Differential diagnosis of angina and diphtheria
Content:
- Differential diagnosis of angina
- Differential diagnosis of diphtheria
Differential diagnosis of angina
Sore throat and diphtheria begin in about the same way: plaque appears on the tonsils (on the tonsils) in the oropharynx. But diphtheria is an incomparably more dangerous disease that leads to complications and even possible death.
So how to distinguish such a common disease as angina from such a formidable infectious disease as diphtheria? Let's look at the main distinguishing features so that at home you can suspect and distinguish them.
Angina is a general infectious disease with a local manifestation on the tonsils in the form of white blooms. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. Infection - most often streptococcal, less often - staphylococcal and pneumococcal.
The common manifestations of all forms of angina are fever, headache, weakness and severe pain when swallowing in the tonsils. Local symptoms depend on the form of angina:
- with catarrhal - the tonsils are red;
- with follicular, pustules appear on the tonsils in the form of yellowish-white dots, which gradually increase, fester and open;
- with lacunar sore throat, limited plaques appear, which gradually increase and cover more or less of the tonsils;
- ulcerative-membranous sore throat Simanovsky proceeds almost without disturbing the general condition of the body, the temperature reaction is mild, the process is usually one-sided, has an ulcerative character.
Differential diagnosis of diphtheria
A more formidable disease is diphtheria - an acute infectious disease caused by a diphtheria bacillus. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. The latent period is 2-10 days.
Distinguish between diphtheria of the pharynx, larynx and nose. In 90% of cases, the tonsils (tonsils) are again affected. But, unlike sore throat, swelling of the tonsils and the entire palate is more extensive. In addition, only one of the tonsils is most often involved in the process, and the second may not be changed. With angina, redness and plaque do not go beyond the borders of the tonsil, and with diphtheria, they spread far beyond its limits (on the palate, tongue).
The color of plaque in angina is yellowish, and in diphtheria it is white with a grayish-dirty tinge. With angina, deposits are superficial and when examining the pharynx with a spoon, they can be easily removed from the tonsil. With diphtheria, the plaque adheres firmly to the tonsils and is removed with difficulty with a spoon, leaving behind a bleeding surface.
The pain when swallowing in case of angina is sharp, even saliva is painful to swallow. And with diphtheria, the pain is mild, sometimes it is almost nonexistent.
With diphtheria, the cervical lymph nodes are also enlarged, they are painful when touched, and there may even be swelling of the neck.
I must say that after 1–2 days with angina, the temperature usually decreases and the sore throat subsides. And with diphtheria, on the contrary, the temperature rises to 40 ° C, weakness increases, the general condition of the patient worsens.
If you or your relatives have a sore throat, do not hesitate and consult a doctor you know. Any doctor can examine the throat and check for plaque so as not to miss the initial stage of diphtheria.
But if you start treatment at an early stage, there are no complications and the disease quickly passes.
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)
