Nasopharyngitis in adults: causes, symptoms and treatment

What is nasopharyngitis?

Nasopharyngitis (rhinopharyngitis, rhinovirus infection) is a disease that manifests itself as inflammation of the pharynx and nasopharynx. Often, the disease is accompanied by a burning sensation or discomfort in the nasal cavity and larynx.

The disease can become life-threatening if you do not see a specialist in time.

Often, nasopharyngitis develops in the autumn-winter, less often, spring, as immunity decreases, and the body is exposed to numerous attacks of viruses. It is at this time that it is easy to get ARVI or ARI. Nasopharyngitis almost always develops due to viruses.

Nasopharyngitis in an adult develops in stages. There are 3 such stages in total.

At stage 1 a person gets sick, sensations appear, as with a common cold. A little sore throat, a tooth in the nose, a slight cough is felt.

Stage 2 mucus begins to stand out, the cough becomes wet. And stage 3 is a discharge of purulent sputum, sometimes blood streaks appear. The disease develops very quickly, no more than two weeks.

Classification

This disease is differentiated into 2 types:

1. Acute nasopharyngitis. This type most often appears due to viruses, less often due to allergies. This type is divided into several types, depending on the nature of the pathogen. Acute nasopharyngitis can be caused by streptococci, staphylococci, chlamydia, meningococci. The nasopharyngitis caused by these viruses bears the corresponding names, for example: acute staphylococcal nasopharyngitis. Each type refers to a specific stage in the development of the disease.
2. Chronic nasopharyngitis. Chronic nasopharyngitis in adults can be caused by various fungi and is divided into 2 types: hypertrophic and atrophic.

Hypertrophic. A feature of this type of chronic nasopharyngitis appears to be a thickening of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and nasopharynx. This is what causes constant malaise, feelings of unpleasant tingling and itching in the nose. Often, the patient may observe strange mucus discharge and lacrimation.

Second type, atrophic nasopharyngitis, its symptoms are opposite. There is constant dryness caused by a strong thinning of the mucous membrane. Bad breath is a common symptom.

If the disease progresses very slowly, then it is classified into several types:

1. Catarrhal nasopharyngitis. It is accompanied by a superficial lesion of the mucous membrane.
2. Atrophic nasopharyngitis. With this type, the mucous layer becomes thinner.
3. Hypertrophic nasopharyngitis. In this case, swelling and thickening of the nasopharynx membrane can be observed.

It is worth remembering that any type of nasopharyngitis is transmitted from person to person, through the air. The risk of illness is especially high when people are in close contact with each other.

Causes of nasopharyngitis in adults

As it became known earlier, nasopharyngitis appears due to an infection that enters the body by airborne droplets.

Among all pathogens, the following are the most common:

• rhinoviruses - a feature of these viruses is the absence of an outer shell. This type of virus is capable of proliferating and excreting generated populations through decay;
• streptococci - this type of virus lives in the respiratory and digestive tract of humans (mainly group A streptococci). Viruses are called parasites and can be easily transmitted through the air. You can get sick in winter or spring, when immunity is especially low. This type of virus rarely infects an adult. More often it acts on children from 4 to 16 years old;
• staphylococci are bacteria that are divided into multiple subspecies. Some of them are quite safe and live in the human intestine, helping him to process food. But there are others that live in the skin and nasopharynx. The cause of infection can be a sick person, wounds, deep cuts, from where pus is abundantly secreted. The incubation period for this type of bacteria always lasts differently. Sometimes a few days are enough for them, and sometimes several years. It is possible to get sick through food or injection;
• pneumococci are a type of bacteria related to streptococci. It causes meningitis sinusitis and many other diseases.
• meningococci - this type of bacteria lives in the nasopharynx. You can get sick through carriers. Bacterial rhinopharyngitis manifests itself in two cases: as a separate disease or a form of an existing disease (for example, meningitis)

Sometimes, blastomycetes are the triggers of the disease. The most common causative agent of the disease is Candida blastomycetes. When a person is affected by this late blight, abscess the nasal cavity, and sometimes the oral cavity.

Often, nasopharyngitis is attributed to the awakening of allergies. Dust mites, animal fur, plant pollen can act as allergens.

Nasopharyngitis can develop from the nasopharynx downward or vice versa. Also, smoking, immunodeficiency, hypothermia can be a provoking factor of rhinopharyngitis.

Symptoms of nasopharyngitis

The symptoms of the disease are individual for each and are determined by certain aspects of a person's life, whether it is his age or the degree of strength of immunity.

In an adult, the disease often does not show specific symptoms that could indicate ill health. In children, this is much more pronounced.

Nasopharyngitis is manifested by the following symptoms:

• cough (dry or wet);
• scabies and tingling in the nose;
• fever and headache;
• muscle pain, fatigue, lethargy;
• runny nose, mucus production;
• loss of appetite, insomnia.

It is much more difficult for adults to determine that they have nasopharyngitis. Most often, fever and malaise are absent or less pronounced. Each type of nasopharyngitis has its own symptoms.

Meningococcal nasopharyngitis manifests itself in the form of fever and runny nose. The enzootic and bacterial types are similar in symptoms to bronchitis and tracheitis. Anaphylactic rhinopharyngitis often manifests itself in redness of the throat and pharynx (see. photo above), mucus separation, swelling, coughing and itching in the nose. Chronic nasopharyngitis is accompanied by tickling, dry cough, and mucus.

