Sore Throat or Throat infections, Strep Throat symptoms, causes, classifications, treatment and its Ayurveda Management

Sore throat or Throat infection, Strep Throat - Signs and Symptoms causes, Types, Treatments, and Ayurveda Management 

Conditions with pain in the throat, itchiness, difficulty in swallowing, irritated throat is called sore throat. It can come due to many reasons like infections, allergies, due to external factors like climate, injury, etc. This is a common condition that doesn't require medical attention and will resolve on its own. However, some conditions required medical attention and treatment to avoid complications and to rule out other possible reasons/ diseases. This is common at younger ages.

According to the sites of infections, throat infections can be divided into 

1. Pharyngitis- infection of the Pharynx, part behind the mouth.
2. Laryngitis- Infections of the larynx.
3. Tonsillitis- Infections of Tonsils.

Causes:

• Viral infections ( common cold, Influenza, Covid-19, etc.).
• Bacterial Infections ( streptococcus infections)
• Allergies and External factors like climate, etc.
• Injury, GERD, HIV infections, Tumors, etc.

Throat infections are usually caused by Viruses and Bacteria (streptococcus bacteria). Infections caused by bacteria is called Strep Throat. Throat infections can be secondary symptoms of other diseases as well.

Symptoms:

Symptoms may vary depending upon the cause or type of infections. However, some symptoms are very common in most of the conditions.

• Painful, irritated throat.
• Difficulty in swallowing food items.
• Swollen, reddish discoloration of the throat ( Inside).
• Fever, common cold, hoarse voice.
• Tenderness over the neck, ( swollen lymph nodes on palpation and painful.).
• swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Diagnosis:

Initial diagnosis based on the physical examination done by the doctor. Doctor will look for rashes, palpitation (to know swollen lymph nodes) , any secondary infections or causes, past history of conditions, clinical examination by special instruments (scope) to see the sites (throat, ears, nose).

Throat Swab- Testing the samples collected from throat to rule out streptococcus or other kind of bacterial infections. Based on this test, we can differentiate infection because of virus or bacteria and can change treatment plan accordingly.

Rapid Strep Tests

Blood Tests: Blood tests are not normally necessary to diagnose tonsillitis. However from doing CBC (WBC, lymphocytes), doctor can differentiate infections and causes.( bacterial, viral, infection mononucleosis).

What is the difference between Tonsillitis and Strep throat? How can differentiate?.

Inflammation for tonsils is called tonsillitis. Infection or inflammation because of specific type of bacteria streptococcus A is called strep throat. Most of the symptoms are similar for both, however strep throat is more sever condition that tonsillitis. Symptoms like High fever, red spots on mouth, red swollen tonsils with white spots are common in strep throat compared to tonsillitis. Tonsillitis can be because of bacteria or viruses.

Risk factors and Complications:

Mostly this infections are seen on children's. Complications are rare, however recurrent infection may lead to rheumatic fever, etc. 

Treatments:

Most of the tonsillitis, irrespective of the causative agents (viral or bacterial) can cure with home care and remedies. All kind of mild infections will cure within 7 to 10 days along with home remedies and rest.

• Take proper Rest.
• Drink Enough Water.
• Avoid Cold water and Food Items.
• Gargle with warm salt water four or five times a day.

When to see a doctor and start medication?

In most of the cases, consulting a doctor is not necessary, symptoms will reduce within 7 to 0 days. However in some cases consulting a doctor and taking proper medical advices and medications are necessary. Conditions are

• Presenting with severe symptoms, High grade fever and symptoms has no cure with rest and home remedies.
• Difficult to breath, difficult to eat foods and drink, and if there is any associated complaints.

If the tests showing positive or as confirmed as bacterial infections, then doctor will start with medications like antibiotics. It is very important to complete the course of antibiotic medications. If failed to do so it may lead to other complications and infections.

If symptoms are related to viral infections, then antibiotic treatments will not affect. For that need to start antiviral medications and most of the cases will cure with in 7 days even without medications. However symptomatic medication will helps to relieve symptoms.

Surgical Management or Tonsillectomy is it really necessary?

In some children's recurrent infections are common. In those patients tonsils will remove to prevent infections. This procedure is called Tonsillectomy. Surgery indicated in most sever and recurrent cases only.

Prevention:

Most of the infections are contagious. However after manifesting symptoms we come to know about infections. Hence preventing the infections is very hard. But taking precautionary measures especially when contact with sick people will help to prevent. Healthy life style and diets will increase the immunity of the body to prevent recurrent infections.

• Wash your hands regularly especially before taking food and touching face mouth.
• Be careful when contact with sick people, do not share food , utensils with sick people.

Tonsillitis/ Sore throat, Strep throat - in Ayurveda and management.

According to Ayurveda Tonsillitis or Strep Throat can be compared to Gala kandaka/ Talu kandaka/ Thundi keri. The word thundi , Gala or Talu means mouth/ throat. We can find detailed explanations about this conditions in different ayurvedic texts like charaka samhita, ashtanga hrudaya etc.

Nidana/ Etiology:

• Due to AHARA (Diet) and Vihara (Regimen)- for example use of cold water and food items, low hygiene, cold water bath etc.
• Due to low Immunity.

Symptoms:

• Sthoola Shobha (welling)
• Daha- burning sensations,
• Toda- Pain

Types:

• Vata Pittaja- Symptoms with Pain and burning sensations.
• Kapha Rakthaja- Symptoms with swelling, cough, breathing difficulty.

Pathophysiology:

Main Doshas involved are Kapha and Raktha. Due to above mentioned etiology like ahara and vihara Kapha Dosha will get vitiated and circulated in siras and located in mugha or throat. Thus vitiated kapha along with other abnormal dosha especially with raktha results manifestation of inflammation or disease.

Treatments:

According to Ayurveda this conditions can manage in three ways. With medications, Para surgical managements, and Surgical managements.

1. Medical Management:

• Kashaya- Indukantam Kashaya, Daruharidra Kashaya etc.
• Choornam or Powder- Talisa patradi churnam, Thriphala churnam.
• Lehya- Agastya Rasayana, Dasamula hareethaki rasayana, etc
• Gulika or Tablets- Jatyadi Gulika, etc

2.Para Surgical Managements:

• Prathisarana- Applications of medications.
• Kavala, Gandusha - Holding medications in mouth or gargling.
• Raktha moskhana- Blood letting
• Kshara Karma- Apamarga kshara

3. Surgical Managments:

• Chedana and Bedana procedure (excision) can be done as per Ayurveda treatments.

What should not take in this conditions or what should avoid:

As per Ayurveda some diets, regimens or activities are considered as Apathya, which causes to increase the symptoms or disease. Such as Bathing in cold water, having too much sour taste, foods. food which are hard to digest dry, fish, curd, milk, black gram, sleeping during the day. These are considered as apathya which causes to increase inflammation.

Home Remedy:

• Gargling with warm Salt water- mix1 tsp salt in a cup of warm water. Gargle this water for 4 or 5 times a day. do not swallow.
• Boil the water with some TULASI leaves , and drink this warm water to reduce inflammations.
• Gargle warm water with salt and Turmeric powder - mix 1/5 tsp turmeric powder , 1 tsp table salt in a cup of warm water. and gargles this water 4 or 5 times a day to reduce symptoms. Do not swallow.
• 1 tsp Honey and Lemon juice to one glass of water to drink. make this water warm before drink.

Ayurveda explained all surgical procedures in details, those details are not mentioned here. Above Details are for reference for the better knowledge and to understand the conditions. 

Thank you

Dr Rimin Abdul Razak