At the moment, the problem of enlarged tonsils is very common. Almost 15% of the world's population has a chronic form of tonsillitis. This is a sore throat, during which tonsils become inflamed. This disease is quite complicated. The temperature rises, severe pain appears, respiratory and swallowing processes may be disturbed. Often the described problem affects children. In this article, we will analyze the causes of inflammation, photographs of the affected oral cavity and what actions to take.
Building and purpose
Before discussing what to do with enlarged tonsils and what to treat, you need to consider why they are intended and what function they perform in the body.
The pharynx is the junction of the esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, nose and ears. Six tonsils are located in it. There is pharyngeal, reed, as well as a pair of palatine and tubal. They are made from lymphatic tissue. It is she who produces the necessary protective substances for the body.
Due to the correct location of the tonsils, a certain pharyngeal “ring” arises. Thanks to it, bacteria do not pass into the body, but are excreted directly through the oral cavity.
Palatine tonsils are usually affected first during acute or chronic illnesses. They are on the right and left pharynx. They can be seen in the mirror if you open your mouth wide. As a rule, due to the fact that they are the first to inflame most often, a person develops a painful tonsillitis.
Pipe - deeper. The oral cavity with the nasopharynx is connected and protected by the pharyngeal tonsil.
The closing link should be called the language, which is located at the base of the language. Ideally, the glands completely cope with the resulting infections, delaying them.
As a rule, with inflammation, tonsils are enlarged in adults and children due to the fact that immunity begins to deteriorate. Lymphocytes and other important cells could not resist the infection, so it began to develop. Tonsils are the first to respond to this inflammation.
Causes of inflammation
Tonsil inflammation causes an infection. It can enter the mouth or nose in many ways. As a rule, the disease develops in one of the following ways.
The disease can occur due to dental caries or a constant runny nose.
Often, tonsillitis occurs with hypothermia, if a person has a weak immune system.
Various microorganisms often have an effect. They can be pneumococci, streptococci, and so on. First, they infect the oral cavity and the pharynx itself, and then they penetrate the body.
An infection can occur from a patient who suffers from enlarged tonsils. In this case, the symptoms and, in principle, the process itself will proceed similarly in both cases.
If we consider tonsillitis by the nature of the pathogen, then there are viral, fungal, herpetic and bacterial species.
Catarrhal sore throat
Catarrhal tonsillitis is considered the mildest form of tonsillitis. This disease is quickly tolerated by adults, but this can not be said about children. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that if there is serous plaque on the tonsils, then we can talk about the development of scarlet fever.
Most often, the causative agent of this disease is group A streptococcus. This inflammatory process is considered to be initial. It easily passes into follicular, lacunar or phlegmonous tonsillitis.
If we talk about symptoms, then a fever can appear, intoxication of the body occurs, an increase in tonsils in the child is observed. In this case, treatment should be carried out immediately so as not to start the disease. Also, sharp pain, fever in the throat and general weakness can sometimes appear. It is necessary to observe a gentle regime of the day. Often, adults practically do not feel symptoms and endure catarrhal tonsillitis quite easily.
Treatment of catarrhal sore throat in children
Speaking about the treatment of catarrhal tonsillitis, as a rule, we are talking about a disease in a child. Most often, children suffer this inflammation hard. There is fever, weakness, and severe pain. As soon as the first symptoms appear, it is necessary to call a doctor. Angina can be the cause of the development of diphtheria and scarlet fever. After the examination will be carried out by a doctor, you must immediately comply with all the requirements. This will completely get rid of enlarged tonsils. A photo of sore throat is given in the article.
As a rule, penicillin-type antibiotics are used to treat a child, bed rest and vitamins are prescribed. You can also rinse your mouth with decoctions of chamomile, celandine or any other medicinal herbs that are suitable to maintain a healthy oral cavity. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the child drank a large amount of liquid. She must be warm.
Catarrhal sore throat in adults
If we are talking about the treatment of adults, then it completely depends on well-being and the clinical picture. In order for a person to recover quickly and enlarged tonsils come back to normal, antibiotics are prescribed. You can use spray, resorption plates, as well as rinsing agents. They will help relieve inflammation. If the disease does not recede, then in order to prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to observe bed rest.
More severe forms of inflammation
If you ignore the treatment of enlarged tonsils, then you can allow the appearance of severe forms of the disease. The disease begins to progress to gaps. These are deeper sections of the glands. White plaque or purulent follicles may appear. In this case, the sore throat will already be in severe form, therefore, quality treatment is necessary.
There are two types of disease. There is follicular and lacunar inflammation. They differ in characteristic features. Can occur simultaneously on different sides of the pharynx.
