Almost everyone faced such a problem as sore throat during a cold. Tonsils enlarge, become swollen and red - this is quite normal in this state, but there are times when their inflammation develops against the background of full health. In this case, doctors diagnose chronic tonsillitis. What is this disease? We will try to understand our article. Some underestimate the severity of the problem, but in vain.
Essence of the disease
Everyone has tonsils in the throat, which can be affected by the inflammatory process. If the inflammation is almost constant, then they say that there is chronic tonsillitis. ICD 10 includes it, as well as the acute form of the disease in independent nosological forms, which have their own code:
Assigning their codes to diseases makes it easier to keep statistics and dispensary records of patients.
The development of chronic inflammation occurs under the influence of many forms of microorganisms that a healthy person almost always has. But a number of factors provoke their mass reproduction, which leads to an exacerbation of the disease.
In the throat of a person is a lymphopharyngeal ring, including 7 tonsils, but it is the palatine that is most often inflamed.
Tonsils belong to the lymphoid organ, which actively provides immunobiological protection of the body. Periodic inflammatory processes lead to the formation of immunity, this function is especially pronounced in babies.
Quite often, a sore throat is a companion for colds, in which case it is said that acute tonsillitis occurs. Chronic tonsillitis is slightly milder, does not have such pronounced symptoms, but most often develops through the fault of poorly treated tonsillitis.
Mild symptoms are no reason to delay treatment. Chronic tonsillitis and pharyngitis (this is an inflammatory process on the pharyngeal mucosa) can lead to serious complications, which will be discussed later.
Why is the disease developing?
Doctors of otolaryngologists often claim that almost the entire population has chronic tonsillitis. In a sense, one can agree with this, because every person has a huge number of bacteria on the tonsils, but if the body is completely healthy, then it does not allow pathogenic microorganisms to multiply, it quickly inhibits their growth, but in the presence of an inflammatory process or a weakened immune system does not work.
The disease of chronic tonsillitis does not form immediately, it all starts with the acute phase, it can turn into chronic for the following reasons:
- Poorly treated angina is one of the main causes of the development of chronic tonsillitis. Most of us, as soon as the sore throat subsides, the temperature recedes, we stop drinking drugs, antibiotics, and this is a big mistake. Chronic tonsillitis and pharyngitis recede, but do not completely give up their positions, so they will soon return again.
- Permanent pharyngitis, to which many simply do not pay attention and believe that special treatment is not required, will necessarily lead to the development of a chronic form of the disease.
- Failure to comply with oral hygiene and the disgusting condition of the teeth will necessarily cause the development of chronic tonsillitis. The constant presence of pathogenic microflora in the oral cavity will lead to this.
- A chronic form of rhinitis or a periodically worsening allergic rhinitis can result in tonsillitis.
- Long-term violation of nasal breathing can lead to the development of chronic tonsillitis. What this is connected, for example, with adenoids, many do not know. Curved nasal septum, polyps can also be the cause.
As can be seen from the above, a lot of reasons can provoke the development of the disease, which must be treated.
Varieties of chronic tonsillitis
To answer the question of how to cure chronic tonsillitis once and for all, it is necessary to understand that it can manifest itself in different ways. Doctors note two scenarios:
- After treatment, tonsillitis calms down a bit and it seems that we managed to get rid of it, but you just need to freeze a little or wet your feet, as it is right there.
- In the second option, the inflammatory process does not stop, it can calm down a bit, the patient even feels quite tolerably, goes to work, but the doctor notes that not everything is in order.
Both options require medical intervention in order to find effective measures to combat this ailment.
In medical circles, two forms of chronic tonsillitis are distinguished:
- Compensated. It manifests itself as a small inflammation of the tonsils, sore throat, the general condition of the patient is normal. Doctors say in such cases that the tonsils compensate for the state of inflammation and generally cope with their function.
- The decompensated form of chronic tonsillitis usually manifests itself not only in pain in the throat, angina develops, and other organs are involved in the process.
Any form of tonsillitis can lead to infection of the whole body, so you should not delay the visit to the ENT doctor.
Symptoms of chronic tonsillitis
If there is chronic tonsillitis, then such patients can often complain of causeless sore throat, which occurs not only when swallowing, but also during yawning. Pain may occur after an ice cream or cold drink, which is not uncommon in the summer, it turns out that a person himself provokes an exacerbation of tonsillitis.
If chronic tonsillitis occurs, then the following symptoms usually appear:
- Frequent sore throat and pain when swallowing.
- It feels like a foreign object is in the throat.
- Cough.
- The temperature in chronic tonsillitis most often rises in the late afternoon.
- The patient feels fatigue.
