The plaques in the throat they are a symptom of angina or tonsillitis caused, mainly, by bacterial infections such as those caused by streptococcus, although they can also be caused by other types of microorganisms. In some cases, the pus plaques appear accompanied by acute pharyngitis, which is the inflammation of the mucosa that lines the pharynx. The presence of pus on the tonsils in addition to causing pain, can lead to difficulty swallowing, earaches and headaches, high fever, among other symptoms. Next, in this OneHowTo article we will show you in detail how to know if you have plaques in your throat And remember that if you observe them you should go to the doctor to start the appropriate treatment.
Steps to follow:
1
The first thing you will notice in case of have plaques in the throat it is pain and difficulty swallowing. The pain can be intense and is usually most evident at the time of swallowing. It is possible that the pain begins as a slight itch that increases until it becomes a significant annoyance that makes it difficult for actions such as eating, drinking or swallowing saliva, for example.
Normally, the pus plaques are associated with tonsillitis or pharyngitis. If it is a viral infection, the plaques are scarcer and the pain and discomfort is less. In the case of a bacterial infection, the plaques are very numerous, the pain is more penetrating and annoying and it will be necessary to follow an antibiotic treatment prescribed by the doctor.
They both attend fever, which in the case of bacterial infection is quite high and in viral infections it will depend on the type of virus causing it.
2
It is common to present pain in the ears, jaw and head. In the case of a viral infection, antibiotics are useless, so before taking medication it is important consult a doctor so that this is the one that prescribes the most appropriate treatment.
To find out if you have plaques in your throat, you can open your mouth in front of a mirror, lower your tongue, and look at your tonsils. You can help yourself with a flashlight to visualize them better. The most common is that you detect reddened, swollen tonsils with white dots around them. Those points are plaques of pus, which are nothing more than a response from your body relative to an external aggression in the form of a virus or bacteria.
You should not remove the pus plaques with cotton swabs or some other device, as it is harmful to your health and would enhance the infection.
3
In case of high fever, it is important that you control it with over-the-counter antipyretics, such as paracetamol. This does not usually cause stomach discomfort if taken in the right doses, it usually takes about 60 minutes on average to take effect and the benefits tend to run out after approximately 4 hours.
Ibuprofen is another drug widely used for feverish states that occur with inflammation. It is more aggressive for the stomach, so it is advisable to use a gastric protector in case it is consumed daily. Its effects are noticeable around 30 minutes and usually last up to 6 hours. It is more effective than paracetamol in cases of inflammation. In any case, it is best to follow the instructions provided by the doctor.
When it comes to eating and drinking, avoid food or drinks with extreme temperatures, that is, do not consume excessively hot or excessively cold things. Try to wrap your throat with something to avoid cold.
Try, as far as possible, be at rest, especially if you have a fever. Avoid drafts and sudden changes in temperature, do not expose yourself directly to the air conditioners and, if it is the one at your home, check and clean the filters to prevent bacteria or fungi from proliferating.
4
To treat this annoying ailment your doctor can prescribe various drugs, it is important that you do not self-medicate. The plaques of pus in the throat can be caused by bacteria, in which case an antibiotic may be appropriate, although this can only be determined by a physician. If it is a viral infection, antibiotics are completely ineffective.
Anyway, there are also Natural medicine very effective, like the ones shown below:
- One option is to gargle with a preparation consisting of freshly squeezed lemon, honey and baking soda. It is recommended that it is warm, you can gargle two or three times a day, depending on the severity of the case, preferably after eating. It is a powerful disinfectant and antibacterial that can eliminate pus plaques in a single day if the infection is not very serious.
- Another very effective remedy is drink thyme herbal teas. You can do two or three a day, but it is recommended that the last one be before going to sleep. Thyme is a known disinfectant, antimicrobial and anticatarrhal.
Discover other similar treatments by consulting the article Home remedies for tonsillitis.
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to know if I have plaques in my throat, we recommend that you enter our Family Health category.