Plaque in the throat is generally a symptom of a throat infection.
It is not dangerous, but it can cause discomfort, especially if it occurs together with:
- fever or
- Sore throat
White coating on the tonsils is an indication that pus has formed.
Sometimes white coating in the mouth can be uncomfortable because it is formed by bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Contents
Causes of plaque in the throat
Oral Candida fungal infection or oral thrush
One of the main causes of white coating in the throat is candida.
It is an infection in the mouth and throat with yeast fungi, which occurs mainly in:
- Palate
- Tongue
In severe cases, it can spread to the esophagus and throat, causing white coating.
Candidiasis often affects people whose immune systems are weakened, such as AIDS patients.
Usually fever occurs.
Other typical symptoms of oral thrush include:
- Sore throat
- Burning sensation in the throat
- Difficulty eating spicy foods
- Halitosis
- Taste disorder
Cold sores The herpes
viruses type 1 and 2 attack the mucous membranes of the body.
That is why this disease can occur:
- In the mouth (tongue, palate, cheeks and gums)
- In the female and male genitalia
With a weakened immune system, the likelihood of cold sores increases.
When herpes occurs in the mouth, small white or reddish blisters form, which later burst, leaving painful crusts in the throat and throat.
Concomitant symptoms of herpes in the mouth:
- Fever
- Indisposition
- Difficulty swallowing when eating
- Burning in the mouth
- Difficulty breathing (rare)
Glandular fever (mononucleosis)
This disease is characterized by constant fatigue, which can last up to a month.
Other symptoms include:
- Severe sore throat
- Accumulation of pus in the throat and tonsils
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fever
- Muscle
- Anorexia
- Enlarged spleen
Leukoplakia
This disease is one of the precancerous diseases, that is, it can develop into a malignant tumor.
Among the known causes of leukoplakia are:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Alcohol consumption
Leukoplakia is manifested by white spots:
- Back of the neck
- On the tongue
- Inside the cheek
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a transmissible bacterial disease associated with a severe infection of:
- Nose
- Neck
- Trachea
Typical symptoms of diphtheria may include:
- Sore throat
- Stuffy, runny nose
- Fever
- Enlarged lymph nodes on the neck
- Grey coating in the throat
- Breathing difficulties
- Swallowing
Sore throat
They are caused by infectious diseases and lead to the formation of white coating on the tonsils.
Pus formation may also occur.
Pharyngeal inflammation caused by streptococci:
- Fever
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Enlarged lymph nodes on the neck
- Vomiting (especially in children)
White topping on the almonds
pharyngitis
This infection affects the throat – a section of the throat that:
- Starts with the almonds
- Ends with the larynx (vocal cords)
Pharyngitis can be caused by:
- Viruses
- bacteria or
- Fungi
In most cases, viruses are the triggers that also cause:
- Fever
- Ague
- Sore throat
- Swallowing
In the case of bacterial pharyngitis, inflammation often affects the throat and tonsils.
Almond stones
Almond stones are caused by calcium deposits that are deposited in the cavities of the tonsils and lead to the formation of white spots.
Large tonsil stones can become infected and cause difficulty speaking and swallowing.
Tonsillitis (tonsillitis)
Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils. In the case of tonsillitis caused by bacteria, white spots can develop. Other typical symptoms of tonsillitis include:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- High fever
- In children, nausea, vomiting and rash in the skin folds (e.g. in the armpits)
- Discomfort when eating
A resistant bacterial infection can cause holes called crypts in the tonsils.
In case of difficulty swallowing, preference should be given to liquid food.
Concomitant symptoms of plaque in the throat
- Sudden, severe headache
- White palate and white tongue
- Swollen, reddened tonsils
- Earache, if the infection also spreads to the ears due to an ear infection
- Headache
- Weakness and fatigue
- difficulty swallowing, the strep throat causes swelling that hinders the flow of food
- Sore throat
- Enlarged lymph nodes on the neck, a normal counter-reaction to inflammation
- Fever, occurs in case of infection
- Joint pain, with seasonal flu
- Sweating if the patient also suffers from viral flu and high fever
- Loss of appetite, the swollen throat causes jokes when eating
- Dry or wet cough, often caused by respiratory irritation
- Nausea, with streptococcal infection (especially in children)
- Shortness of breath, the swollen throat obstructs airflow
- Itching and tickling in the throat due to strep throat
Is the coating contagious?
If the child suffers from tonsillitis or infectious disease, it can transmit the microbes or viruses to other people.
After the second day of antibiotic treatment, the child is allowed to go back to school.
Complications of plaque in the throat
If the coating in the throat and throat is not treated, can:
- Getting the infection worse
- Spreading to other areas of the body
Inflamed tonsils can make breathing difficult.
Non-treatment of occupied tonsils makes the patient more susceptible to infection:
- of the ears (otitis)
- The paranasal sinuses (sinusitis)
- On the heart valves (endocarditis)
In rare cases, kidney diseases can develop, such as glomerulonephritis.
