12/21/2021
69 563
12 minutes
Co-author, editor and medical expert – Maksimov Alexander Alekseevich.
During seasonal epidemics, our body is susceptible to attack by many pathogens. Such diseases may be accompanied by a sore throat. Its common cause is tonsillitis - acute, predominantly bacterial inflammation of the tonsils or exacerbation of an existing infectious process. In the vast majority of cases, acute tonsillitis has a viral etiology. In second place in the number of causes of throat diseases are streptococci of various types. Viruses weaken the body's defenses by suppressing the ability of human immune cells to neutralize and absorb infectious agents. Damaged epithelial villi cannot cope with their function, creating conditions for mucus stagnation. The walls of the pharynx become swollen, hyperemic, and purulent films may form on their surface. The patient experiences pain when swallowing, cough, and general malaise.
An important component of complex treatment is gargling. This method allows you to mechanically clean the mucous membrane of microbial bodies, viruses, their waste products, pus, and moisturize the epithelium of the pharynx.
Depending on the composition of the rinse solution, an anti-inflammatory or antiseptic effect is realized and the intensity of pain is reduced. It is important to remember that rinsing alone may not be enough; more effective treatment includes a set of measures.
In this article we will look at the principles of local therapy.
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Is it possible to gargle with salt?
Rinse is used for sore throat, runny nose, otitis, various pathologies of the ENT organs: acute and chronic tonsillitis, purulent processes in the tonsils, pharyngitis.
At certain concentrations, the salt solution has different therapeutic effects.
Hypertonic dilution of sodium chloride (osmotic pressure is greater than that in the tissues) relieves swelling, reducing sore throat, has antimicrobial activity, thins thick mucus, pus, and helps restore the draining function of the tonsils.
A saline solution with a salt concentration of 0.9% mechanically cleanses the walls of the pharynx from bacteria, viruses, dead cells, and moisturizes the mucous membrane of the oropharynx1.
To reduce the risk of infection, it is advisable to irrigate the nasal cavity and oropharynx after visiting crowded places or communicating with a sick person.
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What are the benefits of nasal rinsing?
Various methods are used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Not least among therapeutic measures are local treatment methods, in which the effect is applied directly to the affected areas. One option is to treat sinuses with sea salt solutions.
Nasal irrigation is a technique that involves passing salt water through two nostrils to evacuate secretions and allergens due to the fluid's transfusion properties.
Benefits of Dead Sea salt for nasal rinsing:
- removes pus from the nose and cleanses the sinuses;
- rinsing your nose allows you to quickly and easily get rid of plaque, pus and unwanted mucus;
- during illness, increases the effectiveness of treatment;
- disinfects the nasal cavity, reduces the development of inflammatory reactions and the risk of infectious diseases;
- improves the functioning of mucosal cells, strengthens capillaries;
- increases local immunity;
- normalizes nasal breathing, relieves swelling.
Pharmaceutical solutions are completely sterile, which is an important factor when rinsing the nose. Some manufacturers add aromatic herbs and essential oils to speed up the healing process. In this case, the possibility of allergic reactions should be taken into account.
How often should you gargle with salt?
Before taking independent measures to combat the infection, consult a specialist. Only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the right medications. Recovery depends on adherence to the regimen, the correct selection of medications and therapies.
You should gargle with a salt solution 3-4 times a day, for up to 5 days in a row (the duration of treatment in each case is determined individually). But since table salt is not a medicine, treatment with proven antiseptics is necessary (for example, Hexoral ® rinse solution or Hexoral ® spray, chlorhexidine, and others).
Many patients ask the question: “Which salt is best”?
We do not recommend non-scientific methods for treatment, as there is no evidence of their effectiveness. For gargling and irrigating the throat, there are specialized sprays with sea water, which are sold in pharmacies.
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Contraindications for nasal rinsing
You should not rinse your nose with a salt solution without consulting a specialist. In some cases, the procedure should be abandoned due to contraindications.
The main contraindications to the use of sea salt solution for rinsing the nose:
- deviated nasal septum;
- severe nasal congestion;
- obstruction of the nasal passages;
- the presence of polyps and tumor formations in the nasal cavity;
- inflammation of the middle ear or the threat of its occurrence;
- predisposition to nosebleeds;
- individual intolerance to saline solution.
It is not recommended to wash before leaving the house. This should be done at least 30 minutes before going outside. Water that is retained in the respiratory tract after rinsing can be a source of hypothermia and the development of a cold. In all other situations this method can be used. But you should not rely on the immediate effect of treatment, because with the help of rinses the effect is not achieved immediately.
The age of children is not a contraindication to the use of sea salt for the nose. In this case, you should be careful with the dosage. The saline solution for rinsing the nose of children should have a lower concentration.
Salt solution for gargling - proportions
As a rule, adults are recommended to use 1 teaspoon of salt per 200 ml of boiled water. If there are no contraindications, take iodized salt.
In order not to harm your health, it is better to use medications with proven effects. A salt concentration of more than 10% can damage the mucous membrane of the throat, and undissolved crystals can cause soreness and soreness in the throat, scratching the epithelium and delaying recovery.
We recommend certified pharmacy products for treatment, as they have undergone clinical trials and are safe and effective medicines.
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Useful properties of the drug
For a sore throat, the best solution is to use a salt solution. This medicine prevents the further spread of pathogenic microflora and helps to destroy the existing infection. This is achieved due to the fact that salt is an excellent natural antiseptic. This remedy can also be used for sore throat. The saline solution perfectly washes out the lacunae of the tonsils, which speeds up the onset of recovery.