- Drowsiness appears.
- Frequent bouts of irritability.
- Shortness of breath appears, heart rhythm may be disturbed.
- There is a white coating on the tonsils and purulent plugs.
When all of these symptoms appear, patients try to get rid of them as soon as possible, but it is more important to find out the cause that provoked the inflammatory process. This can only be done by a competent specialist who recognizes chronic tonsillitis. How to permanently and without complications get rid of this ailment is a question that you should ask a doctor
Establishing diagnosis
It is not at all easy to make a correct diagnosis in the presence of chronic tonsillitis. The doctor first of all examines the patient and listens to his complaints. The patient's history is also being studied. Next, the doctor palpates the lymph nodes and examines the tonsils.
The diagnosis does not end there, as the symptoms may resemble other diseases. Therefore, the doctor will definitely take to analyze the allocation of lacunae. If purulent discharge has an unpleasant odor and mucous structure, then, most likely, the patient has chronic tonsillitis. What exactly this disease can be concluded on the basis of a whole complex of symptoms and signs.
To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor will pay attention to the general condition of the patient's body and the existing deviations from the norm. In the presence of a chronic form of tonsillitis, the edges of the palatine arches will be thickened, cicatricial adhesions between the tonsils and arches are visible. Tonsils themselves have a loose appearance, purulent plugs or secretions in the gaps.
Additional blood tests for antibodies to streptococcus may be required. Only after the diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis is confirmed, the doctor can prescribe the necessary treatment.
Therapy of chronic tonsillitis
To get rid of the chronic form of the disease, you will have to try hard. Doctors, as a rule, recommend a comprehensive treatment, only in this way can chronic symptoms be weakened:
- Treatment (photo shows this) local is one of the first. To do this, rinse with medicinal solutions and infusions of herbs.
- Washing tonsil lacunae. During this procedure, purulent plugs are washed out. For its use, antibacterial and disinfectant solutions, for example, “Furacilin”, “Miramistin”, “Chlorhexidine” are used.
- Antibacterial therapy, which consists in taking antibiotics, which are selected taking into account the sensitivity of microflora.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures.
- Removal of tonsils.
The greatest effect is given only by complex therapy, which is preferably carried out twice a year.
Physiotherapeutic treatment
Physiotherapy is most effective during the period of remission of the disease. The best results are shown by the following methods:
- Laser Therapy Due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect on tonsils, this method gives excellent results.
- The use of short-wave UV radiation for the throat and oral cavity.
- Ultrasonic exposure, with which you can not only affect the source of infection, destroying the structure of the appeared curd mass, but also irrigate the tonsils with antibacterial solutions.
- Inhalation with wet steam, but it must be remembered that at high temperature this procedure is contraindicated. For inhalation, you can use infusions of medicinal herbs.
- Phonophoresis of vitamins also gives a good effect.
The combination of physiotherapeutic methods of treatment with drugs and local therapy gives good results. It’s impossible to get rid of this insidious disease forever.
Surgical intervention
Sometimes when asked about how to cure chronic tonsillitis forever, some doctors recommend tonsillectomy, that is, removal of the tonsils. But it is worth remembering that you do not have to rush to get rid of them, this can lead to even more serious consequences. Although there are situations where tonsillectomy is necessary, the usual indication for surgery is:
- If the disease worsens up to 4-5 times a year.
- If the inflammatory process spreads to neighboring tissues.
- There is a risk of blood poisoning.
- There are signs of damage to the kidneys or heart muscle.
As a result of surgery, the tonsils can be removed completely or only partially when the doctor excises the overgrown tissue.
It must be remembered that there are contraindications for tonsillectomy, which include:
- Leukemia
- Hemophilia.
- Tuberculosis in an open form.
- Heart defects.
- Jade and some other pathologies.
If the operation is necessary, but there are serious contraindications to its implementation, then the patient is recommended a cryogenic treatment technique.
Features of the treatment of chronic tonsillitis in children
If chronic tonsillitis is detected in a child, treatment should be started immediately. Given the characteristics of the child's body, therapy should be selected carefully, especially for antibacterial agents.
The conservative treatment of tonsillitis in babies must begin with the correct daily routine and diet. An important factor is the hardening procedures.
Parents should, whenever possible, eliminate all factors that can trigger an exacerbation of the disease. The use of local funds gives a good effect if done timely and regularly.
Tonsils can be lubricated with Lugol, and colloidal silver can also be used. During therapy, doctors often prescribe antiallergic drugs, since an unexpected reaction of the body is possible. This is especially true for antibiotics, which children should be prescribed carefully.
