Every mom knows that the child’s body is often exposed to diseases, especially babies often suffer from tonsillitis, which can cause many complications. Let's figure out how to treat inflamed tonsils for children and adults, is there a need for their removal, and why our body needs them at all.
Tonsils and tonsils - what is the difference?
I would like to initially clarify one point. All parents must deal with the terms: tonsils and tonsils (what is the difference, and whether it exists at all, we learn from this material). In fact, this is one and the same. From a medical point of view, the correct name is tonsils, but tonsils are more familiar to people. Do not faint when the doctor puts an unknown diagnosis on your baby - tonsillitis. So that these words do not cause fear, you need to understand what they mean.
- Tonsils - an important organ of the immune system located in the throat, between the palatine arches, closer to the root of the tongue. The tonsils are made of lymphoid tissue.
- Doctors call tonsillitis inflammation of the tonsils. The disease can be both acute and chronic. Acute tonsillitis in a familiar life is familiar to parents as a sore throat.
- In essence, the glands are the defenders of the whole organism. It is this organ of the immune system that is a barrier to harmful microorganisms. The lymphoid tissue that the glands are made of is capable of producing special antibodies that take part in the fight against pathogenic microbes. It turns out that the main element of the immune system in children is precisely the tonsils, which protect the baby from the penetration of viruses, infections and bacteria.
Why do the body need tonsils?
Accumulations of lymphoid tissue located between the nasal and oral cavities are primarily necessary to protect the child's body from all kinds of viruses and bacteria. When inhaling, the baby, in addition to air, also captures the causative agents of various infections, and the tonsils (photos will be presented in this article) stop and neutralize them.
In addition to the protective function, palatine tonsils are involved in the regulation of blood formation, forming lymphocytes (cells of the immune system), which are involved in the formation of antibodies.
Causes of tonsil inflammation
The glands are able to protect our body only with a normally functioning immune system. Weakening of the immune system significantly reduces the ability of the tonsils to delay and neutralize viruses. What happens in this case? Microbes simply settle and accumulate on the surface of the glands, as a result of which they become inflamed. In this state, they not only do not protect the body, but, on the contrary, pose a threat. The most common disease of the tonsils is tonsillitis, in acute form - tonsillitis. Each of us knows how hard this disease is tolerated: high fever, terrible sore throat. In fact, the symptoms of angina are not as terrible as the complications that occur after the illness. No specialist in the field of medicine can compile a complete list of possible dangers, since it is replenished annually. Tonsil inflammation in some cases can lead to damage to the heart, joints, kidneys and other organs. To date, doctors have identified over 100 diseases directly related to tonsillitis. Recent studies have shown that angina can even lead to impaired reproductive function. Therefore, inflammation of the tonsils is a rather serious and dangerous disease, and even if for some reason it was not possible to avoid it, it is necessary to start treatment promptly and competently.
Symptoms of gland inflammation
With an increase in palatine tonsils in the oropharynx, there is less space, which makes breathing more difficult, and food moves worse. But this is not the worst. If at the same time adenoids, tonsils (tonsils) are inflamed, then the baby's speech suffers.
Each mother will be able to independently determine the state of accumulations of lymphoid tissue in the pharynx. With inflammation due to lateral arches, uneven rounded formations of a pale pink or yellowish color will be visible. What do glands look like in normal condition? Without exacerbation, there is no plaque on them and white dots filled with pus, edema and redness are not observed. When you click on the palatine tonsil, a soft consistency is noted. According to all these signs, the condition of the glands is determined.
If the tonsils have increased to such a state that they practically close together, then the child will have to be transferred to semi-liquid dishes. If necessary, such a diet is followed until complete recovery.
On the one hand, tonsils and tonsils (what is the difference, we already know) protect our body from attacks of viruses and bacteria directly "at the entrance", on the other hand, they become a serious threat when they can not cope with the tasks. With poor immunity or with hypothermia, an exacerbation begins, and the infection that accumulates in the tonsils leads to inflammation, accompanied by fever and sore throat.
