Tonsillitis is called inflammation of the tonsils. It occurs due to the fact that bacteria or viruses enter the lymphoid tissue. At a time when inflammation begins to progress, the focus expands to the entire body. Accordingly, soft tissues are affected.
There are acute and chronic forms. The first is popularly called angina. The chronic form is, in general, an ordinary infectious disease, which can give complications to various organs. In the article, we will consider what can provoke the described disease, what symptoms should be known, and also how to be treated.
Description of tonsillitis
Acute tonsillitis is a disease of an infectious nature. It affects the tonsils, usually palatine. Often, this disease is the result of a viral or bacterial infection. In adults, the symptoms are the same: sore throat and unpleasant odor. If you consider the oral cavity, then you can notice the palatine tonsils quite significantly increased in size. They have a loose surface, and purulent plugs can also occur. Tonsils due to their large size completely cover the lumen of the pharynx.
These organs are necessary in order to protect a person from various infections that enter through the mouth. The glands should be called the first barrier to all microbes that can enter the body. When the immune system is unable to cope with the attack of pathogenic objects, tonsils begin to become inflamed. Accordingly, an acute disease is provoked, and after a while chronic appears.
Is there any possibility of infection?
It should be noted that acute tonsillitis is very contagious. Especially if its origin is bacterial or infectious. Then in 100% of cases the patient can infect a healthy person. The same thing needs to be said about viral sore throat. If the pathogen is able to be transmitted from one person to another, then, accordingly, the disease can also pass. Only allergic tonsillitis can be considered infectious . In this case, the person is completely safe for those around him.
The susceptibility to the disease in any person is different. Thus, acute tonsillitis in one patient can manifest itself with a high temperature, and the other - only unpleasant sensations in the throat. It all depends on the local immunity of the tonsils. Accordingly, the lower it is, the higher the risk that a person will have severe symptoms.
The incubation period lasts from several hours to four days. The complexity of the disease depends on how badly the tissue is affected. The deeper they are inflamed, the longer the disease will progress. The ICD code for acute tonsillitis is 10 and 9. If we talk about a more detailed encoding, then it is J03, 034.0, respectively.
Causes of the disease
A list of factors that contribute to the development of the disease should be highlighted. First of all, pathogenic microorganisms should be noted. It can be pneumococci, the herpes virus, chlamydia, streptococcus and so on.
Stress, overwork, some allergens, hypothermia, decreased immunity, problems with the mucous membranes, as well as increased susceptibility to special pathogens have a special effect. The basis for the disease can be any allergic reactions, not only causing pathology, but also provoking the occurrence of complications.
Acute tonsillitis
How is the disease manifested? As mentioned above, acute tonsillitis is an infectious disease that affects the tonsils. However, in addition to this, it can also affect the lingual, laryngeal and nasopharyngeal zones.
It has already been clarified that the code for acute tonsillitis according to ICD-10 is J03. The international association has special characteristics for this disease. We are talking about a fever up to 39 degrees, the presence of chills, pain in the head, as well as in the throat, which are very noticeable when swallowing. Unpleasant sensations in the muscles and joints may appear.
If it is improperly treated or completely ignored medications, this disease can easily cause severe complications, and it can also become chronic. This suggests that a person may constantly have exacerbations.
Chronic tonsillitis
Due to chronic tonsillitis, there are constant inflammatory processes on the tonsils. The disease is either in remission or relapse. Symptoms of the described disease sometimes disappear almost imperceptibly. In addition, it should be noted that chronic pathology can cause the development of a large number of pathological changes in the body. Moreover, they can affect all human systems. Sometimes depression, problems with the menstrual cycle, encephalopathy and so on.
Kinds
As already mentioned, the code for acute tonsillitis according to ICD-10 is J03. There is an official classification.
Distinguish between primary and secondary disease. The first affects the tonsils. In this case, the overcooling of the body is a provoking factor. Also, pathology can occur due to reduced immunity and many other features. Secondary is the disease that appeared due to any underlying one. In this case, tonsillitis will be a complication or symptom.
