Follicular tonsillitis in children: symptoms and treatment

How to treat follicular tonsillitis? This is a common question that parents ask. We will understand it in more detail.

One of the most dangerous for the health of a child sore throat is the definition of follicular. Such a disease is an acute purulent inflammation. It flows in the follicles of the tonsils. This infectious pathology begins immediately after initial contact with a specific pathogen, for example, with hemolytic streptococcus. Also, adenovirus, pneumococcus or staphylococcus may be the cause. Often, follicular tonsillitis is diagnosed in children, and it goes much harder than in adult patients. Infection occurs under the influence of external, and, in addition, internal factors.

Causes

The causative agent of such a sore throat, as a rule, penetrates the young body by airborne droplets when a child communicates with an already infected person or uses his things, such as toys, dishes, personal hygiene items and so on. Usually this happens in kindergarten, and, in addition, at school or just in public transport. Also, a number of certain factors contribute to infection, which are external and internal. Follicular tonsillitis is a rather unpleasant disease.

External factors

The following reasons should be mentioned as external factors:

• The result of local body hypothermia. This factor is most frequent when a child eats, for example, too much ice cream or drinks ice water.
• General hypothermia, in the framework of which feet get wet, or when the child was outbid, walked around the cold in light clothes or without a hat, or simply remained in the cold for a long time.
• Frequent stress along with nervous tension.
• An unsuccessful surgical intervention, in which the cause of suppuration was an unprofessional tooth extraction with infection.
• Poor nutrition along with overwork.
• Deficiency in the body of vitamins.

Treatment of follicular tonsillitis in children will be discussed below.

Intrinsic factors

The following reasons should be mentioned as internal factors:

• Decreased body immunity.
• The presence of certain diseases, such as, for example, caries along with inflammation of the sinuses and problems associated with the ears.
• Injuries of the pharynx in the form of scratches, wounds, abrasions and so on.
• The presence of various infections, diphtheria, scarlet fever, flu.
• The appearance of allergies, tuberculosis, a malfunction in the nervous system, lupus erythematosus, and circulatory problems.

All of these factors can put a child’s health at risk, contributing to infection by harmful microorganisms. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce their impact, especially during an epidemic, which usually begins in the cold season. Different from other forms of tonsillitis, the follicular (pictured) is formed extremely rapidly. The incubation period is two days, and sometimes it takes only a few hours. In this regard, action should be just as fast. The first task of parents is to recognize the disease by symptoms.

Symptoms in children

In children, the symptomatology of follicular tonsillitis manifests itself very quickly, and the clinical picture, in turn, emerges sharply and clearly. Acceleration from the simple weakness with which the ailment begins, to the appearance of febrile seizures, can be as little as an hour. In this regard, you need to carefully monitor the condition of your child so as not to miss the moment when you need to call an ambulance. The first symptoms of follicular tonsillitis are as follows:

• The appearance of dry mouth.
• The appearance of perspiration, cough and sore throat, giving in the ear.
• There is an increase in heart rate.

The subsequent development of the disease, as a rule, is as follows:

• In the event that this is a baby, he will scream loudly, and a small three-year-old child may simply cry, complaining of severe pain in the throat.
• The child will refuse to eat, because it will hurt him to swallow.
• Presence of profuse salivation.
• Temperature increase up to 40 ° . It is worth noting that with follicular tonsillitis, it is extremely difficult for children to stray.
• The appearance of seizures and fever, followed by chills.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• The development of conjunctivitis, runny nose and the appearance of rashes on the skin.

Symptoms of intoxication

The main symptoms of follicular tonsillitis, which indicate intoxication of the body, are:

• The presence of excessive sweating.
• The appearance of weakness and headache along with respiratory failure.
• The appearance of pain in the joints and in the lumbar region.
• Difficulty with sleep along with confusion.
• The appearance of diarrhea and vomiting.

Follicular tonsillitis in adults is less common, but it does happen.

Pharyngeal examination

In that case, if you ask a person to open his mouth, then even with the naked eye you will be able to see an unpleasant picture:

• Suppuration of follicles will look in the form of yellowish-white dots.
• The presence of redness and enlargement of the tonsils.

The ICD-10 follicular tonsillitis code is J03. In chronic form, it may not be so bright. Symptoms will be smoothed out. The first consultation can be given by a doctor who arrives at home, or a pediatrician, to whom you can make an appointment. But best of all, if there is a suspicion of such a diagnosis, bring the sick child immediately to the otolaryngologist.

Diagnostics

Laboratory studies with suspected follicular tonsillitis (in ICD-10 - J03) make it possible to confirm or refute the alleged diagnosis. A similar disease needs to be differentiated from other similar ones. This is very important, because depending on the diagnosis, certain drugs for therapy will be prescribed. For example, the treatment of this type of tonsillitis is not complete without the use of antibiotics. At the same time, they are absolutely contraindicated in mononucleosis. So, the measures for diagnosing follicular tonsillitis in children and adults are as follows:

• Clinical data collection.
• Conducting pharyngoscopy.
• Conducting bacteriological studies that make it possible to detect pathogens in the cultures of the pharyngeal mucus.
• Conducting a serological study.
• Submission of a general analysis.

Proper diagnosis makes it possible to prescribe a course of appropriate treatment, however, it will not be possible to quickly heal follicular tonsillitis. Even with the successful course of the disease without any complications, recovery can occur only on the tenth day. It directly depends on the preparations and characteristics of the child's body.

Consider the treatment of follicular tonsillitis in children and adults in more detail.

