The size of the tonsils is very small, but their role in the body is significant. They serve to perform protective and hematopoietic functions, take part in the formation of immunity. Tonsils are the first to establish a barrier to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the human body. Fully scientists failed to find out their immunological role. The article is devoted to clarifying the problem of why tonsils hurt.
What it is?
Tonsils (or, as they are called by the people, tonsils) are an accumulation of lymphoid tissue located in the oral cavity and nasopharynx. Depending on the location, they are divided:
- Paired: palatine - the largest, and trumpet - small in size, located on the side wall of the nasopharynx.
- Unpaired: pharyngeal - located in the center at the top of the nasopharynx wall, and lingual - located at the root of the tongue.
All six tonsils, together with side granules and ridges of the same tissue as the glands, form a lymphoid ring. A person is able to see only palatine tonsils, the doctor is able to examine the rest with the help of necessary tools. Healthy tonsils have pink color, normal size, no plaque and purulent plugs. A person is born with underdeveloped tonsils, and only by the end of the first half of life do they finish their formation. They are the first to meet the infection and begin to fight it.
The main causes of sore tonsils
Tonsils in the throat hurt, and pain intensifies during swallowing, perspiration and dryness are felt - such manifestations cause a number of diseases. And before you begin treatment, you need to find out the cause of these symptoms. Sore throat, which gives to the ear, is caused by:
- Otitis. This is inflammation of the middle ear. The disease is accompanied by high fever, general weakness, poor appetite. A feature is the increase in pain in the evening.
- Acute pharyngitis. With the disease, there is a feeling of a foreign body in the throat, perspiration and a dry cough appear.
- Angina and tonsillitis. There is inflammation in the tissues and mucous membranes. When tonsils and muscles hurt, then a high fever rises, chills, and often bad breath due to a purulent process.
- Diphtheria. Tonsils swell and redden, plaque appears, lymph nodes increase.
- Laryngitis. Sore throat is necessarily accompanied by hoarseness.
With a sore throat, on the one hand, the causes may be:
- A foreign body that injures the mucous membrane, such as fish bone.
- Acute pharyngitis - initially painful sensations occur only on the left or right side.
- Inflammation of one of the tonsils is acute tonsillitis.
- Pharyngeal abscess - purulent inflammation.
- Tissue inflammation near the teeth due to infection.
- Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
If tonsils hurt at normal body temperature, then the reason is as follows:
- mucosal injury;
- strong tension of the vocal cords;
- the appearance of neoplasms;
- varicose veins of the esophagus;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
If any sore throat occurs, it is best to consult a doctor to determine the exact cause of their occurrence.
The main symptoms of inflammation of the tonsils
Symptoms of the pathology are associated with the causative agent of the disease, the nature of its course and the individual characteristics of the body. However, the main signs are noted in each case:
- Dryness, burning, and sore throat.
- Pain in the tonsils. It manifests itself constantly or only during swallowing. The tonsil hurts on one side or along the midline of the pharynx, and the pain has a different intensity.
- Enlargement of the glands. Sometimes they increase beyond the palatine arches and interfere with normal breathing.
- Changes in the gaps of the tonsils. Visually observed white plaque or pus.
- Fever. Depending on the severity of the disease, the temperature rises from 38 to 40 degrees. The fever lasts from three to five days.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Putrid breath. It is often found in purulent traffic jams.
- Hoarseness of voice. This is a characteristic symptom of laryngitis.
- Earache. It occurs with inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil.
- Loss of appetite.
- Runny nose.
- Headache.
- Cough.
When a diagnosis is made, the doctor first draws attention to the symptoms of the disease, finds out the causes of their manifestation, and only then assigns laboratory tests.
Tonsil inflammation
Tonsil inflammation, or tonsillitis, most often occurs against a background of a bacterial or viral infection. Prerequisites for it are hypothermia, severe overwork, decreased immunity. There are two forms of tonsillitis: acute and chronic. An acute form of the disease is called angina. With her, the symptoms of the disease are pronounced, and it usually occurs with a sharp rise in temperature. Enlarged tonsils are very painful for the patient, they become red, head and joint aches appear, malaise and general weakness are observed, lymph nodes increase. Often after a sore throat, if the treatment regimen is not followed, severe complications are possible on the kidneys, heart and joints. There are several forms of angina, which occur with varying degrees of severity and have different symptoms. The form of chronic tonsillitis proceeds more calmly and for a long time with periods of remission and exacerbation.
Varieties of sore throat
The most common forms of acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis) include:
- Catarrhal - it is considered a less severe manifestation of tonsillitis. Unpleasant sensations appear in the throat: burning, dryness and sore, the patient may complain that he has sore tonsils on one side. The temperature does not rise above 38 degrees, headaches occur, there is a feeling of weakness. One or both palatine tonsils have a bright red color and loose structure, only the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, but there are no purulent deposits. Cervical lymph nodes often enlarge.
- Follicular - heavier than the catarrhal form, affects not only the mucosa, but also the follicles. The acute onset of the disease is accompanied by a rise in temperature to 39 degrees. When examining the pharynx, a bright red color of not only the tonsils, but also the arches, and the soft palate is observed. The patient complains that his tonsils and ears hurt. White blood cells accumulate in the follicles, forming yellow dots up to 3 mm in size. They open independently on the third day of the disease.
