Do not Ignore Sore Throat

Sore throat or pharyngitis is an inflammatory disease that attacks the trachea. The disease is often called a sore throat is characterized by a thickening or swelling of the throat wall, reddish, there are white spots, accompanied by pain swallowing.

Sore throat can be caused by viral or bacterial infection, accompanied by a weak immune system. Treatment with antibiotics is only effective on the inflammation caused by germs.

For a mild case of strep throat, sometimes eating healthy foods like vegetables with fruits rich in vitamins can help relieve inflammation. Symptoms of strep throat often foreshadow the flu or a cold.

Sore Throat or Pharyngitis are of two kinds, namely acute and chronic:

1. Acute Pharyngitis.

Sore throat is still new, with symptoms of sore throat and sometimes accompanied by fever and cough.

2. Chronic pharyngitis.

Sore throat that has lasted for a long time, usually not accompanied by pain in swallowing, there is something just feels a lump in the throat.

Causes of Sore Throat

• Virus, about 80 percent of sore throats caused by viruses that can cause fever
• Coughs and colds or phlegm (mucus) to make throat irritation.
• Coxsackie virus (hand, foot and mouth disease).
• Allergies can also cause mild irritation of the throat that are chronic (permanent).
• Streptococcal bacteria. Can be identified by throat culture. This test is generally performed in the laboratory using the patient's throat. And, the classic symptoms of strep bacteria such as severe pain on swallowing, visible white spots, vomiting, ulcers in thyroid gland, accompanied by enlargement of thyroid gland.
• Diphtheria
• Smoking.

Symptoms of Sore Throat

Both the viral and bacterial infections, similar symptoms are sore throat and painful swallowing. Mucous membrane lining the throat that experience severe or mild inflammation of the membranes will be closed whitish or remove the pus.

Other Symptoms

• Fever
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
• Increased number of white blood cells.
• These symptoms can be found in infection due to viruses or bacteria, but rather a symptom typical for infection with bacteria.

Identifying Causes of Sore Throat

In mild cases due to viral infection do not have to go to the doctor because given enough pain medication or fever. In certain cases not caused by a virus may be necessary doctor's examination.

Before giving medication, it is very important for doctors to find the cause of strep throat in order to establish the correct diagnosis with the aim of avoiding inappropriate antibiotic treatment for most patients with strep throat because it can lead to organisms that are resistant to antibiotics.

Throat Infections Antibiotics Not Must Therapy

For throat infections a high fever, runny nose or mucus that is green or yellow is a symptom of travel viral infections, most doctors often give antibiotic therapy. Though these conditions are not indicative of antibiotics. Except for cases with high fever, at the time of day to 3-5 can be considered administration of antibiotics.

Before performing the treatment or prescribe medication, it is important we know the cause of strep throat in order to prevent inappropriate antibiotic treatment, which often occurs in cases of strep throat because it can lead to germs that are resistant to antibiotics.

To find out the cause of sore throat should be careful examination of the throat and lymph nodes in the neck. Furthermore, with the throat swab test to determine the presence or absence of bacteria. These laboratory tests should be done if there is a suspicion diagnosis of strep throat caused by streptococcal bacteria on the basis of clinical and epidemiological findings, and patients not taking antibiotics.

In addition, also needs examination sensitivity to antibiotics in patients allergic to penicillin because of the streptococcus bacteria are resistant to erythromycin.

Do not let the patient take antibiotics before he learned how the immune body and also should be checked for strep throat he sustained to the doctor to determine the severity of disease. When strep throat is caused by allergies, the patient should always keep the body still excellent must not drink and eat-drink-food that makes the throat sore.

Most of the cases, these complaints will subside by itself. To help ease the pain, the doctor usually provides pain reliever medicine that nature. For example, acetaminophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen can help relieve the pain and fever. Gargling with warm salt water can also help. It could also mouthwash anesthetic or anesthetic throat gargle.

FDA (Food and Drug Administration) or food and drug supervision agency U.S. takes note, that the mouthwash Chlorhexidine gluconate (CG), the results of clinical trials have antimicrobial activity for oral or mouth rinsing. The results, from microbial plaque samples studied, have demonstrated reduction in the number of bacteria in general, both aerobic and anaerobic in the range 54-97 per cent during the use of CG.

In addition, the use of CG as an oral rinse for 6 months did not show any real change in the resistance of bacteria, excessive growth of organisms potentially just opportunistic or other changes in the oral microbial ecosystem. And, three months after discontinued use of CG. Many bacteria in plaque that returned to base line level, - not resistens plaque bacteria. Therefore, CG can be used as an alternative to relieve sore throat and canker sores.

Complications do not be underestimated.

Sore throat is often ignored, because in general mild. Whereas in most cases, around 10-20 percent if left to drag on, this inflammation can trigger the emergence of other diseases. Almost everyone has experienced sore throat. However, not many doctors who checked into his throat before pain becomes severe. In fact, patients usually just go to the doctor when severe inflammation or almost no longer able to swallow food.

Sore throat is not really a disease name, but only a symptom of various diseases that arise. In medical terminology, commonly called strep throat with a sore throat or Pharyngitis. Complaints that appears varies, from just itching in the throat to severe pain that feels painful to swallow. Not until there alone, stress and overwork can weaken the immune system and trigger a throat infection. The cause of strep throat has a variety of other viral infections, bacterial infections, allergies and irritants.

Pharyngitis due to viruses and bacteria can be spread through saliva, which spreads when coughing (droplet infection) or by hand or personal items contaminated patients. The average incubation period of 2-5 days strep throat. However, if caused by a virus, incubation period ranges from 3 days to 2 weeks. Infections caused by influenza viruses are highly contagious and easily spread. In this condition, inflammation lasts about three to ten days. Typically, inflammation was more severe in the morning and will improve with the day.

Usually accompanied by a sense of weakness, decreased appetite, fever, and cough. Sore throat is also found in other viral infections such as boils and measles. The body needs a week to build up antibodies to destroy the viruses. Infectious Mononucleosis or Mono is commonly caused by virus called Epstein Barr, and requires a longer time to recover. Virus this affects the lymphatic system, causing enlargement of the tonsils and white patches appear on the surface. In addition, there is also swelling of the vessels in the neck.

Such infection usually causes a severe sore throat, thus making the patient have difficulty breathing. This virus also causes fatigue that can last more than six weeks. Sometimes this virus also attacks the liver and causes jaundice. Although given the nickname Mono Kissing Disease, he not only can be transmitted through saliva. Transmission can also occur from mouth to hand, then from hand to mouth or from the use of towels or cutlery together.

For bacteria, the most common and most serious in terms of complication is the group A streptococcus betahemolitis. This bacterium causes strep throat disease and is associated with valve damage in the heart (rheumatic fever) and kidneys (nephritis), tonsillitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, and ear infections. Another cause of sore throat is the larynges-pharyngeal reflux (LPR). In allergy sufferers typically experience pain in the throat in the morning when stomach acid rises to the top and into the back of the throat. At the throat feels a lump and sour taste. Patients often spend phlegm to clear the throat.

Therefore, it would be wise if patients and physicians, to not ignore or condone painful sore throat is severe enough to cause complications.

Author

Prof. dr. Helmi, SpTHT-KL (K)

This paper was also published in the Journal of Medicinal Medical Indonesia