Diseases of the upper respiratory tract (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis)

Tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis are clinically similar acute infectious diseases. They are the most common ailments among both children and adults.

Most of the time, especially if treated, we recover from these infections without permanent harm. But occasionally an infection will be more serious, even life-threatening. Anything that blocks the airways may be hazardous. Sometimes chronic infections cause permanent tissue damage. Factors predisposing to upper respiratory infections are smoking, breathing particle - laden air - coal dust, air pollution, climate and seasons (in the autumn or early spring), i.e. they depend on chilling.

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, especially the palatine tonsillitis, depending on the nature of the lesion: acute or true, catarrhal, follicular and lacunar tonsillitis.

The most widespread is acute tonsillitis which is a definite systemic infection characterized by an acute inflammatory process, primarily in the area of the tonsils. These are at least 200 viruses that can give rise to acute tonsillitis. The bacteria may be inhaled into respiratory passages during contact with patients or they may be acquired through the patient's things (cups, plates, spoons, etc.). When these viruses penetrate into the body of the person with decreased immunity, he develops acute tonsillitis. The most vivid and constant symptom of tonsillitis is pain in the throat. However, this illness may have a drastic effect on many vital organs of the body. There may be enlargement and tenderness of the cervical and submaxillary lymph glands. Catarrhal condition of the throat and larynx are manifested by a coarse, barking cough and hoarseness. The patient feels discomfort on swallowing and earache. The discharges from the throat become purulent causing unpleasant odour from the patient's mouth. This disease is characterized by general weakness, headache and an increase of body temperature to a suffebrile level-37.1—37.5 °C. It decreases the patient's work capacity.

The most frequent complications of acute tonsillitis are rheumatic fever and kidney trouble.

Pharyngitis is inflammation of the pharynx or sore throat. There are various forms of pharyngitis: acute or catarrhal pharyngitis, atrophic, chronic and hypertrophic.

The patient with acute pharyngitis usually complains of slight tenderness or tention in the throat, especially on swallowing. He feels a dry scratchy and burning sensation in the throat and has fever. On examination the physician usually notes redness, swelling and edema of the uvula. Mucous membrane is red and covered with mucopurulent secretion. Acute pharyngitis often preceeds acute tonsillitis or is accompanied by it.

Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx, a condition attended with dryness and soreness of the throat, hoarseness, cough and dysphagia.

There are different types of laryngitis: acute, catarrhal, croupous, diphtheric, membranous, necrotic, phlegmonous, subglottic, syphilitic, tuberculous and vestibular one.

Acute catarrhal laryngitis is a form characterized by aphonia or hoarseness, pain and dryness of the throat, dyspnea, a wheezy cough and more or less fever.

Treatment of the respiratory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

The patient is allowered to follow home treatment. He is recommended to take antipyretics, sulfonamides and expectorants, not to speak for 5-7 days and to gargle his throat with a warm solution of sodium bicarbonate, to use inhalations several times a day. The patient must follow salt-free diet, avoid cold food. It must be warm (but never hot). Pungent, coarse, spicy or acid food is not allowered. When the patient suffers from high fever he needs more liquids than usually and is recommended to take sudorific (sweatinducing drinks), such as tea with honey and warm milk with honey.

POST-TEXT ASSIGMENTS.

Exercise 8. Answer the questions:

In what forms does tonsillitis occur?

What are the causative agent of tonsillitis?

How do acute respiratory disorders of the upper respiratory system spread?

Who spreads the disease?

What are complications of acute tonsillitis?

What is pharyngitis?

What common symptoms of acute catarrhal pharyngitis can you name?

What forms of pharyngitis do you know?

What is laryngitis?

What are the doctor's recommendations for the treatment of tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis?

Exercise 9. Translate into English:

Заболевания верхних дыхательных путей часто происходят в дождливую, сырую погоду.

Боль в горле - это самый яркий и постоянный симптом при остром тонзиллите.

Больной жалуется на острую боль при глотании и ощущение першения, жжения в горле.

Острый ларингит - это вторичное заболевание, характеризующееся острым катаром (catarrh) носа и носоглотки (nasopharynx).

Больной должен полоскать горло тёплым раствором питьевой соды.

Exercise 10. Make up questions to the underlined words:

Mucous membrane is red and covered with mucopurulent suretion.

Bad teeth and chronic inflammation of the tonsils should receive timely treatment.

Acute tonsillitis may have a drastic effect on many vital organs of the body.

The germs may be inhaled into the respiratory passages during contact with patients.

Catarrhal condition of the troat decreases the patient's work capacity.

Exercise 11. Explain the process taking place in the organism of the patient suffering from acute tonsillitis.

Exercise 12. Make up a summary of the text.

Exercise 13. Speak on the following items:

The cardinal symptoms of acute tonsillitis.

The main symptoms of acute pharyngitis.

The course of acute laryngitis treatment.

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