Seitenstrangangina - you should know that!
What is a side strand angina?
The lateral cord angina is roughly an inflammation of the throat area. In contrast to the very common rickets or pharyngitis, only two vertically running areas in the pharynx of the lateral cord angina are reddened and possibly also covered with small purulent points. In concrete terms, it is an inflammation of the lymphatic ducts, which are located in this area under the pharynx. This invasion of the pharynx is relatively rare.
In addition, there is an even rarer chronic lateral cord angina, i.e. a permanent slight inflammation of the lymphatic tract.
Treatment of a lateral cord angina
The treatment of the disease in this case depends on the strength and the underlying pathogen. As mentioned above, antibiotic treatment only makes sense if the cause is actually bacterial. The purulent coverings of the side strands can be a good indication that the pathogen is bacterial. Viruses only cause local pus formation in exceptional cases. As a rule, however, the lateral cord nina heals without medical intervention, so that antibiotics should really only be used in severe cases that cannot be treated otherwise.
Viral infections, however, are always treated symptomatically.
For all those affected, whether bacterial or viral, it is recommended, however, to take care of themselves during the illness and avoid contact with other people for the most part in order to minimize the risk of infection. If the pain becomes too great, however, there is nothing to be said against taking painkillers such as ibuprofen. In addition to the pain reliever, they also have an anti-inflammatory component.
Administration of antibiotics for a lateral cord angina
When do i need an antibiotic?
As already mentioned above, an antibiotic only makes sense if the disease is caused by bacteria. Antibiotics are absolutely ineffective against viruses, as they are directed against proteins that only occur in this form in bacteria. In general, antibiotics should be prescribed cautiously. As already mentioned, the majority of the lateral cord angina heals without antibiotics, by only treating symptomatically. Particular caution is required, however, with immunocompromised people, including children and old people. If the improvement is delayed too long or if the patient's appearance worries the doctor, antibiotics can be used.
Which antibiotics are used?
According to the current standard, the medical guideline stipulates penicillin as the first drug of choice. Penicillin prevents bacteria from building their cell wall so that they are killed. Alternatively, so-called cephalosporins can also be prescribed. This group of antibiotics also prevents bacteria from building their cell wall when they multiply.
If there is an allergy to these two types of antibiotics, the doctor can fall back on the group of macrolides. In contrast to the first two groups, macrolides are directed against the reproduction of bacterial DNA, so that the bacteria cannot multiply because they cannot pass on their genetic material.
What home remedies can help with a side strand angina?
A number of home remedies can be used to alleviate the symptoms. However, these are not used to treat the cause of the disease, but merely to improve the symptoms.
Both chamomile tea and inhalation through the mouth - either with table salt or with chamomile tea - help soothe and moisten the irritated mucous membrane of the throat. A slight numbing of the pain can be achieved by sucking ice cubes or water ice. Sucking also stimulates saliva production and the cold helps to alleviate the pain somewhat. Lozenges may contain active ingredients that cause a slight local anesthetic. This makes the swallowing process a little less painful.
Last but not least, warm neck wraps can be placed around the neck from the outside to relieve the sore throat a little.
Nasal drops can be used against any earache or blocked paranasal sinuses that are supposed to cause the mucous membranes to swell.
Homeopathy for a lateral cord angina
Sage and nasturtium are found in various sources as homeopathic remedies. Similar to chamomile, sage is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. With the oils it contains, the nasturtium is said to act like a kind of natural antibiotic that kills the pathogens. You can use pokeweed to counteract swelling of the lymph nodes. In a homeopathic dose, this should contribute to the emptying of the lymph vessels.
How contagious is a side strand nina?
A side strand angina is one of the more contagious diseases. However, not everyone who gets a virus or bacteria automatically gets sick.
The disease is typically transmitted as a droplet infection - i.e. in the form of coughing or sneezing.
