Tonsillitis
Tonsils are an element of our body's defense mechanism. The “Tonsils” are two tissues located in the rear of our throat. They operate as filters, trapping microorganisms that may otherwise enter our airways and cause infection. Tonsils create antibodies to fight infection.
What is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, which are two tissue masses in the back of your throat. Your tonsils operate as filters, keeping germs that may otherwise make their way into your airways and cause infection. Antibodies are also produced by them to help fight infection. However, bacteria or viruses can sometimes overpower them. They may become swollen and inflamed as a result of this.
Tonsillitis is commonly found in children that can happen once in a while or can come back within a very short period. Mainly there are three types of Tonsillitis:
Acute Tonsillitis: Symptoms usually don’t last more than 3 to 4 days
Recurrent Tonsillitis: When a person gets tonsillitis many times in a year
Chronic Tonsillitis: When a person is having a long-term tonsil infection
Causes
Viruses, such as adenoviruses, influenza viruses, par influenza viruses, enteroviruses, and Mycoplasma, are responsible for up to 70% of cases of acute tonsillitis. Tonsillitis can develop in children and young adults who are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and have infectious mononucleosis. Tonsillitis has also been linked to the herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and measles virus. Bacteria are responsible for 15 to 30% of tonsillitis occurrences. The bacteria Group a beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) is the most prevalent cause of tonsillitis. Strep throat is a common term for bacterial tonsillitis. GABHS is thought to be transferred through airborne droplets from infected people coughing or sneezing, as well as through sharing food or drinks.
What Symptoms can Indicate Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is usually detected when a person has a painful throat. Apart from that, there is a slew of symptoms that indicate tonsillitis and are frequently misdiagnosed as other illnesses. Here's a list of symptoms and how to tell if they're caused by tonsillitis or something else.
Sore Throat
A sore throat is a painful condition that is frequently caused by a virus. The sore throat caused by tonsillitis, on the other hand, is similar to strep throat, which is caused by a bacterial infection. It is more severe than a regular sore throat and requires antibiotic treatment to be controlled.
Difficulty in Swallowing
Swallowing pain or discomfort might signify a variety of medical issues. A person with tonsillitis, on the other hand, has trouble swallowing due to inflammation of the tonsils.
Bad Breath
Poor dental hygiene is frequently blamed for bad breath. Tonsil stones, on the other hand, can sometimes create poor breath. Tonsil stones form when germs, food particles, and other detritus gather in the grooves of the tonsils and harden into a mass. This attracts bacteria, resulting in an unpleasant breath.
Earaches
Our middle ear chamber and the nasopharynx are connected by the Eustachian tube. This tube is in charge of removing the fluid from the inner ear. The swollen tonsils impede the eustachian tube, causing fluid to back up in the inner ear when someone has tonsillitis. As a result, earaches may develop as a result of tonsillitis.
Tender Jaw and Neck
Tonsillitis causes inflammation in the tonsils, which can spread from the neck and throat to the jaw. The enlarged lymph nodes produce jaw pain and neck tenderness when moving.
Tonsillitis patients may also experience chills, fever, headaches, abdominal pain, and a scratchy voice in addition to the symptoms listed above.
Some of the symptoms of tonsillitis in adults are:
- Throat pain and tenderness
- Fever
- Red tonsils
- White or yellow coating on the tonsils
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Ear pain
- Trouble swallowing
- Swollen glands
Some of the symptoms of tonsillitis in Children are
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Stomach Pain
- Drooling
- Not wanting to eat or swallow
Diagnosis
Your child's health care practitioner will first ask you about your child's symptoms and medical history to diagnose tonsillitis. The doctor will examine your child's throat and neck for redness or white patches on the tonsils, as well as swollen lymph nodes. Your child will almost certainly have one or more tests to rule out strep throat, which can cause tonsillitis and necessitates treatment. A quick strep test, a throat culture, or both could be used. A cotton swab is used to obtain a sample of fluid from your child's tonsils and the back of the throat for both tests. The fast strep test is done in the office, and the results are available in minutes. The throat culture is performed in a lab, and the results normally take a few days to arrive. A more reliable test is a throat culture. So, if the fast strep test comes back negative (indicating no strep germs), the physician may perform a throat culture just to make sure you're not infected.
Treatment
Tonsillitis treatment is determined by the etiology. No medicine can be used to treat a virus. Your child will need antibiotics if the reason is a bacterial illness, such as strep throat. Even if your child feels better, he or she must finish the antibiotics. Some bacteria may survive and re-infect your child if treatment is stopped too soon. Some of the tips that can help you feel relief are:
- Get a lot of rest
- Drink lots of water
- Eat some soft food
- Drink warm liquids or cold foods
- Sleep in a room with a humidifier
- Gargle with saltwater
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
Risk Factors
Tonsillitis is caused due to bacterial and viral infections. Some of the major risk factors are:
- Adenoviruses
- Influenza virus
- Enteroviruses
In some cases, a person may get serious allergic reactions which are known as anaphylaxis.
