Phlegmonous tonsillitis is a process of inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsils. In medical practice, there is a special designation for this disease - acute paratonsillitis.
The main cause of the onset of the disease is external damage by bacteria. The infection with a blood stream from a source of chronic infection in the body (otitis media, sinusitis, arthritis, nephritis and other diseases) is also likely. Once in the space of tonsil cells, infectious agents quickly begin to multiply, creating a strong inflammatory process and general poisoning of the body by toxins that are released during their life. As a rule, one amygdala is involved in the pathology process, in rare cases, two. Phlegmonous tonsillitis is most often manifested in people aged 22-44 years.
Causes of the disease
The onset of the disease is contributed by:
- Weakening of the immune system after diseases (hepatitis, influenza, scarlet fever, intestinal or adenovirus infection, otitis media, diphtheria, mumps, etc.).
- The presence of purulent diseases in the body, especially in the mouth (cyst or tooth decay).
- Blood diseases (leukemia, anemia).
- Severe hypothermia.
- Excessive consumption of very cold drinks or food.
- Chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis.
Symptoms of the disease
Phlegmonous tonsillitis develops in a very acute form for several hours after infection with the tonsils. Patients report pain in the throat both during a conversation and during swallowing of saliva, fluid, and food. The feeling of pain does not leave people even at rest, they are forced to take various poses (tipping their heads back or tilting it in some direction) in order to alleviate their condition at least slightly.
The voice of these people is hoarse and deaf, sometimes they absolutely can not talk. Patients are so focused on pain that they practically do not open their mouths, their cheekbones are constantly squeezed, people refuse to eat, can not fall asleep. Often there is increased salivation, and there is also a bad breath.
Along with symptoms of tonsil disease, a pronounced poisoning of the body by toxins occurs. The temperature rises to 38-41 degrees, sweating excessively intensifies, a person feels lethargic and weakened. Likely aches in joints and muscles, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea. Lymph nodes in the ear and jaw area are painful on palpation and enlarged.
After a few days, you can visually observe a strong increase, swelling of the tonsils, redness in this area. All these signs indicate that chronic phlegmonous tonsillitis begins. A photo of the throat (see below) shows vague areas filled with pus. Also, this stage of the disease is distinguished by the appearance and increase of phlegmon, which do not have a clear form and are found throughout the gland area.
When this focus is opened, patients begin to feel relief. Pain decreases, temperature decreases, activity is restored, appetite begins to appear.
When the abscess opens itself, then a fistulous hole is formed in this place, through it the pus comes out. If phlegmonous tonsillitis has such signs , treatment in this case occurs surgically and involves an incision in the fiber to remove pathological exudate from the glands.
Diagnosis of the disease
This ailment has some distinctive clinical symptoms that simplify the diagnosis:
- A history of vitamin deficiencies, blood diseases, immunodeficiency states.
- There is a sharp increase in temperature to high rates. Intoxication of the body is pronounced.
- An abscess on the glands is formed against a background of a prolonged sore throat or other inflammation in the oral cavity, after diphtheria or scarlet fever.
- With a diagnosis of phlegmonous tonsillitis, the photo shows the rapid spread of infiltration on the tonsils, which ends with the appearance of a purulent abscess.
- Strongly expressed swelling of the tonsils, atypical for other types of tonsillitis.
The diagnosis of this disease is based on an examination of a person and a history.
Laboratory diagnosis includes the collection of general tests of urine and blood to determine the degree of inflammation. To determine the infection that caused the disease, tests for the presence of antibodies to the infectious agent in the blood of a person, smears from the throat are used. To determine if an antibiotic treats phlegmonous tonsillitis, a sensitivity test is performed. For this, a diagnostic puncture is performed - a puncture is made in the area of the tonsils with a fence of pathological contents. All of these methods make it possible to detect the presence of certain bacteria. As a rule, the disease is caused by the ingestion of a staphylococcal or streptococcal virus.
Possible complications
Phlegmonous tonsillitis without timely and proper treatment leads to spontaneous opening of the focus of pus, impregnating the parenchyma of the tonsils. Parenchymal tonsillitis needs immediate surgical treatment and is sometimes complicated by the onset of sepsis.
An abscess of the neck is a consequence that is most often found with a disease such as phlegmonous tonsillitis. The doctors' reviews about the treatment of this pathology are very disappointing due to the close proximity to the skin surface in the neck region of blood vessels and nerve endings, which are often pinched. If purulent fluid transmits capillaries in the glands, then mechanical deformation is likely, accompanied by bleeding.
Conservative and surgical treatment
Given the passage of the disease and the likely complications associated with it, conservative treatment or surgery is performed:
- Conservative treatment. With the diagnosis of phlegmonous tonsillitis, treatment is carried out using various antibiotics, the duration of this therapy is usually 1-2 weeks. Locally prescribed rinsing of the mouth with antiseptic drugs, irrigation of the larynx with anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic properties or treatment of tonsils with iodine-based drugs.
- Surgical intervention. As a rule, antibiotic therapy is not enough to treat this disease, very often it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention.
Needle aspiration
This procedure makes it possible to remove pus from the abscess. Needle aspiration is carried out using a special needle. During the procedure, the patient is most likely to be given an injection of a sedative so that he can relax, or a local anesthetic drug to anesthetize the area of the future puncture so that there is no pain. After aspiration, the seized pus is sent for examination to identify the type of infection that caused the inflammation and its response to antibiotics.
Drainage and incision
Sometimes, an inflamed area is cut to remove fluid from the abscess. It is also done under the influence of sedatives and relaxing agents, anesthesia or anesthetics so that the patient does not experience pain during the procedure.
Tonsillectomy
This is a gland removal surgery. This operation is recommended in especially severe cases or with chronic inflammation of the larynx.
Given the complexity of the disease, the patient may need to spend 3-5 days in the hospital. During this time, medications are administered with a dropper. After discharge, you will need a bed rest for a week at home.
Disease prevention
Preventive measures of the disease include:
- Prophylactic tonsil cutting with constantly recurring inflammatory processes.
- A timely visit to the doctor during a suspicion of any kind of sore throat, as well as during other inflammatory diseases of the nasal and oral cavity.
- Healthy lifestyle, hardening, the use of vitamins, proper nutrition.
- Avoiding hypothermia, strengthening immunity.
However, the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid contact with people who suffer from bacterial or viral pathologies. For example, do not use a cup, a plate of a person who suffers from tonsillitis. Follow personal hygiene, constantly wash your palms with hot water. Smoking also increases the risk of phlegmonous tonsillitis.
The article describes in detail what phlegmonous tonsillitis is. Symptoms, treatment of the disease have become known to you. To avoid such a serious illness, follow the rules of hygiene and take preventive measures. Take care of yourself!