Young children and infants are particularly at risk of becoming infected or infected. Their defenses are not yet as strong as those of adults and therefore often only offer an inadequate barrier against the pathogens.
In general, however, children are more often affected by viral inflammation of the throat, whereas adults are mostly infected by bacterial pathogens. Affected people are medically considered to be infectious until no more pathogens can be detected in the throat swab.
Duration of the disease with a lateral cord angina
The duration of the illness can only be estimated within a rough framework, as it depends on many factors, such as the patient's immune situation, the age of the sick person and the causative agent. In addition, the treatment method is also decisive for the duration. In general, it can be said that antibiotic treatment - if it is justified - can lead to sterility in the smear up to three days earlier than symptomatic treatment with painkillers and home remedies.
Including the previous phase in which the disease is established, a lateral cord angina can last up to ten days. If the pathogens initially spread out of the nasal area and if this phase is also already counted as the duration of the illness, the illness can last for up to two weeks.
For more information, we recommend our website to: Duration of a sore throat
Length of sick leave for a lateral cord angina
A blanket announcement of the duration of the sick leave cannot be given, as it is at the discretion of the attending physician. It is primarily dependent on the current state of health of the sick person, but should at least include the time during which the patient is still contagious. This can be determined by swabbing the side strands. If pathogens are still found here, the sick person should continue to be sick leave until the pathogen load has disappeared. Depending on the treatment strategy, this can be the case after just two days - if antibiotics are used.
This is how you can recognize a side strand angina
As already mentioned at the beginning, the viral infections usually spread from the nasal cavity. That is why a common cold or even a respiratory tract infection is a symptom that often precedes the lateral cord angina.
Due to the close proximity of the inner ear to the pharynx and the lateral cords, the inflammation often spreads into the so-called tubes. This can lead to slight hearing loss or to the feeling that noises are perceived as slightly muffled.
The final bacterial inflammatory reaction can also lead to inner and middle ear infections. This occurs primarily in young children. In addition, bacterial infections can cause a fever and a general feeling of fatigue.
Furthermore, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing are symptoms that are associated with the lateral cordangina.
Sore throat with a lateral cord angina
Sore throats are an unavoidable concomitant disease of every sore throat; regardless of whether it affects the entire throat or just part of it. Due to the inflammation and the immigrated bacteria, the pain sensors in these areas are much more sensitive than normal. Even when irritated, they must continue to “work” by swallowing, breathing, and eating. The best way to contain the sore throat is with slightly numbing lozenges or a cool ice cube that you suck on. However, if the pain becomes too unbearable, a light pain reliever can be used.
Hoarseness in a lateral cord angina
The hoarseness has its origin in a swelling of the throat mucous membranes. If this swelling hinders the vibration of the vocal cords, the sounds that they normally produce will be distorted. The mucous membrane that covers the vocal folds can also be affected by the swelling.
The only remedy here is the swelling of the mucous membranes of the throat.
You might also be interested in: Medicines for hoarseness
Lateral cord angina with earache
Earache is a common symptom of the lateral cord angina and can be explained by the spatial relationship between the pharynx and the inner ear. The posterior upper pharynx is connected to the inner ear via the so-called tube. Pathogens have the opportunity to spread from the infected side strands via the connecting path to the ears. In this combination, the use of an antibiotic is usually to be considered in order to prevent further spread and spread to nerve structures.
The resulting otitis media occurs almost exclusively in children. In addition to the pain, those affected often have a fever and hearing loss. The otitis media can appear on one or both sides and has no "preferred" side.
It is mostly caused by bacteria and only in a few cases caused by viral pathogens.
Fever with a lateral cord angina
In this context, fever is an indication of a bacterial disease. Bacteria emit a substance to which the body reacts with the release of so-called inflammatory messengers. These also reach a point in the brain via the bloodstream that is responsible for regulating body temperature. The higher the concentration of these inflammatory mediators, the higher the body temperature and therefore the fever. However, the height of the fever is not necessarily proportional to the size of the bacterial infection.
