In medicine, the term "chronic tonsillitis" refers to an infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract. The formation of the inflammatory focus occurs in the tonsils. The main trigger factor in the development of pathology is the long-term effect of pathogens on lymphoid tissue. What is the danger of chronic tonsillitis? In the absence of timely medical care, various complications arise, during which internal organs, including the heart, are affected.
Development mechanism
In the oral cavity of the person are tonsils, consisting of lymphoid tissue. Their task is to recognize pathogens and inform the immune system about their penetration into the body. In addition to them, there are many protective mechanisms in the oral cavity that interfere with the vital activity of pathogens. A healthy body can cope with viruses and bacteria on its own, but under the influence of various adverse factors, this process may fail. As a result, tonsillitis develops, which, without timely treatment, becomes chronic.
The mechanism of the development of the disease consists of the following stages:
- Pathogens enter the tonsils. If the protective forces are weakened at this time, a favorable environment is created for viruses and bacteria. A logical result is the development of the inflammatory process in the mucous membrane, it reddens and swells. At the same time, part of the pathogens penetrates the bloodstream.
- Pathogens actively multiply, causing severe intoxication of the body. At this stage, a person’s condition worsens significantly. Toxins have a negative effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. In addition, there is a partial necrosis of the tonsils, lymph cells die, and the resulting voids are filled with pus.
- Vital products of pathogens cause an allergic reaction. Against this background, the absorption rate of toxic compounds in the tonsils increases, due to which they increase in size even more.
- The pathological process extends to some internal organs. This is due to the presence in the tonsils of nerve nodes, in which blood flow is disturbed during the disease.
- Bacteria continue to multiply, the immune system is not able to completely destroy them. Some of them settle in gaps, creating foci of inflammation. The constant presence of pathogens significantly weakens the body's defenses and can cause the development of autoimmune diseases.
Thus, destructive changes occur in the tonsils and nearby tissues, which negatively affects the condition of internal organs. The course of the disease is characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and improvement. In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), chronic tonsillitis is assigned the code J35.0.
Causes
During the development of the inflammatory process, the delicate lymphoid tissue becomes dense, scars form, which partially block the exit from the gaps. As a result, pus, microbes, dead epithelial cells accumulate in them. From this content, peculiar plugs are formed that completely fill the gaps. As a result, a favorable environment is created for the further propagation of pathogens. The toxic compounds released in the course of their life activity are distributed throughout the body by blood, leading to severe intoxication, due to which the work of almost all systems is disrupted.
The development of chronic tonsillitis is slow. Against this background, the immune system is disrupted, which begins to respond inappropriately to an existing infection.
The following diseases and conditions affect the development of this process:
- polyps;
- adenoids;
- sinusitis;
- sinusitis;
- curvature of the nasal septum;
- dental caries;
- various pathologies of an infectious nature;
- hereditary predisposition.
The above causes of chronic tonsillitis are also triggering factors for the transition of the disease to the stage of exacerbation.
In addition, the occurrence of this condition is facilitated by:
- unbalanced diet;
- excessive consumption of alcohol-containing drinks;
- smoking;
- adverse environmental conditions;
- work in hazardous production;
- prolonged exposure to stress;
- physical stress;
- lack of good rest;
- hypothermia of the body;
- non-compliance with the drinking regime.
The constant presence of microbes forces the immune system to work hard. This condition negatively affects the condition of internal organs, and therefore persons with chronic tonsillitis should not delay treatment of the pathology.
Symptoms
According to the nature of the course, doctors divide the disease into several forms:
- Recurrent. It is characterized by frequent episodes of tonsillitis.
- Simple lingering. With this form, the nature of the inflammatory process is sluggish, it develops only in the tonsils.
- Simple offset. Its feature is rare relapse.
- Toxic-allergic.
The simple form is accompanied by the appearance of the following symptoms of chronic tonsillitis:
- a feeling of having a foreign body in the oral cavity;
- discomfort while swallowing;
- unpleasant odor;
- dry mucosa;
- sore throat.
The disease is always accompanied by the formation of purulent plugs in the gaps. They are easily visualized without the use of special devices. The temperature in chronic tonsillitis rises periodically. It can reach high rates in the acute stage. Moreover, its increase is accompanied by headache, weakness, general malaise. Lymph nodes in chronic tonsillitis are always enlarged. With their palpation, painful sensations may appear.
In the absence of treatment, the internal organs (toxic-allergic form) are involved in the pathological process. At the same time, the signs of diseases join the standard symptoms of chronic tonsillitis:
- Vestibular apparatus (headache, constant tinnitus, short-term impaired consciousness).
