Angina is a highly contagious disease that most often occurs in small groups of children aged 4 to 12 years. Typical symptoms include a sore throat, fever and so-called heat rash. Treatment consists in the administration of antibiotics, and neglecting it can lead to serious consequences. In the article you will find a clear description of the disease, its manifestations, possible complications and the method of treatment.
Content: Angina – symptoms, complications and treatment
Angina vs. morning sickness
Symptoms of angina pectoris
Angina in children and adults
Treatment of angina pectoris
Complications of angina pectoris
Immunity after strep throat
Is there a prevention of angina pectoris?
Angina vs. morning sickness
Sore throat falls under acute tonsillitis and its causative agent is the β-hemolytic streptococcus Streptococcus pyogenes . The latter produces Dick’s erytrogen toxin , the release of which into the bloodstream causes accompanying symptoms, especially the typical rash. This arises due to damage to fine blood vessels by the toxin and also as an immune reaction directed against the toxin.
The name of the disease is derived from its typical symptom, which is the mentioned heat rash (heat rash). We distinguish 2 types of heartburn – angina, which we will focus on in this article, and morning heartburn. Both diseases have the same causative agent and are manifested by the appearance of a rash. Other symptoms may vary.
· Anginitis
Transmission in the case of angina takes place through droplets, or through the digestive tract (through infected objects – toys or dishes of the patient). Here, a typical rash follows the initial symptoms within a short period of time. The disease is less common in people older than 12 years, and very rare in infants under 5 months.
· Morning sickness
In contrast to angina pectoris, morning sickness develops after the bacterium penetrates the body through the skin, e.g. through an open wound. The course does not have to be the same – the symptoms may not appear, or they may only be noticeable after the rash has been seeded.
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Symptoms of angina pectoris
The incubation period of angina is 1 to 4 days , after which the disease usually manifests itself with typical symptoms of angina . Initial symptoms may include fever , chills, general malaise, headache, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing. Abdominal pain and vomiting may also appear, explains MUDr. Petra Bomberová Kánská , general practitioner for adults and head doctor of the Doctor online 24/7 service. Other symptoms specific to heartburn are:
- swollen tonsils with a white coating;
- a whitish and later peeling coating on the tongue;
- raspberry tongue – the tongue turns red;
- flushed cheeks, pallor around the mouth ( Filatov’s sign );
- swollen and painful lymph nodes under the lower jaw.
A heat rash appears soon after the initial symptoms, first in the lower abdomen, then on the chest, and then spreads to the inner thighs, armpits and elbow pits. They usually appear as light red dots, the skin is rough to the touch.
Small papules may also appear in the area of the nail beds and on the earlobes (Šrámek’s sign).
The heat rash subsides in about 4 days, while the skin in the affected areas may become horny and peel off.
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Angina in children and adults
The disease breaks out suddenly and is usually not without temperatures, up to high fevers, chills and other typical symptoms of angina (see above). However, in roughly half of the children, the course is milder, and in infants and toddlers, purulent rhinitis or otitis media occur more often.
Adults tend to be streptococcal carriers without symptoms – angina itself is rare.
Treatment of angina pectoris
In case of suspicion, it is advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible . He will perform a throat swab (or blood sampling) and choose the appropriate treatment based on the results. Antibiotic treatment is necessary for angina pectoris – the most common choice of treatment is Penicillin V. This is given for 10 days, in case of a severe course, it is then followed by treatment with so-called depot penicillin, which prevents the return of the disease.
So far, there is no known strain of Streptococcus pyogenes that is resistant to penicillin, so the treatment brings results in just 2 to 3 days . In more severe forms of scarlet fever, hospitalization and intravenous administration of antibiotics are necessary. However, in most cases, home treatment is possible. In case of treatment failure or allergy to penicillin, cephalosporin or macrolide antibiotics, cephalosporins or macrolides are administered.
A treated patient stops being infectious after 24 to 48 hours (the so-called infectious period), while an untreated patient is a bacillus carrier for up to several weeks .
If the rash itches, antihistamines are prescribed . Medicines containing ibuprofen and paracetamol are suitable for alleviating pain and fever . Different lozenges, sprays, etc. can help with sore throats .
During treatment, it is important to rest for at least a week and drink plenty of fluids . For the next few weeks after the illness, it is advisable to continue to maintain a moderate pace.
Complications of angina pectoris
Before the discovery of antibiotics, scarlet fever was fatal or left serious consequences. Today, with timely treatment, complications are rather uncommon. Untreated burns can cause:
- abscesses on the tonsils,
- damage to the heart muscle and valves,
- joint damage
- rheumatic fever,
- disorders of nervous activity,
Any streptococcal angina must always be treated with antibiotics . The consequences of untreated infections begin to show within a few weeks.
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Immunity after strep throat
After experiencing a streptococcal disease, a person is only immune to the strain that caused it. However, there are countless species of this bacterium, so it is possible to get sick from a disease caused by another streptococcal variant. Vaccination cannot be carried out precisely because of the large number of these strains.
Is there a prevention of angina pectoris?
There is no reliable prevention against infection here. Proper hygiene habits and immediate separation from the infected can be at least a partial prevention . In the case of angina, which most often breaks out in kindergartens, it is therefore essential to isolate the sick child from the collective, for at least 8 days.
In quarantine, a sick child should use his own dishes and not share other items (toys, towels, etc.) with others. Furthermore, it is necessary that those who come into contact with the patient undergo an examination and, in case of confirmation of the diagnosis, also undergo treatment. In the Czech Republic, every case of scarlet fever is also subject to mandatory reporting.
As already mentioned, neglecting the treatment of streptococcal disease can cause serious complications and consequences. Therefore, it is always necessary to properly treat every streptococcal sore throat with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor or pediatrician.