Bad breath in a side cord angina
The unpleasant bad breath is due to the colonization with bacteria or viruses.These metabolize food components into lactic acid and other acid components. As a result, there is an unpleasantly sour halitosis.
You might also be interested in: Eliminate bad breath
Headache with a lateral cord angina
Headaches can also be the first indication of an impending meningitis or encephalitis. In rare cases, the pathogens can find their way to the brain via the inner and middle ear. It is important here to assess the overall impression of the patient. If, in addition to the headache, there is also a stiff neck or a deterioration in the general condition, it is important not to lose any time and to go to a hospital as soon as possible.
You can also read our page on meningitis at: meningitis
Lateral cord angina with an abscess
An abscess is generally understood to be an inflammatory process that encapsulates itself. While the pus formation takes place on the surface in normal lateral cord angina, in rare cases pus formation can also take place below the surface. A pus blister forms below the skin layer. This bubble is bounded by a tough tissue capsule, so that the pus that develops only collects in this bubble and cannot reach the surface. The abscess can grow over time, and the capsule will grow with it.
Further information on this topic can be found at: Abscess in the throat
Diagnosis of a lateral cord angina
Diagnosis of the disease is mainly based on looking at the patient's throat. The doctor shows two reddened strands on the pharynx wall. These are swollen and in the majority of cases covered with white dots, so-called pus specks.
In some cases a smear is taken from the affected area of the pharynx to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the responsible pathogen more precisely. After it has been sent to a microbiological laboratory, the identified pathogen and, if necessary, a recommendation for antibiotics is sent to the doctor.
Causes of a side cord angina
The cause of the disease are usually viral infections of the person affected. These usually first affect the nasal cavities and from there pass through the open connection into the pharynx.
Because of this viral “previous damage”, it is now very easy for bacteria to implant themselves in the side strands and cause inflammation there.
Mostly people are affected who have had their "tonsils" removed. These normally represent a natural protective device of our body. If there are disease-causing components such as bacteria, viruses, etc. in our food, they come into contact with the tonsils during the swallowing process. Many antibodies are located here, which - should they detect a dangerous component in the food - induce an immune reaction before the pathogen can establish itself in the body and multiply.
Due to this lack of protection, the bacteria succeed in implanting near the point where the tonsils were previously located and causing local inflammation. The resulting whitish stippling of the reddened areas can be explained by dead immune cells of the body. It is they who form the purulent vesicles.
The bacteria usually come from people who are already ill and are transmitted in the form of spitting, coughing or sneezing.
Which pathogens cause a side cord angina?
There are both bacteria and types of viruses that can cause a side strand angina. Typical representatives of the bacteria are so-called streptococci of Lancefield group A. These bacteria also include, for example, the scarlet fever pathogen, which causes a similar condition of the throat. Viral pathogens can be, for example, certain herpes viruses or parainfluenza and adenoviruses.
Depending on the pathogen, the procedure for treating the lateral cord angina is also decided.
Lateral cord angina during pregnancy
A side cord angina during pregnancy does not represent an acute risk situation. Of course there are exceptions; however, the transmission of the responsible germs to the unborn child has not yet been observed. In general, the following applies to illnesses during pregnancy: the earlier in pregnancy the mother falls ill, the more serious the effects on the unborn child can be.
The immune system of the pregnant woman is already challenged during this time, so that the likelihood of illness is increased compared to a non-pregnant woman. Affected patients should in any case consult a doctor in order to determine the responsible germ.
As a rule, the doctor will try to treat the lateral cord angina without antibiotics and with as few other drugs as possible. However, if this conservative method of treatment does not bring the desired success, then drug treatment is inevitable.
Pregnant women should never use any preparations on their own, should follow the recommendation of the doctor. Antibiotics, like other drugs, can have a negative effect on the development of the unborn child. In this case, the doctor speaks of a terratogenic effect of these drugs.
