Learn how to treat pharyngitis with high incidence in winter
Entering winter, I found that more comrades came for consultation due to throat discomfort. After examination, it was found that most of them suffered from pharyngitis. Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the throat mucosa, submucosal tissue and lymphoid tissue. It can be divided into acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. Acute pharyngitis has an acute onset, and its main symptoms include throat dryness, itching, burning, pain, cough, hoarseness, fever, etc., often accompanied by symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose. If you have purulent discharge or cough up yellow phlegm, it may be a bacterial infection, and you should go to the hospital for examination in time. The main symptoms of chronic pharyngitis include dry and itchy throat, foreign body sensation, pain, cough, and excessive phlegm. Examination of the pharyngeal mucosa shows chronic congestion.
Winter is the peak season for strep throat. The dry and cold air in winter can easily irritate the mucous membrane of the throat, causing congestion and edema of the mucous membrane. In addition, the weather is very cold in winter. If you don’t pay attention to keeping warm, it is easy for the body’s resistance to decrease. Moreover, winter is the peak season for influenza. Once the body’s resistance drops, bacteria and viruses will take advantage of the situation and infect the throat, causing acute inflammation of the throat. In addition to seasonal factors, chronic irritation and acid reflux can also trigger strep throat. If you smoke or drink alcohol for a long time, it is easy to damage and irritate the throat, causing chronic inflammation of the throat. Excessive intake of strong tea, coffee, carbonated drinks and spicy food will increase gastric acid secretion. Reflux of gastric acid into the throat can easily cause reflux pharyngitis.
How to treat strep throat? Patients with pharyngitis can start from the following two aspects: First, improve their lifestyle and improve the local functional status of the pharyngeal mucosa by enhancing their own immunity. The second is to treat according to the cause. If acute pharyngitis is caused by viral infection such as influenza, antiviral drugs can be used. If there is a bacterial infection, antibiotics can be used. When you feel sore throat, you can also take iodine-containing lozenges to relieve pain symptoms. If it is chronic pharyngitis, it is recommended to take some Chinese patent medicines that clear the throat and benefit the lungs.
Removing the triggers is the key to preventing strep throat. Comrades can pay attention to the following points in life to prevent inducing pharyngitis or worsening throat discomfort symptoms.
keep warm. If a cold is not treated in time, viruses and bacteria will spread to the throat and cause pharyngitis. Therefore, it is recommended that everyone keep warm when going out in winter to prevent catching colds.
Wear masks scientifically. Healthy people wear masks to reduce throat irritation from cold air and the chance of being infected by viruses. People infected with the flu wear masks to prevent the virus from spreading to others.
keep working out. Moderate exercise can help improve the body’s resistance and reduce the risk of respiratory diseases in winter.
Drink plenty of warm water. Getting enough fluids can help keep your throat moist and reduce inflammation. When your throat feels uncomfortable, drink water immediately to moisten your throat. In addition, you can also use traditional Chinese medicines such as sturgeon, chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, and Ophiopogon japonicus to soak in water instead of tea, which can clear away heat, detoxify, and sooth the throat.
Maintain indoor humidity. When the weather is cold in winter, people generally use heating equipment such as air conditioners and heaters for heating, which causes the indoor humidity to drop. Too dry air can easily damage the respiratory mucosa, cause throat discomfort, and even induce respiratory diseases. Comrades can increase the indoor air humidity by placing a basin of water indoors and mopping the floor with a wet mop. If conditions permit, a humidifier can also be used.
Develop a healthy lifestyle. Try to quit smoking and drinking, eat less spicy food, and avoid excessive use of your voice; reduce close contact with patients with pharyngitis, and avoid sharing food or tableware.
