TONSILLITIS

One of the most common infectious disease of upper airways is tonsillitis, which is inflammation of tonsils. Tonsillitis symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat and etc. Tonsillitis treatment, if the condition is not chronic, involves conservative options. However, if conservative treatment fails to cure tonsillitis and it turns to chronic or recurrent form, your doctor may suggest considering surgical removal of tonsils (tonsillectomy). Below we will review this condition, its symptoms and treatment options in more detail.

The two masses of tissue at the back of a throat are named tonsils. They function as special filters catching germs, which aim to enter the airways and spread there causing infection. Normally, tonsils produce antibodies to fight infections but sometimes they may become infected themselves. When overloaded by bacteria or viruses, they can become swollen and inflamed, that is going to result in a condition that’s known as tonsillitis.
: tonsillitis; Tonsillitis symptoms; Tonsillitis treatment; tonsillectomy

WHO IS PRONE TO DEVELOPING INFECTIOUS INFLAMMATION OF TONSILS?

This illness is predominantly diagnosed in children and can occur occasionally.

TYPES OF TONSILLITIS

There are two types of this condition, these are:

  • Recurrent Tonsillitis: This is the occurrence of acute form of tonsils inflammation severally within a year.
  • Chronic Tonsillitis: The episodes of chronic form of this disease last longer than that of acute type of illness.

TONSILLITIS SYMPTOMS

Both types of tonsils infection have similar manifactation, therefore tonsillitis symptoms are as follows:

  • Extreme sore throat
  • Painful swallowing
  • Scratchy-sounding voice
  • Bad breath
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headaches
  • Stomach aches
  • Stiff neck
  • Tenderness of the jaw and neck due to swollen nodes
  • Tonsils that appear red and swollen
  • Tonsils that have white or yellow spots

In young children, increased irritability, poor appetite or excessive drooling maybe noticed.

TONSILITIS TREATMENT OPTIONS

Antibiotics

A course of antibiotics is usually prescribed to tackle inflammation in tonsils. For complete and successful treatment, it is recommended to finish the course so as to prevent the return and worsening of the ailment.

TONSILLECTOMY

The removal of tonsils through surgery is known as tonsillectomy. This is carried out in order to cure frequently recurring or chronic tonsillitis or when the use of antibiotics is not effective. Referring to the frequently recurring form of this condition, doctors usually define it as:

  • It recurs more than seven episodes in a year
  • It recurs more than four to five episodes in each of the foregoing two years
  • It recurs more than three episodes in a year in each of the foregoing three years

tonsillectomy
Tonsillectomy may be an option if complications such as breathing difficulties, obstructive sleep apnea, painful swallowing occurs. This procedure is usually an outpatient procedure unless the child is very young.

DIAGNOSTICS SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR TONSILS INFECTION

  • Physical examination: The back of the throat is gently swabbed to get a throat culture which tested in the lab to identify the cause of the infection.