- Musculoskeletal system (arthritis, rheumatism).
- Skin integument (eczema, psoriasis).
- Of cardio-vascular system.
- Kidney.
- The liver.
Due to the fact that the tonsils themselves become a constant source of infection, the body suffers from severe intoxication. Patients complain of severe fatigue, decreased performance, pain in various parts of the body. Body temperature often rises to subfebrile values, episodes of tonsillitis occur more often and are more difficult to tolerate.
In any child, chronic tonsillitis develops against the background of an untreated acute form. Periods of exacerbation are accompanied by pronounced symptoms. They occur during the weakening of the body's defenses, usually in the cold season.
Signs of exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis in a child are the following conditions:
- burning or tingling sensation in the throat;
- difficulty swallowing;
- bad breath;
- decreased appetite;
- increased salivation;
- chills;
- fever;
- headache;
- husky voice;
- dry cough;
- dry mucous membrane;
- a sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the throat;
- discomfort in the abdomen;
- nausea turning into vomiting;
- cramps
- the presence on the tonsils of plaque of white or yellow.
Children suffer periods of exacerbation much harder. Pain in chronic tonsillitis can have a different degree of intensity. On palpation, enlarged and painful lymph nodes are always found, ulcers on the tonsils are visible with the naked eye.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is not difficult for the doctor. The treatment of chronic tonsillitis is performed by an otorhinolaryngologist. During the admission, he conducts diagnostic measures, including questioning and examination of the patient. The doctor must provide information on the symptoms and the severity of their symptoms, as well as to clarify the time of their occurrence. During the examination, the doctor assesses the condition of the tonsils and determines the contents of the gaps, and also makes special prints from them for a laboratory study for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, the specialist emphasizes the need for an early treatment of the disease and talks about the danger of chronic tonsillitis.
To obtain the most complete information, the doctor draws up directions for clinical and biochemical blood tests. Based on the results of the analyzes, he can judge the degree and prevalence of the inflammatory process, as well as the state of the body's defenses.
Conservative Therapies
The treatment regimen for chronic tonsillitis is made taking into account all the characteristics of the patient’s health. It includes medication and local procedures.
The following groups of medicines are prescribed by doctors:
- Antibiotics. In chronic tonsillitis, they are taken only during periods of exacerbation. In addition, a decision on the appropriateness of their appointment is made on the basis of the results of the backseeding. This is due to the fact that some antibiotics for chronic tonsillitis can worsen the patient's condition or not help him at all. Without exacerbation, such drugs are ineffective. In addition, they disrupt the intestinal microflora, the oral cavity and negatively affect the state of the immune system.
- Probiotics Antimicrobial agents aggressively affect the body. Along with the start of their administration, probiotics must also be used. As a rule, doctors prescribe the following drugs: Acipol, Primadofilus, Narine, Linex, Normobakt.
- Painkillers. They are used as symptomatic therapy. To eliminate pronounced pain sensations, the doctor recommends Nurofen or Ibuprofen. With a little discomfort, their reception is impractical.
- Antihistamines. They are prescribed to reduce the degree of swelling of the tonsils. Doctors recommend taking the latest generation of drugs with a prolonged effect: Cetrin, Zirtek, Zodak, Telfast.
- Antiseptics. Gargling is one of the key steps in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis. Currently, the pharmaceutical market is selling many products in the form of both ready-made solutions and various substances that must be diluted independently. Information on how to rinse with chronic tonsillitis is provided by the doctor. The most effective drugs are Miramistin and Dioxidin.
- Immunomodulators. Assigned to strengthen local defense mechanisms. Currently, doctors are increasingly recommending the use of the drug "Imudon".
- Homeopathic remedies. The purpose of this treatment is to increase the duration of the period of remission.
- Emollients Against the background of the development of the inflammatory process and taking medications, the sensation of dryness in the mouth intensifies, a feeling of soreness in the throat appears. To soften the mucous membrane, the doctor recommends planting oil in the nose (for example, sea buckthorn or apricot oil).
Treatment of chronic tonsillitis may additionally include the following methods:
- Ultrasonic irrigation. Its essence is as follows: with the help of a special tip, the doctor processes the palatine tonsils. In most cases, Miramistin is used as a medicine. Due to the ultrasonic effect, the solution better processes the mucous membrane, while its healing properties are not lost.
- Laser Therapy On the back wall of the pharynx and tonsils direct radiation. In the process of therapy, tissue edema decreases and the inflammatory process is eliminated.
- UV exposure. Sessions of the Ural Federal District involve thorough rehabilitation of the oral cavity.