Other useful properties of this product include:
- local destruction of pathogenic microflora, which prevents the development of complications in any throat diseases;
- reduction of inflammation that affects the mucous membranes;
- the entire oral cavity is disinfected, which has a positive effect on the condition of the gums and mucous membranes;
- reduction of painful sensations, which allows the patient to improve their well-being in a short time;
- cleaning teeth from food debris and plaque;
- elimination of tissue swelling;
- tissue hydration occurs. Dry mucous membranes are more susceptible to inflammatory processes;
- promotes better sputum discharge;
- the acidic environment in the oral cavity is neutralized, which happens in the presence of concomitant problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
How to gargle with salt correctly?
We recommend using only certified solutions that are medicinal, such as Hexoral ®, chlorhexidine, and other antiseptics.
To treat a sore throat safely and effectively, you need to follow some rinsing rules:
- The procedure is carried out after eating.
- Any rinse solution must be fresh every time.
- The patient takes a sip into his mouth and rinses his tonsils for 10 seconds. The duration of the procedure is 3-5 minutes. Such approaches are required 4-5 daily.
- You should tilt your head back for more effective treatment of the tonsils.
- Try to avoid swallowing the product.
- Rinsing as a method of treatment is contraindicated for children under 3 years of age, since due to their age, they will not perform the required actions and may choke or drink the solution.
- You should not drink or eat for an hour after completing the procedure.
Many sources recommend rinsing with salt and soda, iodine, etc. You should not do this for safety reasons, as you can get a burn to the soft tissue of the throat.
Currently, more effective drugs are available for the treatment of tonsillitis, one of which is Hexoral ® rinse solution, as well as other agents for local therapy. When using medications, the likelihood of recovery increases.
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In what cases is soda solution powerless?
The substance will help at the onset of the disease or as a supplement. If the lesion is in an advanced state, a whole treatment regimen will be required.
The solution will not help if:
- The person experiences severe pain (it is impossible to even swallow saliva).
- Severe swelling that interferes with normal breathing.
- The temperature lasts for 3 days.
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, consult your doctor immediately. He will prescribe a whole course of treatment, including strong drugs. Perhaps it will include rinsing as an addition.
Gargling with a solution of baking soda and salt
Rinse during pregnancy
The expectant mother's body is quite vulnerable to various types of infections. Some immunosuppression occurs to ensure that the fetus has the opportunity to develop normally in the mother's body. However, recently there has been evidence that during the gravidar period, some parts of the immune system, on the contrary, are strengthened. There is an “Immunological paradox” of pregnancy. In response to the action of endotoxins from various bacteria, a woman’s body releases a large number of pro-inflammatory cytokines (a class of substances involved in the implementation of the most important physiological reactions of the body).
Based on this, we can conclude that the specific immune response is suppressed, and the nonspecific, on the contrary, is enhanced.
If you feel a sore throat, you should immediately seek medical help. The doctor will be able to choose effective, and most importantly safe, treatment.
Gargling during pregnancy will not harm2. The liquid promotes mechanical cleansing of the tonsils from dead cells, bacteria, and pus. But remember that rinsing is only part of the therapy. Comprehensive and complete treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, because the expectant mother must take care not only of her health, but also of the condition of her child.
Note!
If the condition remains unchanged during the day or the sore throat intensifies, you should consult a specialist.
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Gargling with salt for children
We recommend only special pharmaceutical rinsing solutions and seawater sprays for use by children, as their effectiveness and safety have been confirmed by clinical trials.
First you need to make sure that the child has the necessary skill. The procedure is allowed for children aged 4-5 years. For small children, rinsing is not suitable, since the risk of swallowing the solution cannot be excluded; the child may choke or attempts will be ineffective.
It is important to follow the rinsing rules so as not to harm the baby.
- Rinse should be done after eating.
- Irrigation of the pharynx should be systemic, over several days (the dose of the drug, the duration of treatment should be determined by the doctor)
- If possible, swallowing the medication should be avoided.
- It is important to follow the correct technique (with the head thrown back to clear the throat more thoroughly)
- After completing the procedure, do not eat or drink for one hour.
Solutions prepared independently at home may be ineffective or harmful. Salt crystals that are not dissolved in water can damage the epithelium and increase pain.
This is useful to know
: Often in children the clinical picture of the disease differs from that in an adult.
Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the pharynx, tonsillitis and laryngitis in young children can be complicated by acute stenosis of the larynx.
And in this case, you can’t hesitate. The glottis narrows and breathing is sharply limited, sometimes this develops at lightning speed and requires emergency medical attention4. Up to contents
Gargling with salt for a sore throat
Its purpose is to mechanically clean the pharynx and tonsils of pathogenic microorganisms, pus, dead epithelial cells and mucus. Salt rinsing is most effective for bacterial forms of sore throat. It must be remembered that treatment with home remedies alone may not be enough. You should not delay visiting a doctor, as it is important to correctly determine the diagnosis and begin complex therapy.
Even with regular gargling with salt, it is not possible to eliminate all pathogenic microorganisms. To eradicate (completely destroy) pathogenic microbes, one should resort to drugs that act on the cause of the disease and break the chain of disease development, i.e. medications that can destroy infectious agents - antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and others5.
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Questions
When visiting a doctor, patients ask common questions regarding medical procedures that can be performed at home. Here are the most common of them:
Is it possible to gargle with salt when you have a sore throat?
Yes, but with the bacterial form of the disease, antibiotics are necessary, since one treatment will not be able to destroy the microbial flora. Against the background of purulent tonsillitis, rinsing is combined with the use of Furacilin, Miramistin, calendula tincture or propolis. A contraindication is a high body temperature in the range of 39-40°C.
On the subject: How to gargle with calendula tincture? How to divorce? Instructions
Miramistin spray: instructions for use for the throat.