If we talk about localization, then there is inflammation in the gaps, in the lymphoid, lymphadenoid, as well as connective tissues.
There are catarrhal tonsillitis, follicular, lacunar and necrotic. They differ in symptoms, and also reasons. The most severe is the necrotic form, the mildest is catarrhal.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of this disease are prescribed in the appropriate section of the ICD-10. Acute tonsillitis is accompanied by pain in the head, as well as in the body. There is malaise, problems with the throat, swelling of the tonsils, and also the tongue. Sometimes ulcers and plaque can occur. Symptoms are abdominal pain and a rash may appear. Most often, the disease begins with a throat and, if untreated, it goes further down.
The pain with tonsillitis is completely different when compared with SARS or the flu. Tonsils become so inflamed so badly even with a slight malaise that it’s hard for a person to not only eat, but also just talk. The temperature can rise to 39-40 degrees, and purulent plugs are also formed.
Chronic form indicators
We examined the symptoms of acute tonsillitis, but how does chronic manifest itself? In general, the manifestations are the same, but they are easier expressed. There is no pain, no temperature. Slight discomfort when swallowing may occur. Sometimes there is a strong tickle, as well as bad breath. The general condition of the body is normal. There may be aches, rashes that are not treated, kidney pain, problems with the cardiovascular system.
Diagnostics
When the doctor examines the throat, then in the presence of tonsillitis, he will notice that there is swelling of the mucous membrane. If you make a palpation, then the ear and cervical lymph nodes will be slightly enlarged and bring discomfort. As a rule, an adult should visit a specialist, collect an anamnesis, make a smear. The latter is necessary in order to determine the sensitivity to antibiotics. You should also take a blood and urine test, visit a cardiologist, urologist, do an ECG and, if necessary, an ultrasound of the kidneys. It should be noted that, as a rule, in an adult, acute tonsillitis is quite easy to diagnose.
Adult Treatment
Often, tonsillitis is treated only on an outpatient basis. Only in severe cases, the patient should be hospitalized. A diet is prescribed, which should be aimed at eliminating vitamin deficiency, if any. For detoxification, you need to drink plenty of water.
With tonsillitis, antiseptics can be prescribed: “Bioparox”, “Proposol” and so on. If the tonsils are in poor condition, special preparations for lubrication are often prescribed. An example is Lugol. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe antiviral medications. Most often, they are necessary in order to support the functioning of the immune system. However, if you take these drugs on your own, you can cause great harm to the body. That is why the dosage and directly the medication itself should be selected only by the doctor.
Antibiotic choice
Antibiotics are prescribed only in severe acute tonsillitis. They are necessary so that the body can quickly cope with the pathogen, respectively, thereby bringing the healing process closer. However, you need to understand that antibiotics will be useful only if the disease is of a viral nature. This is due to the fact that bacteria very easily get used to these drugs. In order to determine which drug is needed, a smear should be taken to identify the pathogen.
How to treat?
You can gargle. It should be performed independently. It is allowed to use medical solutions. We are talking about “Chlorhexidine”, “Furacilin”, “Yudin” and so on.
If you do not want to use the described drugs, you can pay attention to ordinary salt. It will also help with angina (acute tonsillitis). You need to add half a teaspoon to a glass. Water should be at room temperature. Next you need to stir. If you want, you can put soda in the same amount. Then rinsing will give a better effect. You need to water your throat as often as possible.
Celandine is allowed. It should be poured with boiling water, let it brew for 20 minutes. The solution should be warm, it can be heated.
Propolis extract is also well suited to treat symptoms. In acute tonsillitis in a child, it is used most often. He is able to work as an antiseptic, and they also cleanse tonsils from plaque. In addition, propolis anesthetizes the lesion site.
Physiotherapy and Surgery
You can conduct UHF, laser, ultraviolet therapy, as well as phonophoresis. Inhalations are often done in a hospital setting. These methods can only be used with basic therapy. They are not capable of treating acute tonsillitis on their own.
In the event that a person has constant relapses of a chronic disease, then doctors, as a rule, prescribe surgery. It is especially useful if tonsillitis gives a complication to the heart, kidneys, or joints.