Symptoms and types of Angina

Angina (in most of European languages), Sore Throat (in American English), Tonsillitis (in British English) is an infection of either viral or bacterial origin that results in inflammation of the tonsils and throat. Tonsils affected by angina lose their ability to fight infection and, on the contrary, can become a risk and a source of infection. There can be many viral and bacterial causes, but the most common cause of angina is an insidious bacterium called streptococcus pyogenes. The incubation period of angina from the moment we were exposed to the infection until the full outbreak of the disease is 2-4 days. In some cases even less.

Symptoms of angina are FEVER, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, but especially sore throat, TONSIL SWELLING and related DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING to the inability to swallow solid food, hoarseness, cough, and possibly ear pain. Nausea associated with vomiting may also occur. Symptoms such as nasal congestion, nasal discharge, enlarged and painful lymph nodes, and swollen glands in the front of the neck may also occur. The throat and tonsils are often reddened with tonsillitis, and there are often purulent plugs on the tonsils - white coatings or white spots. Exceptionally, the temperature may not appear at all or, on the contrary, may appear before the sore throat and difficulty in swallowing occur.

Complications can occur with tonsilitis, especially,  when untreated. In the case of extensive purulent angina, there may sometimes be a risk of suffocation, usually associated with the transfer of purulent inflammation to the deeper tissues of the pharynx under the tonsils and the formation of a so-called abscess (purulent deposit).

An abscess is a cavity filled with pus, and this complication is accompanied by severe pain and swelling, usually on one side of the throat and submandibular region. From there, the inflammation can spread practically anywhere. In the case of this complication, the bearing must be surgically opened and cleaned. Another, albeit rare, complication of strep throat can be sudden kidney damage. It occurs 7-14 days after the neck symptoms of the disease have subsided. Even rheumatic fever (autoimmune disease) – a disease affecting the heart and joints – can occur very rarely. If the patient wants to minimize the risk of these sterile consequences of streptococcal infection, or to increase the chance of early detection, he can ask the doctor to check the urine and blood after having angina.

The word angina translates to constrictive pain (from the Latin angere – to squeeze). Classic sore throat is a very common infectious disease in children and adults, although it is sometimes mistaken for the flu. Angina can be caused by viruses just like the flu, but it always means a purulent disease of the tonsils. In the case of a patient who does not have tonsils, in the case of an inflammatory disease in the throat area, we are talking about so-called laryngitis.

From the point of view of the causative agent, angina can be divided into angina of origin -

- bacterial (most often caused by streptococci)
- viral (caused, for example, by viruses such as Epstein-Barr, influenza virus, herpes simplex and others)
- mycotic, i.e. caused by mycosis or organisms that are close to plants and bacteria in their properties, but are fungi or fungal infections.

The most common cause of classic sore throat is the bacteria streptococcus pyogenes (streptococcus pyogenes), which release a toxin into the blood responsible for the accompanying symptoms. Especially in children, these symptoms are a heat rash, the so-called scarlet fever. So in this case we are talking about SCARLET FEVER..

In terms of symptoms and frequency, we can also talk about three types of angina - acute angina or recurrent acute angina or chronic angina.

Angina is transmitted from infected people by sneezing, coughing and exhaling small infected droplets, which can infect us when we inhale them. It is also possible to get infected by contact with pathogens (disease-causing particles) that have been caught on objects that later come into contact with our bodies (mouth, nose, eyes or other mucous membranes). Between 2.-5. day after such contact with the infection, symptoms appear. If an infected person starts antibiotic treatment, they usually stop being contagious within 24-48 hours of starting antibiotics. On the other hand, if a person is not treated with antibiotics, they can be a carrier of angina for up to two weeks.

The best prevention of angina is a healthy diet, physical activity, stress control and, last but not least, high personal hygiene. Above all, oral hygiene such as regular tooth brushing, but also the use of interdental brushes and immediate disinfection of the tonsils and larynx with every, even slight, sensation of "scratching in the throat".

For this purpose, we recommend STREPTOkill, which is also from natural sources and does not develop resistance to it, so it can be used without fear for any inappropriate feeling in the throat. We also recommend regular hand washing, which protects not only you, but also your surroundings from transferring bacteria or viruses.
It is also reasonable to limit contact with infected persons who have not yet started their treatment.