Modern approaches to the treatment of sore throat

Abstract

The larynx is the first part of the respiratory and digestive tract and it performs vital functions. The air stream, passing through the throat and coming into contact with its mucous membrane, is moistened, warmed up and purified. Due to the anatomical structure of the mouth cavity and pharynx, it creates conditions for entry, presence and inactivation of microorganisms, viruses and fungi. Under normal conditions, due to effective protective mechanisms (mucociliary and immune), pathogens are trapped in the upper respiratory tract while the lower sections remain «clean». Acute pharyngitis is a widespread, polyetiological disease of the upper respiratory tract. There are quite a few preconditions for its development. A favorable background for local inflammation is the reduction of specific and non-specific protection factors, which may be observed in the existing chronic inflammation and worsened in diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, with prolonged use of cytostatics and/or glucocorticosteroids and many other immunocompromised conditions. Due to the prevalence of pharyngitis, the development of effective screening and treatment methods is particularly relevant. Given the localized nature of inflammatory process in the pharynx and the possibility of side effects, general anti-inflammatory drugs are used less and less frequently, and local non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are increasingly drawing the attention of physicians. The article discusses the possibilities and effectiveness of the medication based on benzidamine hydrochloride in treating pharyngitis of diverse etiology. The article presents the studies of foreign scientists, as well as dosages and peculiarities of the medication application. Treatment of acute tonsillipharyngitis with local non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is commonly accepted and widely used in the practice of pediatricians, therapists and otorhinolaryngologists and allows to achieve rapid relief of the patient’s condition.