Yellow coatings on the tonsils indicate an additional bacterial infection. Then visit the doctor again, as he may need to prescribe antibiotics. If symptoms such as severe headache, neck stiffness and drowsiness develop, this indicates that the pathogens have spread – the doctor should be consulted immediately.
A confusing relationship
- The group of coxsackie, ECHO, and enteroviruses is quite complicated, their names in constant flux in recent years (so that sometimes even the experts become uncertain). They are often lumped together. They have one thing in common: they do not cause infectious diseases in one organ, but cause numerous different symptoms in many parts of the body and they are transmitted by dirt and smear infections (“fecal-oral”).
- In addition to herpangina and other throat infections, these viruses can cause, for example, infections of the gastrointestinal tract, muscle inflammation, the summer flu, skin or eye infections. Coxsackie (B) viruses are also blamed for type 1 diabetes.
- Quite common especially in children is also the harmless hand-mouth-foot disease, which is caused by the same subgroup as herpangina. It is manifested by blisters on hands, feet and in / at the mouth and possibly a slight fever. The general condition is not or hardly affected. Here, too, everything is over after two weeks at the latest. The therapeutic procedure is the same as for herpangina.