- Lacunar - in terms of general symptoms, but more pronounced, it is similar to follicular tonsillitis. Serous-mucous, purulent secretions accumulate in the gaps. Tonsils acquire a plaque of white or white-yellow color, which is easily removed with a spatula.
All sore throats are insidious in their consequences, therefore it is necessary to observe bed rest and all the recommendations of a doctor.
Tonsil inflammation in diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious infectious disease that is caused by diphtheria bacillus and spreads by airborne droplets. The disease is not common because children and adults are vaccinated against this infection. Recently, some parents refuse vaccinations, so there is a threat of the disease. Most often, the tonsils are affected, they swell, turn red with a bluish tinge, the patient has a sore throat. Tonsil plaque has a grayish color with a white or yellow tint. Purulent contents can only be in gaps or film all tonsils. It is poorly removed with a spatula, and then formed again. The disease progresses rapidly and leads the patient to suffocation or disruption of the nervous system and heart. Often fatal.
Tonsil inflammation in scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a common disease in children's groups. Its causative agent is streptococcus. With the disease, inflammation of the tonsils, fever and the formation of a characteristic rash throughout the body occur. The inflammatory process in the throat begins immediately after infection. The pharynx becomes bright red, and redness extends to the area of the hard palate. After the third day of illness, protruding papillae appear in the raspberry tongue. The patient complains that his tonsils are swollen and sore. A plaque appears on them, which is easily removed. It is able to spread beyond the tonsils.
With scarlet fever, there are signs of angina from catarrhal to necrotic. Therefore, tonsils can simply be inflamed or contain purulent plugs. Small-point rashes appear on the patient's body, starting with the palms of the hands and feet. A characteristic sign of scarlet fever is rosy cheeks and a pale nasolabial triangle. The disease is dangerous with serious complications, so with any form of angina, the child must be treated under the supervision of a doctor so as not to miss scarlet fever.
Tonsil inflammation with pharyngitis
Often a left tonsil hurts in the throat, this can happen when acute pharyngitis occurs. In the future, painful sensations intensify and spread to the back wall of the larynx. The patient feels dry, burning and tingling in the throat, ears are blocked, which disappears after swallowing saliva. The disease often occurs against the backdrop of colds, when the nose does not breathe and you have to breathe a lot with your mouth. Untreated acute pharyngitis becomes chronic, exacerbations of which occur during any hypothermia or even from severe fatigue. Sometimes a person suffers from pharyngitis throughout the cold season. The mucous membrane is very thin, dried and can bleed. In the throat there is constant discomfort and a feeling of a stuck lump is observed. Treatment of the disease should be started immediately, with the first symptoms, seeking the help of a doctor.
Tonsils hurt: how to treat and what to do?
The doctor will prescribe the main treatment after a thorough examination, and the following recommendations will help ease the condition at home:
- Follow the water regime - if you feel pain in the throat, it is advised to drink warm herbal infusion with honey, tea with lemon and raspberry jam, milk, but coffee and carbonated drinks should be limited.
- Take care of your vocal cords and larynx - speak less, do not raise your voice. Conversation in a whisper exerts no less load on the vocal cords than on normal tonality.
- Gargle more often, at least four times a day, throat with decoctions of herbs or soda and saline. During the procedure, pathogens and their toxins are washed off the tonsils, and the oral cavity is disinfected.
- Breathe through your nose. Breathing through the mouth when the tonsils hurt, overdries the mucous membranes, and as a result they recover more slowly.
- Normalize humidity. Use a special humidifier, and if not, hang a damp towel on the battery. Ventilate the room regularly.
- Use ready-made pharmacy forms: lozenges, sprays, rinses. It is better to choose products made with plant materials.
All of the above recommendations are used as auxiliary to medications prescribed by your doctor.
Disease Prevention Tips and Prevention
Preventing tonsil disease is much easier than treating, for this it is necessary:
- Avoid drafts and hypothermia, do not drink too cold drinks.
- Make the right diet. Enrich it with vegetables, fruits and herbs. Often eat onions, garlic, lemon, currants, cranberries.
- Maintain the necessary humidity in the apartment. Dry air irritates the mucous membranes, causes their inflammation, and then in the morning, after sleep, tonsils bother and hurt when swallowing.
- In contact with a sick person, a gauze mask should be used.
- Drink vitamin complexes several times a year.
- With frequent relapses of throat diseases, rinse it daily, before going to bed, with saline or soda solution.
- Monitor the condition of the teeth and treat caries in a timely manner.
- Continuously take walks in the fresh air and perform daily simple physical exercises.
All these activities will strengthen your immunity and health.
Instead of a conclusion
Tonsils are an important link in the human body and perform a protective function against the penetration of bacteria and viruses into it. But with their chronic inflammation - tonsillitis - a soft lymphoid tissue is replaced with a coarser connective tissue. In addition, adhesions and scars begin to form in which pathogenic microorganisms enter. They support the inflammatory process. If the throat is constantly sore and the plaque is white on the tonsils, then this indicates that urgent serious treatment is required - conservative or even surgical.