How can you gargle with pharyngitis?
People at risk are more likely to get upper respiratory tract inflammation during the cold season - these are children and adults with weakened immune systems, as well as those with a history of any chronic illness. Often they are diagnosed with inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, or pharyngitis. In most cases, it manifests itself simultaneously with influenza or ARVI, since inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract are the most common complications of viral infections.
Small amounts of bacteria are always present on the walls of the pharynx. The chronic inflammatory process significantly increases their number, and any hypothermia leads to the emergence of a critical mass of pathogenic microorganisms. Such a simple measure as rinsing with medicinal solutions effectively helps to normalize the condition of the throat with pharyngitis. This local agent is often prescribed by pediatricians and otolaryngologists in the complex therapy of inflammation of the pharynx due to its high efficiency.
Content:
- Features of rinsing with pharyngitis
- Contraindications to gargling with pharyngitis
- How to gargle with pharyngitis?
- Rinsing the throat during feeding and pregnancy
- How to gargle a child's throat?
- Doctor Komarovsky about gargling
Features of rinsing with pharyngitis
The following symptoms negatively affect the well-being of a patient with pharyngitis:
- Sore throat,
- Painful sensations.
- Burning,
- Itching of the soft palate
- Subfebrile temperature.
These manifestations are significantly smoothed out if the patient uses rinsing of the pharynx and mouth from the first hours of the onset of the disease. Elimination of the clinical symptoms of pharyngitis is the main symptomatic effect that occurs when rinsing.
Therapeutic action of the procedure:
- Medicinal systemic agents fall exactly into the inflammatory focus on the mucous membrane;
- All types of edema are reduced, including allergic manifestations;
- Viruses and bacteria are removed mechanically, washed out from the nasopharynx with a stream of medical solution;
- Local immunity and resistance to infections of the pharyngeal mucosa are increased;
- Rinsing has a bactericidal and antiseptic effect;
- The inflammatory process becomes less intense;
- Accelerated tissue regeneration with hypertrophy and atrophy of the mucous membrane;
- Rinsing out of the exacerbation phase reduces the likelihood of pharyngitis in the future, as well as the likelihood of chronic pharyngitis going into the acute phase from the remission stage.
Regardless of which agent is used for gargling, certain rules must be followed to get the full benefit from the procedure.
Recommendations for rinsing:
- The temperature of the medicinal solution, infusion or broth does not exceed and does not fall below + 31 + 33?, It feels like it should be warm;
- In order for the agent to wash the pharynx, and not only the inflamed tonsils, you should tilt your head back slightly;
- The duration of rinsing in one portion is 20-30 seconds, the volume of the medicinal solution for the procedure is at least 100-150 ml, the duration of the rinsing session is 2-4 minutes;
- Rinsing frequency: at the onset of the disease - hourly, on the following days - 4-6 times a day with solutions of different compositions;
- To prevent exacerbations, gargle the throat 2 times a day, mainly in the morning and evening;
- If pharyngitis occurs against the background of acute respiratory viral infections, it is simultaneously recommended to rinse the nose with a salt solution so that the infection does not descend from the nasopharynx.
Due to the high efficiency for all categories of patients with ENT diseases, rinsing should not be excluded from the pharyngitis treatment regimen.
Contraindications to gargling with pharyngitis
There are no significant contraindications to this procedure, rinsing is used in both acute and chronic forms of the disease, as well as for all its types:
- Fungus,
- Viral,
- Bacterial,
- Allergic pharyngitis.
Not every child is able to carry out this procedure on his own, without swallowing the medicinal solution. Therefore, in the treatment of ENT diseases in children under 3 years of age, rinsing is not carried out.
There are contraindications to the composition of medicinal products used in rinsing solutions. To avoid a negative reaction of the body to the components of drugs, you need to carefully study the instructions for its use.
For example, we can give contraindications to the use of the herbal preparation Rotokan:
- Liver failure,
- Renal failure
- Allergy.
Gargles containing iodine are contraindicated in the following conditions:
- Pregnancy,
- Hyperthyroidism
- Childhood.
Folk recipes containing honey can be harmful to people with a predisposition to allergies. Excessive dosage and abuse of products with vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soda, salt and other active ingredients can, instead of benefit, cause a pathological reaction to inadequate treatment.
How to gargle with pharyngitis?