Why are enlarged glands dangerous?
Inflamed palatine tonsils become the focus of infection for the entire body, the so-called powder keg, exploding, which will lead not only to tonsillitis, but also to a number of other inflammations (most often otitis media). Since the enlarged glands are not able to fulfill their primary function (protective), the infection freely passes through the Eustachian tube into the ear. In addition, chronic tonsillitis (tonsils in the inflamed state) is often accompanied by rhinitis, sinusitis or sinusitis.
Enlarged glands lead to a decrease in immunity, therefore, frequent colds and general weakness of the baby "just around the corner". The child looks tired, he does not have enough strength for long physical and emotional stress, some even begin to lag behind the school curriculum.
Tonsil enlargement
Otolaryngologists classify tonsils (photos of normal and inflamed conditions are presented in this material) according to their degree of increase. So it is much easier to diagnose the condition of the baby and choose the necessary treatment tactics.
So, ENT doctors distinguish three degrees of enlargement of the tonsils:
- The gland occupies a third of the space between the front edge of the palatine arch and the opener.
- Tonsil occupied 2/3 places.
- The entire space is occupied by a hypertrophic gland.
Tonsil problems
As mentioned earlier, the defenders of our body (tonsils) can become inflamed, however, in addition to this, they cause other problems to the child’s body:
- Some babies are born with malformations of the tonsils, for example, the presence of an extra palatal lobule. As a rule, in such situations, special treatment is not prescribed.
- Hyperplasia or proliferation of tonsil tissue. It is observed in childhood, if the child does not feel any discomfort, intervention is not necessary.
- Various injuries. Most often, burns when swallowing boiling liquid or a chemical. Such tonsil damage must be treated exclusively in the hospital and as quickly as possible.
- In tonsils fish bones can get stuck. In this case, to remove a foreign body you will need the help of a specialist.
- Tumors on the tonsils are extremely rare, they can be eliminated only by surgical intervention.
Tonsil Treatment
Most of the inflammation of the tonsils affects children aged 3 to 10 years. Someone has a child with a sore throat periodically, while someone just does not have time to take a break from the disease. The treatment tactics for each case will be individual.
With angina, the first thing to adhere to is bed rest. In addition, several therapeutic measures are prescribed during the disease: general and local therapy, heavy drinking, taking antihistamines, and immuno-strengthening therapy. It is strictly forbidden to touch the purulent tonsils, even to get rid of purulent exudate.
Many mothers with angina make the baby gargle with an antibacterial solution in the hope that in this way they can get rid of plaque on the tonsils. However, the benefits of this procedure remain in doubt. In fact, the solution does not reach the surface of the glands.
Direct contact of inflamed palatine tonsils with a solution is observed during drinking. That is why patients with angina recommend several times a day to drink tea with lemon, warm milk with the addition of honey, soda and butter.
Now it is worth paying a little attention to antibiotics. Without them, it will not be possible to cure a sore throat (what glands look like with a disease, you can see in the photo), moreover, the probability increases that the disease will become chronic. Since bacteria quickly adapt to antibiotics, the range of drugs is replenished annually. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that the pediatrician did not prescribe penicillin, but a stronger modern medication. Which antibiotic is right for your child should be decided only by a specialist, taking into account the history of allergies, atopic dermatitis, or bronchial asthma.
Treatment with traditional medicine
I would like to talk about the most effective methods of dealing with sore tonsils, which are mainly used to treat children.
- Decoction of chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, pine buds, violets, horsetail and a series of. All herbs are mixed and poured with boiling water, insist for 2-3 hours. Ready broth is used to gargle.
- It helps with angina honey and red pepper. Put the necessary ingredients on the compression paper , light the wax candle from below and wait until the honey melts. Then remove the pod of red pepper and take 2 tablespoons before meals.
- With tonsillitis, an infusion with Kalanchoe is effective. It is used to gargle.
We hope this article will help young parents to deal with terms such as tonsils and tonsils, what is the difference between tonsillitis and tonsillitis, too, they will understand.