Treatment

Basically, the treatment of this form of angina is aimed at the destruction of pathogens. And this requires antibiotics. Despite all their proven harm, parents should understand that complications from untreated sore throat will be even more serious. The following medicines are used as part of medications:

• First of all, penicillins are used: Flemoxin, Augmentin, as well as macrolides: Hemomycin, Azitrox, Sumamed, and cephalosporins - Ceftriaxone, Cephalexin.
• The use of anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate pain, lymphadenitis and various edema, such as "Ibuklin" and "Ibuprofen."
• Antipyretic drugs for follicular tonsillitis (a photo of the symptoms is presented): Nurofen, Panadol, Efferalgan. Given that it is extremely difficult to bring down the temperature with this form of angina, a course of the lytic mixture from Analgin and Diphenhydramine is prescribed.
• Antiallergic medicines: Clarisens, Diphenhydramine, Cetrin, Diazolin and Zodak.
• Conducting detoxification therapy.
• Gargle up to ten times a day with “Iodinol”, “Lugol” and “Furacilin”.
• Irrigation of the throat with aerosols "Tantum Verde", "Bioparox" and "Miramistin".
• Take absorbable tablets with lozenges “Faringosept”, “Hexoral tabs” and “Septolete”.
• The use of probiotic drugs that inhibit the development of dysbiosis: "Bifidumbacterin", "Acipol".
• The use of immunomodulators: Lizobakt, Amiksin and Immunal, as well as vitamins.

Treatment of follicular tonsillitis in adults is not particularly different. Only the dosage of the drugs varies.

It is important to note that the procedure for lubricating the throat with Lugol and other antiseptics is strictly prohibited. First of all, this can disrupt the mucous membrane, and also contribute to the spread of infection.

Operation

Removal of tonsils with follicular tonsillitis (ICD code - J03) has medical indications in the following cases:

• The development of a decompensated form of chronic tonsillitis.
• The appearance of chronic tonsillitis with toxic and allergic symptoms.
• The presence of hypertrophied palatine tonsils.
• The presence of purulent complications of tonsillitis.
• Tonsillitis, which occurs more than seven times a year.

Applied therapy of follicular tonsillitis may be prescribed. The modern Tonsilor device acts on tonsils by means of ultrasound or vacuum. In the process of its application, pus is pumped out, and, in addition, the affected area is washed, which relieves swelling with inflammation.

What else can be used in the treatment of follicular tonsillitis in adults?

Folk remedies

Experiments on the background of purulent sore throat are inappropriate, so all methods should be agreed with the doctor. It is advisable to carry out the following treatment:

• Gargle with decoctions of herbs, beetroot juice, and, in addition, lemon or honey water.
• Cooking cranberry juice.
• Drinking tea with raspberry jam.
• The exclusion of any heating procedures in the form of compresses, steam inhalations and ointments in the neck area - all this with a similar form of angina is completely unacceptable.
• The use of decoctions of thyme, rose hips, raspberries and pine needles.
• Give the child to chew propolis after each meal.

Treatment with folk remedies for such a dangerous disease as follicular tonsillitis serves only as an addition to the course of medical therapy. All parents should understand this.

Treatment of follicular tonsillitis in a child should be comprehensive.

Caring for a sick child

As part of caring for a baby who falls ill with follicular tonsillitis, it is important to observe the following recommendations:

• Compliance with bed rest.
• It is important to drink plenty of fluids.
• Walking is prohibited.
• The room in which the small patient is located should be ventilated.
• Before the ambulance arrives, you need to try to bring down the heat with the help of antipyretic drugs in the form of candles or vodka wraps.
• Drinking tea with chamomile and sage.
• The temperature of the food should always be comfortable and warm.
• The exception to the diet is salty, pickled, hot and carbonated.
• Food must be ground in a blender. Liquid cereals and soups with broths are especially welcome.

The treatment of follicular tonsillitis in a child is more successful the sooner it is started.

It is important to remember that only a doctor can tell parents exactly how to treat pathology in children in a particular situation. Each case is individual. Parents should never make any decisions on their own, otherwise serious consequences cannot be avoided.

Effects

A characteristic feature of follicular tonsillitis is the spread of pus, which even in the case of opening the vesicles does not go beyond the tonsils. True, with a severe course of the disease, this still happens. For example, purulent contents can go directly to the throat, and from there to absolutely any organ, because of this, serious complications can begin to develop, which are extremely dangerous for the child’s health:

• The appearance of paratonsillar abscess.
• The development of sepsis.
• The appearance of Lemierre Syndrome.
• The development of streptococcal meningitis.
• The occurrence of infectious toxic shock.
• The development of glomerulonephritis.
• The appearance of phlegmonous tonsillitis.
• The appearance of thrombosis, phlegmon, paratonsillitis, otitis media and laryngitis.

Each of these diseases can not only be difficult to treat, but also leaves its mark on the entire subsequent life of the child. Scars may remain after an abscess, meningitis, in turn, will lead to disability, and sepsis often leads to death. Follicular tonsillitis is just so dangerous, so you should not reduce its value. And, of course, it is always easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. Parents should regularly prevent this disease.

Now you know how to treat follicular tonsillitis.

Preventative measures

In order to protect their child from such a serious sore throat, parents from the very birth of the baby should take care of the prevention of this disease, which involves a number of the following measures:

• Decreased contact with sick people.
• Do not allow the child to eat cold foods in large quantities and even more so drink ice-cold liquid.
• To strengthen children's immunity, tempering it, giving vitamins and accustoming to sports with a healthy lifestyle.
• Providing balanced and quality nutrition.
• Timely treatment of any disease.

Thus, it is extremely important to understand how dangerous the appearance of follicular tonsillitis in children is and what consequences may lead to a frivolous attitude to it.