Diagnosis of plaque in the throat
To determine the cause of the white coating in the throat, the doctor must:
- Analyze medical history and risk factors
- Examine the neck
In cases of doubt, a throat swab can bring clarity.
In this test, a swab is taken from the throat.
A sterile cotton carrier is used under pressure to spread over altered mucosal areas at the back of the throat and tonsils and thus remove material.
Under the microscope, the extracted material is examined to determine the pathogens.
If the streptococcal result is negative, this may be due to the fact that:
- Another bacterium (e.g. gonococci)
- Glandular fever (virus Eppstei Barr)
- Another disease
is responsible for the pavement. In this case, further investigations must be carried out.
How is it treated? Therapy and medication for plaque in the throat
If the white spots are caused by candidiasis, the doctor may prescribe an antifungal agent (antifungal drug), such as itraconazole (Sporanox ®). The drug can be applied locally or taken orally.
In the case of cold sores, the symptoms can be significantly alleviated with antiviral drugs.
In any case, it is important to drink enough fluids (hydration) to keep the airways clear.
If tonsil stones are present, they must be removed with natural healing methods or possibly surgically.
In the case of glandular fever (mononucleosis), the doctor prescribes 2 weeks of bed rest before normal everyday activities can be resumed.
The problem is the swelling of the spleen, as long as it persists, physical exertion should be avoided because of the risk of a ruptured spleen.
Against the fever helps:
- Paracetamol (Ben-u-ron)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Dolormin)
Strep throat during pregnancy or lactation
Since some medications are not safe in pregnancy, a throat infection in pregnant women must be treated with special care.
The doctor may take a smear to rule out streptococcal infection.
If the results indicate bacteria, an antibiotic is used as the first treatment.
Often, however, viruses are responsible for the inflammation, against which antibiotics can do nothing. Healing in this case occurs without medication within 1-2 weeks.
Viral tonsillitis can be treated with simple home remedies.
Which antibiotics help with pharyngitis and tonsillitis? How long does the treatment take?
Streptococcus are treated with an antibiotic such as penicillin (e.g. benzylpenicillin).
For a penicillin allergy, the doctor may prescribe an alternative antibiotic, such as azithromycin (Zithromax).
Amoxicillin (Augmentin, Amoxypen) also belongs to the group of penicillins and is often recommended to children because it is available as chewable tablets.
Antibiotic treatment for tonsillitis lasts 7-10 days.
In the case of frequently recurrent tonsillitis (recurrent tonsillitis), removing the tonsils could be a definitive solution.
Antibiotics relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of complications, but it takes the body a few days to clear the white coating.
Anti-inflammatories and painkillers
If the coating is persistent and cannot be combated with other medications, the doctor may recommend cortisone-containing agents, such as betamethasone (Betnesol), but the side effects of cortisone must be taken into account.
Natural remedies for plaque in the throat
Physical protection
Because of the possible risk of infection, it is advisable to stay away from school and work and rest.
Hydration
Drinking plenty of water helps to maintain a good fluid balance. With a high fever, you can lose a lot of fluid through heavy sweating.
Gargling with lukewarm salt water relieves the sore throat due to the antibacterial properties of the salt.
When it comes into contact with the bacteria, it removes the fluid from these microorganisms, which is excreted through the cell membrane.
The result is the death of the bacteria.
Pour a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and gargle twice a day:
- In the morning
- In the evening
Alternatively, you can also gargle with the following liquids:
- Coca Cola: Some doctors recommend gargling with Coco Cola to clean the toppings in the tonsils
- Lemon juice: it is enough to mix the juice of half a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water.
- Propolis: Dissolve 10 drops of the propolis tincture in a cup of lukewarm water. After gargling you can drink the solution. Propolis is considered a natural antibiotic and is used for respiratory infections.
- Ginger tea: It is enough to boil water and add 3-4 slices of fresh ginger. Let the infusion steep for 10 minutes. A slice of lemon and a teaspoon of honey can also be added.
Nutrition for plaque in YOUR throat
Hot and spicy foods, French fries and acidic foods such as tomato sauce should be avoided because they could irritate the throat
Ice cream can relieve the pain, but it has no healing effect. On the contrary, the sugar and milk contained can promote infections.
According to hygienism (a natural medicine), a light diet based on fast-digesting foods is recommended:
- Raw vegetables, especially green and cruciferous vegetables
- Seasonal vegetables
- Nuts (almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, etc.) in small quantities
- Potatoes
With loss of appetite, it is better not to eat. In this way, the body does not waste energy and focuses on the infection.
Smoking aggravates the coating in the throat and increases the risk of complications and should therefore be avoided.
Heat or cold with plaque in the throat?
In case of infection, one should prefer cool (not ice-cold) drinks on the first day, but when the acute inflammatory phase has subsided, heat can help the body fight bacteria and viruses.
How long does it take to heal?
A viral infection usually heals within 5-6 days.
The plaque caused by bacteria usually lasts 3-4 days, but the other symptoms may persist for a week.
