Bacterial tonsillitis: streptococcal and staphylococcal angina - antibiotics as the main treatment.

At the entrance to the throat on the sides are two clusters of lymphoid tissue, palatine tonsils or glands, which are the first "station" in the body's immune system, localizing foreign pathogens that enter it when inhaled, they function as a protective barrier to harmful bacteria. But sometimes the tonsils themselves become infected with bacteria or viruses and become inflamed. A condition known as tonsillitis (or tonsillitis) can occur at any age, but is more common among children. The disease is contagious and can be transmitted by airborne droplets.

The common cause of bacterial infection is streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria.

Viral infections include adenovirus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, parainfluenza, enterovirus.

Inflammation and swelling of the tonsils, sometimes in a rather severe form, blocking the airways is the main symptom. Other symptoms are reddening of the tonsils, white or yellow purulent deposits on them, pain when swallowing, headache, lack of appetite, ear pain, difficulty breathing through the mouth, fever, bad breath, swollen cervical glands.

How is angina treated? Antibiotics are prescribed in the event that tonsillitis is caused by streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria. It is very important to take them correctly, in accordance with the prescription of the doctor, to kill all the bacteria. Angina, caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus group A, is dangerous and can lead to serious complications. The disease manifests itself in the inflammation of the palatine tonsils and pharynx, usually in combination with heat, but without coughing.

Until recently, all types of angina were treated with antibiotics. Then the specialists decided to prescribe antibiotic treatment in the case when tonsillitis is caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus and staphylococci. But the disease is difficult to differentiate without bacteriological examination. The analysis-smear spent by the doctor, will allow to define, what angina. Antibiotics prescribed in the case of a positive test result for bacterial cultures, for a period of 3-10 days. They alleviate the symptoms, shorten the duration of the disease. As a symptomatic treatment, analgesics, local anesthetics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. After 24 hours after the start of treatment, a person is already considered to be non-contagious.

A typical streptococcal angina begins with pain in the neck and in the throat when swallowing. Tonsils are inflamed, they are red and swollen. Cervical lymph nodes are enlarged. Among the possible accompanying symptoms are headache , muscle pain, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, scarlet small rash. Nevertheless, especially in children, an atypical course of the disease is possible.

In children aged 5 to 15 years, angina is most common in winter and spring. Outbreaks of infection occur in families or schools where people interact most closely. Streptococcal angina in children under three is usually a rarity. Adult people more often suffer from viral tonsillitis, but they can get infected from their children.

A rare but very dangerous complication is acute rheumatic fever (rheumatic fever), which occurs 2-4 weeks after the disease. Symptoms are high fever, wandering arthritis, carditis, myocarditis, endocarditis. It is a question of cross-reactivity between bacterial and human antigens.

Other complications - glomerulonephritis, sinusitis, mastoiditis, otitis media, bacteremia, meningitis and pneumonia - are rare in the case of an infection such as streptococcal angina. Antibiotics are designed, among other things, to prevent the development of all possible complications.

Drugs "Penicillin", "Phenoxymethylpenicillin" or "Amoxicillin" in angina, for ten days, are considered the main means. To date, experts are discussing the question of whether to prescribe cephalosporins for allergies to penicillin when diagnosed as "bacterial angina". Group antibiotics Cephalosporins have a number of serious side effects, as noted in modern medical literature, and therefore the idea remains controversial. When penicillins are intolerant, marcolides and lincosamides are usually prescribed.

Staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus) specialize in human hemoglobin. For the spread of bacteria, iron is constantly needed, which they extract from the hemoglobin contained in the pigment of the blood. To reach hemoglobin contained in red blood cells (erythrocytes) is difficult - iron from these bacterial attacks in them is protected relatively well. However, Staphylococcus aureus binds to specific proteins in the cell membrane, while its receptors adapt to the structure of the human hemoglobin molecule. If the staphylococcus has managed to pass through the circulation, the pathogen attacks the red blood cells, pierces the outer membrane and connects to the hemoglobin molecule. The iron-containing cell nucleus is then extracted and decomposed to help use iron to expand the bacteria. As studies have shown, Staphylococcus aureus can effectively use human hemoglobin as a source of iron for reproduction.

The blocking of hemoglobin receptors in multistable pathogens is a difficult task, the classical treatment of staphylococcal angina with antibiotics is not enough. Bacteria due to the frequent use of these drugs have become resistant to many drugs and do not respond to treatment.

Of course, the more medicine knows about how bacteria behave in the body, the more opportunities there are to develop strategies for prevention and therapy.

When tonsillitis is caused by viruses, then antibiotics will not help, the body itself is struggling with infection. Nevertheless, there are some tools that help cope with the disease.

So what is the treatment for angina in such cases? The most faithful remedies are known to people for many years already - they are herbal drugs. Seven natural assistants for viral anginas - echinacea, yellow-root Canadian, licorice root, elder, citrus, garlic oil in capsules, dandelion.