Tonsillitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the tonsils, their enlargement and redness. Sometimes pus fills the tonsils, called lacunae. In the chronic form, the need for antibiotics, as well as other treatment methods, is recognized. These include washing the tonsil lacunae - a medical procedure consisting in the removal of the bacterial flora present in the lymphoid tissue. Consider why it is needed and how it is carried out.
What are tonsils for?
Often, ENT specialists prescribe for their patients a vacuum washing of tonsil lacunae. In essence, the glands are an accumulation of lymphatic tissue that performs an immune function. But their structure has such a feature that creates the most favorable condition for the jamming of food particles and desquamated epithelial cells. In turn, this is a medium for the accumulation and reproduction of bacteria, especially staphylococcus and streptococcus. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically and timely cleanse the tonsils so as not to contribute to the prosperity of the infection. For this, lacunae of palatine tonsils are washed .
Benefits of the procedure
- The most important property of the method is efficiency. There are clinically confirmed results of such therapy. Washing tonsil lacunae can reduce to a state of prolonged remission even the most persistent disease.
- The second is method safety. When washing, injury to the mucous membrane or damage to the tonsils cannot occur.
- The absence of allergic reactions is another important plus of the procedure, which cannot be said about the systemic administration of antibiotics.
- The affordable price of a procedure such as washing the lacunae of the palatine tonsils, allows for a course of treatment.
- Timely peeled tonsils are not so at risk for exacerbation of the disease, which means that the likelihood of a surgical operation - tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) is reduced .
- A small number of contraindications, as well as the lack of age restrictions, make washing tonsil lacunae a popular procedure.
Contraindications
Among these, the following pathologies and conditions of the body can be listed:
- acute infectious disease;
- hypertension;
- oncological pathologies;
- active tuberculosis;
- violation of the ANS;
- atherosclerosis;
- retinal detachment ;
- early and late pregnancy.
In the case of pregnant patients, only the ultrasound method is contraindicated.
Hardware flushing methods
Vacuum washing tonsil lacunae with Tonsilorom, a special apparatus, is a multifunctional procedure, during which the tonsils are simultaneously washed with an antiseptic solution and cleaned. The pressure gradient created by the vacuum removes the contents of the gaps, and the antiseptic helps destroy the bacterial flora.
The advantages of the method include:
- effective cleansing of the glands not only superficially, but also with penetration deep inside;
- there is no need to use an additional tool, all manipulations are performed with one nozzle;
- after a course of treatment, tonsillitis goes into remission.
Despite all this, there are also disadvantages:
- treatment cannot be carried out at home, as a specialist’s hand is required;
- contraindications in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, the entire period of which is characterized by an increased risk of exacerbation of tonsillitis due to reduced immunity.
Deep ultrasonic washing of tonsils in combination with vacuum. Physiotherapeutic apparatuses for such procedures generate ultrasound at a frequency of 26.5 kHz, causing the effect of cavitation (the formation of gas bubbles with their subsequent bursting). It is characterized by the ability to destroy bacteria and thin the contents of gaps, after which they are easy to clean.
The undoubted advantages include:
- a combination of deep cleansing with ultrasonic administration of drugs, which contributes to the rehabilitation and healing of areas of inflammation;
- bacteria die and are removed along with the contents of the gaps, which they served as a breeding and nutrition site;
- all manipulations are carried out on the same device.
The only drawback of the procedure is the presence of contraindications for pregnant women.
Rinse preparations
Tonsil lacunae can be washed with any antiseptic solution suitable for the mucous membrane. The main requirements for it:
- lack of toxicity;
- prevention of chemical burns of the mucosa and glands;
- the presence of a wide spectrum of antiseptic effects, that is, a bactericidal effect against the main causative agents of tonsillitis: staphylococci and streptococci, as well as viruses and fungi, so that after the rehabilitation of the pharynx the flora biocenosis is not disturbed;
- comfortable temperature of the solution, which does not cause thermal burns and does not provoke a fall in local immunity;
- lack of allergic components.
The most commonly used for antiseptics is Furacilin solution. For the same purpose, the Miramistin preparation is suitable - staphylococcus bacteriophage. The chlorhexidine solution is popular and affordable, and hydrocortisone ointment is used for phonophoresis.
How often do tonsils need to be washed?
The procedure should be carried out as necessary, for example, with exacerbations of tonsillitis. Also, in the presence of symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, bad breath, it is advisable to periodically wash the tonsils lacunae. Reviews of many patients about the results of treatment are positive, you only need to choose a competent ENT doctor who will tell you if the physiotherapeutic effect is necessary at the moment and whether it can be combined with taking antibiotics.
Cost of treatment
Since the main purpose of tonsil lavage is to destroy the infection and remission of chronic tonsillitis, a single manipulation can not do here. Even if the procedure is carried out in the most thorough manner, it must be remembered that the process of formation of the bacterial flora is continuous. In addition, dying epithelial cells serve as a medium for their stay and reproduction. Plus dead bodies of white blood cells fighting against infection, and food particles stuck in tonsil jams.
All this leads to inflammation, bad breath and other consequences. Even if you do not have chronic tonsillitis, you can wash your tonsils for hygiene reasons.
All of the above factors suggest that the treatment should be course and include from five to ten such procedures as washing the tonsil lacunae. The price of a single manipulation depends on the place of its conduct, drugs and equipment. Usually this amount does not exceed 1000 rubles, which means that the entire course will cost 5000-10 000 rubles.
In the end
In chronic tonsillitis, it is important not to start the process of inflammation, because this can lead to other consequences and complications on the internal organs and joints. It is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner, who will prescribe treatment, select the necessary number of tonsil washes and drugs used for them. Also, the clinic chosen for these purposes plays an important role, its equipping with the necessary materials and tools.