Complications

Nasopharyngitis is not a fatal disease, but if you do not consult a specialist in time, complications are possible. This is mainly the flow of the disease into bronchial asthma, bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis.

As you know, there are several layers in the human mucosa. It is a glandular, layer of fibrous and cartilaginous tissue that covers the cartilage.

Initially, the mucous membrane is enveloped by hardened mesothelium. Closer to the nasal septum, it passes into a softer one, and then completely into the epithelium, covered with cilia in several rows.

The mucous membrane itself is formed by a special connective tissue, which is permeated by many vessels and capillaries. In addition, the membrane consists of a glandular layer, which contains blood vessels.

When the causative agent of the disease enters the body, it does not immediately begin to act. Only at the time of the decline in immunity, the parasite begins to multiply rapidly. This can already cause an increase in blood vessels and the appearance of increased permeability. In the place where the Eustachian tubes are located, the inflammation manifests itself most strongly. Since it is in this place that there is a special tissue called lymphadenoid.

Complications mainly occur with acute nasopharyngitis. It goes in 3 stages. First, there is a dry nose, narrowing of the nasal passages, difficulty breathing and nasal sounds. The work of the olfactory organs is somewhat reduced. This stage does not last long, usually no more than 3 days.

Then comes the period of fluid release. Now dryness is replaced by moisture, the nature of the cough changes, the nose clogs up. There may be bouts of sneezing.

The last stage is characterized by purulent discharge. Since all this time the body was fighting the disease, many dead leukocytes and platelets have accumulated in it. They will be excreted through the pus. The discharge becomes yellow-green. It is at this stage that nasopharyngitis can turn into more serious diseases.

Diagnostics

Before making a diagnosis, you need to go through some research and pass a set of tests. Diagnostics begins with examination and listening to the patient's complaints, examination of the nasopharynx. It is on these examinations that puffiness, various redness, inflammation are revealed.

In the presence of chronic nasopharyngitis, additional examinations are performed, which include a blood test, tomography of the nasal sinuses and nasopharynx, x-rays of the nose, and pharyngeal masks.

Additional examinations are carried out in order to make sure that it is nasopharyngitis. Signs of this disease may resemble sinusitis, so you should be extremely careful. Sometimes you have to undergo additional examinations from doctors of other specialties. For example, an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist.

Treatment of nasopharyngitis

Treatment of chronic nasopharyngitis and not only begins primarily with identifying the cause of the disease. We previously found out that nasopharyngitis can be caused by viruses. It is logical that doctors prescribe various antiviral drugs. But the chance of recovery after taking antivirals is low. Especially if the disease is not at the initial stage. Treatment should be based on symptoms.

Recommended to drink antipyretic drugsif the temperature is high. If it is difficult for a person to breathe, he feels a dry mouth, then vasoconstrictor drugs should be used. But you should not abuse them, since addiction can arise to the medicine, and it will become impossible to breathe without them.

Adults are advised to take vasoconstrictors for no more than a week, and children - no more than 2-3 days. Allergy medications can be taken if the nasopharyngitis is caused by allergens. To get rid of the feeling of dryness and cough, you can gargle with infusions of thyme, chamomile, calendula. A solution of salt and baking soda can also help.

Drink plenty of water. So dead leukocytes will be removed from the body faster, and in general it will be cleared faster.

Treatment of chronic nasopharyngitis is somewhat more complicated and long-term. Surgery to remove the adenoids may be needed. The course of treatment can be weeks, and sometimes months. A special diet should be followed throughout the course of treatment. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that can harm the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended to completely eliminate spirits and tobacco products.

Treatment with folk remedies

Folk remedies are used almost everywhere. Nasopharyngitis is no exception. For a sore throat, you can make an infusion of chamomile or other herbs and plants that have antiseptic and antibacterial effects.

Cough remedies in traditional medicine are quite common. For example, a tincture of milk, iodine and mucaltin. Dissolve 2-3 tablets of mucaltin (cough tablets) in a cup of milk, and add 2 drops of iodine. It is advisable to do it before bedtime, the result will appear within a few days.

Various compresses can be applied. The potato compress is excellent for relieving sore throat. You need to boil a couple of potatoes. Crush them, add milk and honey. Put the mass in two sachets. Put one on your chest, and the other on your back and tie it with a warm scarf or blanket.

To breathe easier do inhalation. Again, boil the potatoes, bend over the pan, cover with a towel and breathe over the steam. And the best thing to do inhalation with a nebulizer based on herbs. The nose will break through instantly.

Rub your throat with propolis tincture, it has an excellent disinfectant effect. Solid propolis can also be used. Rub it in a mug and fill it with alcohol. Next, you should put the mug in a warm place for several days, then strain and use as directed. In essence, the same tincture is obtained.

Also, garlic, it perfectly kills all harmful microorganisms, so it should be added to the diet at the first sign.

Forecast and prevention

Basically, with proper treatment, the prognosis is favorable, the person recovers, the immune response to the virus that caused the disease is getting stronger. There are practically no prophylactic recommendations to prevent the development of nasopharyngitis. But in order to protect yourself, you can follow some rules, namely:

• dress warmly;
• in crowded places, wear rag respirators;
• eliminate bad habits;
• switch to a healthy lifestyle;
• do not delay going to the doctor if you feel that you have caught a cold.