Physiotherapeutic procedures in children also give good results (laser therapy, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy).
In the chronic form of tonsillitis in babies, pediatricians often prescribe bacteriophages, therapy with their use is quite effective. But it must be borne in mind that in the acute form of the disease it is better to give preference to antibiotics.
Given that the treatment of tonsillitis is a long process, you can think about therapy with homeopathic medicines. Many parents leave good reviews about the tool "Vokara." It should be taken 1 drop per year of a child’s life, previously diluted in water. Multiplicity of admission up to 8 times a day with exacerbation, during remission, three times is enough.
When treating chronic tonsillitis in children, as well as in adults, it is important to remember that only an integrated approach in therapy can give the desired effect.
Tonsillitis in pregnant women
It is advisable to treat all existing diseases before pregnancy, but if there are chronic pathologies that make themselves felt in an interesting position, then the therapy should not be postponed. Chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy requires treatment, but only under the strict supervision of a physician.
Given the interesting position of a woman, the doctor can prescribe procedures such as:
- Tonsil treatment with antiseptic compounds.
- In the specialist’s office, a woman is washed with a throat and tonsils with special medicines.
- At home, gargling with herbal infusions is recommended.
- Sprays and lozenges are prescribed.
A pregnant woman is forbidden to take many medications, so observing the daily regimen, proper nutrition, and more vitamin preparations is very important. If during pregnancy an exacerbation of the disease occurs, then it is recommended:
- Often gargle with a solution of salt, soda and a few drops of iodine.
- Inhalation with medicinal herbs, such as sage.
- A warm drink with honey and lemon is recommended.
- To wipe the tonsils, you can use "Chlorophyllipt" or tincture of propolis.
- At elevated temperatures, you can take the tablet "Paracetamol."
During pregnancy, the most important thing in treating chronic tonsillitis is not to harm the baby, so all funds should be selected only by your doctor.
If it is not very serious about this pathology, then tonsillitis can provoke even congenital malformations in the baby, and in severe cases, pregnancy fading and miscarriage.
Traditional medicine for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis
If there is chronic tonsillitis, treatment with alternative methods gives good results in combination with drug therapy. It should be noted that treatment should be carried out for a long time and regularly. Folk healers are advised to use the following recipes for rinsing:
- Insist 2 tbsp. l dry yarrow in 200 ml of boiling water. Use the infusion in a warm form several times a day.
- Dissolve 3-4 drops of basil oil in a glass of boiled water and gargle with the composition.
- Prepare a mixture of 1 tbsp. tablespoons of linden flowers, 2 tablespoons of oak bark, 3 tablespoons of chamomile and pour all this with a liter of boiling water. After cooling, add a teaspoon of honey. Rinse three times a day after meals.
You can offer recipes for lubricating tonsils:
- Mix aloe juice and honey in equal proportions and lubricate every day for two weeks of the tonsil; at 3 and 4 weeks, the procedure can be done every other day.
- For processing tonsils, you can use fir oil up to 5 times over 3 days, you can also instill 1 drop in the nose.
- A mixture of 1 part of radish juice and 3 parts of honey is perfect for babies to lubricate tonsils. At the same time, you can take a decoction of chamomile, mint, calendula inside to strengthen the immune system.
There are many popular recipes to alleviate the condition during exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis, but we must remember that therapy is usually long.
Complications of chronic tonsillitis
If tonsillitis itself is an unpleasant disease, but generally not dangerous, then in the absence of therapy it can give quite serious undesirable consequences. Chronic tonsillitis complications causes the following:
- Frequent sore throats become a constant companion of a person.
- This disease adversely affects the cardiovascular system.
- The digestive system also gets, since the intestinal microflora suffers, the mucous membrane is in an inflamed state.
- The development of pyelonephritis and other pathologies of the kidneys is not uncommon.
- Choking attacks may develop.
- With chronic tonsillitis, joints begin to suffer, the development of rheumatism, arthritis is not far off.
- The fault of this disease develops depression.
From all that has been said, it is important to remember that a fairly serious diagnosis is "chronic tonsillitis." That this disease necessarily needs timely therapy should not be in doubt.
Prevention
You can prevent the development of the disease by preventive measures. Among these, we can name the following:
- Healthy lifestyle.
- Exercise in moderation.
- Hardening procedures.
- Reception of the means strengthening the immune system, for example, preparations "Immunal", "Imudon" and others.
If you do not allow chronic tonsillitis to worsen, complications will not be scary.
The result of all that has been said can be summarized as follows: any disease needs timely treatment. Even at first glance, a harmless disease can lead to serious consequences that will require longer treatment. Take care of your health and treat him with a sense of responsibility.