This condition is very dangerous for the heart and kidneys. That is why the main thing is to properly cure the disease and prevent the transition to a chronic form.
Lacunar tonsillitis is accompanied by inflammation of the tonsils, the symptoms are a bit like the follicular type. A distinctive feature will be a white coating and a very sharp sore throat, which occurs completely suddenly. Also during the day, a person may not feel that he has enlarged tonsils. However, by the evening all the symptoms will be there.
Among the additional manifestations should be noted constipation, vomiting or diarrhea, general weakness, cough. Perspiration and constant thirst also arise.
Treatment of follicular and lacunar tonsillitis
Treatment of enlarged tonsils, especially if purulent inflammation has already begun, should be quite serious and only under the supervision of a doctor. There are two techniques. It is medical and surgical. If a person likes to use folk remedies, then with their help it is possible to reduce not only inflammation, but also to alleviate symptoms. The doctor usually prescribes antibiotics. Often used penicillin options - “Sumamed” and “Erythromycin”. If it comes to viral damage, then it is necessary to take drugs that act on this pathogen, respectively. Only a doctor can prescribe. It reveals the nature of the disease, as well as the state of the human body. In addition to antibiotics, local injections, suction of pus, vitamins and stimulants that help improve the immune system, physiotherapy, follicular lavage of the throat, and also treatment of the tonsils with a special oil solution should be prescribed.
Treating children
Particular attention should be paid to inflammation in children. In this case, the symptoms and methods of treatment will differ from the above. It is imperative to drink antibiotics, otherwise tonsillitis cannot be cured. You also need to know that this disease leads to complications, including heart disease. Therefore, you should be as careful as possible. Penicillin antibiotics are considered the safest, they are prescribed even for newborns. The child needs to constantly drink warm water and eat soft mashed potatoes or cereals. Now do not worry if the child has enlarged tonsils. What to do is described above.
Phlegmonous inflammation of the tonsils
Phlegmonous tonsillitis is accompanied by purulent inflammation. It is localized near the tonsils. Very often this disease occurs as a complication of tonsillitis. Often occurs literally in a couple of days and the tonsils begin to become inflamed.
This sore throat is one-sided. Quite rarely, it occurs immediately on two tonsils. There is acute pain when swallowing, the temperature rises, there may be increased salivation. There is a weakness of the body. When the amygdala is enlarged on one side, it becomes larger and begins to shift toward the center of the larynx. You may feel that it is pulled down.
If you slowly treat this disease, then an abscess occurs. It is he who is one hundred percent confirmation of the diagnosis.
Symptoms and treatment
If we talk about symptoms and treatment, then they are completely similar to the above. The main rule is to start taking medication quickly. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics, prescribe immunostimulants and special anti-inflammatory drugs. The first few days the patient needs to lie in bed. If an abscess begins, then only surgical therapy is used, in which the tonsils are opened. Then they are washed and removed, if there is a corresponding indication. So you can prevent the development of complications.
Pharyngeal tonsil inflammation
The nasopharyngeal tonsil is quite important. It protects the body in case of infection in the nasal cavity. As soon as the slightest signs of the development of the disease appear, it immediately increases in size. If a cold often occurs and between flashes the interval is not more than a week, then the tonsil is not restored. Therefore, the temperature can be noticeably increased, tonsils are enlarged. As a result, it becomes chronic.
Very often this problem occurs in childhood. As soon as a person turns 13-15 years old, tonsils are reduced in size, and inflammation is practically not found.
As a rule, frequent runny nose can provoke problems. If it is protracted, it is difficult to treat, constant breathing by the mouth is observed, especially at night, colds occur with a frequency of 1.5 weeks. Or, on the contrary, nasal breathing is difficult, and there is no runny nose, then we can already talk about inflammation of this tonsil. Also, infections can provoke this disease. For example, measles, flu or scarlet fever.
Most often, parents do not even know that their child has problems with the pharyngeal tonsil. If the chronic process begins, then complications may occur with the heart, kidneys, and musculoskeletal system.
Adenoiditis Treatment
At the moment, there are two approaches to the treatment of adenoids. It's about surgical and conservative. First you need to use physiotherapy, immunotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as washing the nose.
If adenoids do not decrease in size, but continue to grow, then they will have to resort to their removal. However, you should not think that a person will stop getting sick after this. Due to the removal of the tonsils, inflammation begins, so the infection penetrates the body. Thus, tonsillitis or otitis media will replace this disease.
Strongly overgrown adenoids will have to be treated in any case. After all, they are a threat. Therefore, in no case can you ignore enlarged tonsils. What to do? Due to respiratory failure, you will have to remove them anyway.