The doctor usually recommends ready-made pharmaceutical preparations as a rinse. Most often, these are medicines from the category of liquid antiseptics, produced in the form of tablets or powder for reconstitution.
Means used in diluted form:
- Boric acid,
- Tinctures of eucalyptus, propolis,
- Alcohol extract from Kalanchoe juice,
- Hydrogen peroxide,
- Potassium permanganate solution ("potassium permanganate"),
- Aquirin,
- Iodinol,
- Furacillin,
- Chlorophyllipt,
- Malavit,
- Povidone iodine.
Preparations for rinsing, not requiring dilution:
- Chlorhexidine,
- Tantum Verde,
- Aqualor throat,
- Hexoral,
- Teraflu lar,
- Miramistin,
- Tenflex,
- Jocks,
- Dolphin.
The combination of rinsing with inhalation usually complements the use of antibiotics in the traditional treatment of pharyngitis. The above funds are used in a dosage strictly determined by the doctor, so as not to provoke the development of candidiasis and overdrying of the pharynx. The most acceptable treatment option is the alternation of pharmacy products with solutions prepared according to folk recipes.
Rinsing the throat during feeding and pregnancy
Infections during pregnancy are a high risk for the health of the mother and the fetus, since during their treatment it is necessary to keep on a fine line between the positive effect of drug therapy and the danger to the development and full life of the fetus. Women who practice breastfeeding face no less difficulties, since, penetrating into the blood, the chemicals of the drugs harm the health of the child.
Most antiseptics, emollients and pain relievers used for pharyngitis have no contraindications for lactating and pregnant women.
Exceptions to this list:
- Preparations containing iodine;
- Aloe juice in its pure form without dilution;
- Rinse with plenty of baking soda solution.
Safe products approved for use in nursing and pregnant women:
- Herbal infusions with anti-inflammatory effect (chamomile, plantain, sage, St. John's wort and others with a similar effect);
- Ready phytopreparations for rinsing: Malavit, Rotokan, Aquirin, Romazulon;
- Medicinal solutions of Miramistin, Furacillin, Chlorophyllipt, Hexoral.
The safety of drugs for pregnant and lactating women has been confirmed by doctors and pharmacists, however, you should consult a doctor before using them.
How to gargle a child's throat?
Throat diseases, including pharyngitis, are more common in children than in adults. That is why local symptomatic treatment in young patients is actively used in the complex therapy of pharyngitis. In children, as well as in adults, both folk and pharmaceutical rinsing agents are used. Pediatric dosage is calculated by a pediatrician or otolaryngologist in much lower doses than in adults.
New drugs, especially those based on herbs, can only be used after a skin test. It is carried out on the inside of the elbow bend, the skin of which is lubricated with the tested agent and bandaged. The absence of a skin reaction after an hour and a half indicates that the drug or herbal decoction can be used without fear.
Not every child understands the essence of the rinsing process; this procedure is not available to young children, when the baby can choke or swallow the medicinal solution. It is advisable to start rinsing training not with drug solutions, but with plain water.
In pediatrics, in addition to pharmaceuticals, alternative rinses are used:
- Honey solution,
- A solution of salt and soda,
- Infusion of mother-and-stepmother, chamomile, eucalyptus;
- Cranberry juice dissolved in water;
- A decoction of blueberries.
The main thing that you need to know when applying this procedure is that rinsing cannot be limited to the treatment of pharyngitis in children. They must be supplemented by means of conservative therapy on the recommendation of a pediatrician or otolaryngologist.
Doctor Komarovsky about gargling
A well-known media personality, Dr. Komarovsky, believes that the main function of rinsing is to moisturize the dried mucous membrane of the pharynx. No matter what is added to the water, the famous pediatrician believes, rinsing will in any case fulfill the function assigned to it. But, if you still want to make a remedy for rinsing, then he prefers the following two solutions:
- 1 tsp soda in a glass of water;
- "Sea water" - you need to take 1 tsp in a glass of water. soda, 1 tsp. salt, 2 drops of iodine.
Dr. Komarovsky believes that rinsing is not of fundamental importance for viral infections:
The author of the article: Lazarev Oleg Vladimirovich | ENT
Education: In 2009, he received a diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" at the Petrozavodsk State University. After completing an internship at the Murmansk Regional Clinical Hospital, he received a diploma in Otorhinolaryngology (2010)
