Many viral and bacterial diseases can cause sore throats. One of them is inflammation in the gaps of the tonsils. What is a gap, and what does purulent tonsillitis look like? To better understand the disease, it is worth learning more about it.
Almond structure
Tonsils are accumulations of lymphatic tissue that are located in the oral cavity at the border of the mouth and pharynx. This organ performs a barrier function, it protects against pathological microorganisms, bacteria and viruses, therefore it is an immunological organ.
Anatomically there are six tonsils in the human throat:
- Paired: palatine and trumpet.
- Unpaired: nasopharyngeal and lingual.
They create a lymphatic ring - an immunological defense.
The almond tissue is loose, in the middle of it lacunae form. What is a gap? This is a kind of recesses inside the fabric itself. Every day pathogenic infections and bacteria get into them, without causing any disease, since immunity works. But when the body’s immune defense decreases, they can cause inflammation.
When examining the oral cavity, the doctor sees two palatine tonsils. With inflammation in the lacunae of the tonsils of the throat, a plaque appears, indicating a sore throat.
Angina is an acute inflammation in the gaps, caused mainly by a streptococcal pathogen.
Types of sore throat
- Catarrhal - one of the easiest forms of tonsillitis. Tonsils turn red, enlarged, no plaque.
- Lacunar - tonsillitis with the formation of purulent white plaque, which spread beyond the surface of the tonsils. As a rule, there is a high body temperature.
- Follicular - small-dot purulent white-yellow plaque.
- Necrotic is one of the most severe forms of pathology. It is accompanied by a slightly elevated temperature and pain during swallowing and chewing, as well as putrid breath. On examination, necrotic ulcers on the tonsils are found.
Symptoms of purulent sore throat
The disease begins acutely, malaise occurs, sore throat, weakness, headaches. The temperature rises to 39 degrees. Since purulent layering in the gaps appears a few days after the temperature rises, the doctor does not always suggest exactly a sore throat.
At the onset of the disease, the pain is moderate, mainly when swallowing. But with the development of inflammation, it intensifies, and the patient cannot eat and drink normally.
Lymph nodes increase, which are felt behind the ears and under the lower jaw.
Diagnostics
Basically, the doctor makes a diagnosis based on an examination of the oral cavity and the detection of purulent plaque. In the blood test, white blood cells will be increased and POE will be increased, which will indicate a bacterial infection. What is a lacunae, the patient does not always understand, because the doctor focuses only on purulent deposits in the throat.
Purulent tonsillitis treatment
The main treatment is antibacterial drugs, which should be taken 5-7 days. Also prescribed drugs to lower the temperature, antiseptic sprays for irrigation of the tonsils and pills for the throat.
Each person should understand what a lacuna is and how it looks with purulent layering. These are round yellow and white circles on the tonsils. At the same time, the throat is inflamed, it is bright red in color, the lymph nodes on the neck increase. This can be seen in more detail in the photo of the gaps. This knowledge will help in the diagnosis and detection of this disease. And also this is important in order not to lose sight of this disease.