Each of the above methods is carried out by courses. The duration and number of sessions are determined individually. To ensure a lasting result, twice a year it is necessary to undergo preventive treatment.
Surgical intervention
A competent specialist never insists on surgery unless all possible conservative methods have been tried. With tonsils removed, chronic tonsillitis may recede, but the patient often suffers from bronchitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, etc.
Indications for surgical intervention are:
- ineffectiveness of drug treatment;
- sore throat episodes occur more than 4 times a year;
- enlarged tonsils disrupt the processes of respiration and swallowing;
- abscesses;
- serious complications (diseases of the kidneys, musculoskeletal system, etc.).
Preparation for surgery includes a thorough diagnosis of the patient’s health status. Surgical intervention is not performed if:
- severe diabetes mellitus;
- decompensated kidney disease;
- circulatory failure;
- hypertension of 3 degrees;
- serious pathologies of fluid connective tissue.
Currently, there are 2 methods for removing tonsils:
- Tonsillotomy.
- Tonsillectomy
The first method involves partial removal of the tonsils, the second is complete. The choice of methodology depends on the severity of the disease and the presence of concomitant pathologies.
The operation is carried out with a scalpel or using a laser. The latter is considered a more gentle method, since removal of the tonsils is not accompanied by bleeding. In addition, the contact of the laser with the tissue is a fraction of a second, due to which the severity of discomfort is minimized.
In the first day after the operation, the patient is forbidden to eat. It is allowed to drink water in small quantities. In addition, it is necessary to observe bed rest, while the head should be raised. During the recovery period, it is forbidden to eat solid, cold or excessively hot food.
Folk remedies
It is important to understand that non-traditional methods of treatment do not exclude the need to consult a specialist. They are optional and must be agreed with your doctor.
The following folk remedies for chronic tonsillitis are considered the most effective:
- Squeeze the juice from the leaves of aloe and mix it with honey in a ratio of 1: 3. The prepared composition must be stored in the refrigerator. Before use, it must be heated in a water bath and put with a spatula on the tonsils. The procedure must be performed twice a day several hours before a meal. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
- Mix in a ratio of 1: 1 honey and freshly squeezed onion juice. The resulting product must be drunk three times a day for 1 teaspoon.
- Grind oak bark and chamomile flowers. Mix them in equal proportions and make a decoction of them. Cool, strain. The resulting broth regularly gargle.
If not treated?
In the absence of timely medical care, serious consequences of chronic tonsillitis occur. First of all, the respiratory tract is affected, as the pathological process spreads, the work of most organs and systems is disrupted.
Chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy is extremely dangerous . During the period of gestation, the risk of late toxicosis increases significantly. In addition, against the background of an exacerbation of the disease, a miscarriage or premature birth can occur. It is impossible to ignore chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy, but at the same time, some drugs can harm the baby. In this regard, doctors advise taking a preventive course of therapy at the stage of conception planning.
Recommendations for patients with chronic tonsillitis
In order to avoid surgical intervention and significantly reduce the incidence of exacerbations, the following rules must be regularly observed:
- Twice a year, visit the ENT specialist. The doctor performs the sanitation of the oral cavity, cleans the lacunae of the tonsils from purulent plugs and prescribes medications that soften the mucous membrane and strengthen local immunity.
- Regularly ventilate the house and carry out wet cleaning. Compliance with this rule eliminates the occurrence of provoking factors in the form of bacteria and allergens.
- Adjust your diet in accordance with the principles of proper nutrition. It is necessary to exclude products that irritate the mucous membrane. These include: fatty, fried, spicy, salty, sour and smoked dishes. In addition, you need to minimize the consumption of citrus fruits. All food should be warm, it is forbidden to eat too hot and cold dishes. You should also refrain from taking alcohol-containing drinks.
- Full rest and avoid getting into stressful situations.
Regular observance of these rules significantly reduces the risk of exacerbations and, accordingly, increases the duration of the remission period.
Finally
Chronic tonsillitis is a disease that has several stages of development, each of which has its own symptoms. The most dangerous form is considered in which the tonsils themselves become a source of infection. With the flow of blood, harmful compounds are carried throughout the body, disrupting the operation of critical systems.
During periods of exacerbation, it is necessary to consult an otorhinolaryngologist as soon as possible. The doctor will perform a reorganization and prescribe suitable medications. With their inefficiency and the presence of serious complications, the question of the advisability of surgical intervention will be decided. You cannot prescribe treatment yourself.
Once again, in the ICD, chronic tonsillitis has the code J35. 0.