees and remains high for 3-4 days. After healing, the tonsils return to their usual pink hue. The entire acute period of the disease is accompanied by the appearance of severe soreness in the throat.
For the treatment of herpes sore throat, antiviral agents are used that have a detrimental effect on herpes viruses. The drugs are usually prescribed for 7-14 days.
For the prevention of recurrence of herpes sore throat, doctors recommend taking annual courses of immunostimulating treatment.
Ulcerative membranous
It occurs in children who are often ill, as well as in children with various immunodeficiencies. With this form of sore throat, a strong light yellow coating appears on the tonsils, which is very difficult to remove. The palatine arches swell and hang over the mouth of the pharynx. The oropharynx is bright red. There is severe salivation.
When you open your mouth, a strong odor is produced. The inflammatory process also affects the cervical and submandibular lymph nodes. They become dense, enlarged, painful to the touch. Despite its appearance, ulcerative-membranous tonsillitis is not the most dangerous form of acute tonsillitis. The disease responds well to treatment.
Gangrenous
This form of angina is called Simanovsky-Vincent disease. Often, with the development of the disease, the body temperature remains normal, less often it rises to subfebrile values. This sore throat is most often caused by opportunistic flora that lives in the gum pockets.
Most often, the process is one-way. A large ulcer appears on the damaged tonsil. Outwardly, it resembles a volcano crater. The ulcer has a grayish-yellow tint. Any damage will cause severe bleeding. The size of the formation is from 1 to 2 cm. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of severe pain when eating food, especially on the damaged side.
In appearance, this form of angina resembles diphtheria. For differential diagnosis, additional examinations and analyzes are required. Treatment of the disease is complex. Therapy for this form of the disease necessarily includes the appointment of immunostimulating drugs.
Additionally, you can watch a video on the topic "Angina in children" from Dr. Komarovsky.
