Seasonal illnesses: how to defend yourself against throat plaques

By Cristiano Antonino On Feb 11, 2023

Let’s talk about throat plaques: the first cold weather arrives and with it also what are called seasonal maladies

Unfortunately, sometimes minor seasonal problems turn into something more serious, such as throat ailments that can lead to the formation of plaques.

Plaques in the throat are a painful and annoying outcome of a viral or bacterial infection

However, one should not be alarmed because if it is not a chronic outcome, plaques can be easily treated.

Plaques in the throat, what they are

If you feel pain in your throat and notice white spots on the walls, it is most likely plaques in the throat.

This is a disorder caused by an infectious process or one of a different nature, viral or bacterial.

The plaques have a white-yellow colour and are mainly located on the tonsils, uvula and soft palate.

Along with plaques, one can detect difficulty in swallowing, swollen tonsils, pain and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, and fever.

Usually the plaques are an outcome of some kind of viral or bacterial infection, sometimes also fungal, and thus cause the so-called ‘sore throat’, i.e. tonsillitis, pharyngitis, pharyngotonsillitis, and are associated with cold, flu or parainfluenza symptoms.

Rarely, but it does happen, are conditions resulting from neoplasia.

Bacterial throat infections

Bacterial throat infections that can result in plaque formation are those caused by group A beta haemolytic Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aereus.

These are among the most common, more rarely they can be diphtheria, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea bacteria.

Viral throat infections

Among the most common viral infections that affect the throat and lead to plaque formation are Rhinovirus, the viral agent of colds, Adenovirus, which can cause colds, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, pharyngotonsillitis, and in serious cases pneumonia, Coronavirus, the viral agent that causes colds, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, Epstein-Barr virus (of the herpes virus family), and HIV.

Fungi

Fungus includes candida fungus, which is better known in the throat as thrush, and can affect young children with some frequency.

How plaques in the throat manifest themselves

Let’s start right away by saying that plaques can strike at any age, but naturally those most at risk are young children.

In adults, the most affected are the immunocompromised, who logically should avoid contact with people who are affected by plaques in the throat, or at least by ailments such as influenza and parainfluenza.

The most common symptoms accompanying the presence of plaques in the throat are those we have already mentioned, i.e. sore throat, swollen tonsils, swollen and painful lymph nodes, difficulty swallowing, but also hoarseness, earache, coughing, sialorrhoea, halitosis.

Diagnosis by the doctor

Although the symptoms are fairly obvious, and it is enough to simply look at your throat in the mirror to easily notice the plaques, it is a good idea to visit your doctor for an examination if the described symptoms occur.

With a simple objective test, the doctor can diagnose throat plaques, as the formations are visible to the naked eye.

In children, a swab may be required, as well as for adults, although more rarely, when the disorder becomes chronic, so if plaque formation in the throat occurs due to any seasonal problem, it is a good idea to go for a more thorough test.

The doctor may also decide to prescribe further tests if he or she suspects that the origin of the plaques is not among the more common ones, i.e. due to bacteria, viruses or fungi.

How to treat plaques in the throat

If the disorder is mild, medication may not always be necessary.

One can try classic natural remedies and rest.

If, on the other hand, the doctor prescribes them, medication must be taken and therapy followed, especially when antibiotics are involved.

In fact, if the plaques are caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor is likely to prescribe antibiotics, either specific or broad-spectrum, which are useless in the case of viral infections.

In this case, in fact, the infection heals spontaneously, at most one can take antipyretics in case of fever, such as paracetamol, and anti-inflammatories to soothe the pain in the throat.

If, on the other hand, the plaques are the result of a fungal infection, antifungal drugs must be taken.

Prevention

Prevention plays a fundamental role.

To avoid the onset of the disorder, it is a good idea to frequent overcrowded places as little as possible and in any case not to be in close proximity with people who have some kind of infection that can cause tonsillitis, pharyngitis, or who have the flu.