Chronic tonsillitis is an infectious disease that regularly affects the palatine tonsils. Otherwise they are called glands. Located on the sides of the palatine curtain, in the cavity between the tongue and soft palate, they are part of the lymphoid pharyngeal ring, which creates a protective barrier for harmful microorganisms that are trying to penetrate from the outside.
Causes of inflammation in the tonsils
A systematically repeated, poorly treatable, protracted inflammatory process, in other words, advanced tonsillitis, causes the tonsils to cease to cope with natural functions. Microorganisms that have penetrated inside are not destroyed and are sources of the onset of the inflammatory process, first acute, and then chronic.
The cause of its occurrence is infectious pathogens remaining in the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils and throat after poorly treated acute tonsillitis, the appearance of which occurs due to:
- violation of natural nasal breathing, often developing due to a curved nasal septum;
- the presence of infectious foci in other organs - sinusitis, rhinitis, caries, adenoids;
- deterioration of the immune system;
- proliferation of polyps.
Possible consequences of the disease
In the period of chronic tonsillitis, the tonsils are characterized by a bright red color, they are enlarged, swollen, densified, adhesions form in the holes, fluid pus collects and toxins are released. Those can not get out of the normal channels, thereby involving other organs (kidneys, skin, intestines), which causes immune disorders and the development of side diseases: sepsis, psoriasis, thyrotoxicosis, eczema.
Chronic angina is a key cause of frequent pharyngitis, bronchitis, diseases of internal organs (rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus, endocarditis), allergic and autoimmune diseases. Under the influence of a constantly present infectious focus, such complications of tonsillitis as heart defects, diseases of the digestive tract can develop. In the role of "provocateurs" are adverse clinical conditions, poor nutrition, hypothermia and, as a result, tonsillitis. The transition of a common disease to the chronic stage is most characteristic of the adult population. It is an adult who, due to the crazy rhythm of life and constant employment, most often suffers diseases on his legs, not thinking what complications of tonsillitis may be in the future. Sometimes chronic sore throat develops as an independent disease: the microbes that get on the tonsils “inhabit” other places: the nose or the oral cavity.
How is angina transmitted
There are several ways to transmit this disease from one person to another:
- Airborne droplets resulting from social contacts. The peak of epidemics is observed in the off-season or in winter - the time when a person most often coughs and sneezes.
How is angina transmitted from loved ones? In the process of using some personal hygiene items, dishes or through a kiss. - Alimentary path - through the use of products infected with staphylococcus. Therefore, before eating, you always need to wash the products with quality.
- Autoinfection. This is hypothermia, stress, any decrease in immunity, causing the activation of pathogenic bacteria that live on the tonsils of any healthy person.
Symptoms of a chronic form of the disease
Chronic sore throat is a disease that requires therapeutic treatment both in the repetition stage and outside the intervals of exacerbation, because tonsils under the constant influence of infection lose their protective properties. Exacerbations occur up to several times a year, weakened people can face this process every month. Symptoms characteristic of this disease:
- discomfort and pain in the throat;
- red, swollen and hot tonsils with a touch of white or yellow;
- feeling of stiffness when turning the neck;
- increase in body temperature;
- difficulty swallowing saliva, water, food;
- hoarseness of voice;
- abdominal pain;
- the appearance of symptoms of intoxication.
Temperature with angina is one of the main signs of the presence of an active inflammatory process in the body. In the first 2-3 days, its indicator often amounts to 38-39 , then its gradual decrease occurs. Sometimes, extremely rarely, there is no temperature with angina . This phenomenon occurs after a severe infection and indicates a pronounced suppression of the immune system.
At the same time, in the period of relapse, untreated angina may not manifest itself with the above symptoms, but be limited to some worsening of well-being, tolerant pains when swallowing, which quickly pass, sometimes even without drug therapy. This does not mean that the disease has left the body. On the contrary, it is in the process of development, which persistently causes damage to health. Outside the period of exacerbation, chronic tonsillitis is manifested by periodic bouts of weakness and bad breath.
Disease treatment
Treatment of tonsillitis is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor and consists in restoring the function of the tonsils themselves and getting rid of the accompanying foci of infection.
Conservative therapy consists in the application of special techniques and medicines and consists of a whole range of measures, such as:
- Modern medicine offers hardware treatment for this, most often it is the most effective method for this form of the disease. The essence of this treatment is a special injection, after which the tonsil lacunae are cleaned with a vacuum, and the resulting voids are filled with a drug.
- Laser therapy, the result of which is a decrease in swelling of the throat and inflammatory processes occurring in the tonsils.
- Ural federal district, considered the most proven and effective method of sanitizing foci of chronic infection, causes the destruction of bacteria, the speedy healing of cells, increased nutrition and blood supply in the treated area.
The above manipulations are carried out by courses, numbering from 5 to 15 sessions.
Drug therapy
Drug therapy in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis is aimed at the destruction of the infection, the regeneration of the immune system and includes:
- Antibiotics. These drugs are taken with bright exacerbations of the disease, until the pathogen disappears completely. Often use Sumamed, Azithromycin, Cefazolin. Belonging to the macrolide group, such drugs are characterized by high efficiency in treatment and the ability to accumulate in the focus of inflammation - lymphoid tissue. Antibiotics of this group are active against pathogens of often exacerbating atypical pneumonia and tonsillitis: chlamydia and mycoplasmas. They are also characterized by antimicrobial action, which is especially useful for preventing thrush of the mouth, which often occurs after prolonged use of other antibiotics.
- Probiotics They contribute to the restoration of intestinal microflora, which positively affects immunity. Popular drugs are Bifidum, Linex.
- Absorbable tablets, sprays for inhalation.
- Immunostimulating drugs. To increase local immunity in the oral cavity, doctors often prescribe "Imudon".
Angina: how to rinse a sore throat?
A mandatory method of therapy in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis is gargling, for which you can use different solutions.
The most simple and effective is the therapeutic composition of salt, iodine and soda. To do this, a teaspoon of soda and salt and 5 drops of iodine must be dissolved in a glass of boiled water.
A powerful tool that relieves inflammation and swelling of the throat is beet juice. To prepare it, you will need a glass of beet juice and 20 ml of apple cider vinegar. The resulting composition gargle sore throat every 3 hours.
Herbal decoctions contribute to a quick recovery. This can be an infusion of wormwood, plantain, calendula, chamomile or eucalyptus. The composition of elderberry, mallow flowers and sage is also effective. In the pharmacy you can find many ready-made fees. A tablespoon of any of them needs to be brewed in a glass of boiling water, filtered and used as intended. Of the medicinal formulations, Chlorophyllipt, Iodinol, Furacilin, Lugol, Miramistin, Oktenisept, Dioxidin are effective in treating tonsillitis.
Features of nutrition during the illness
Paying attention to the proper use of drugs, you should definitely follow the diet. Food should be warm and semi-liquid. An important factor in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis is a plentiful and warm drink, whose action is aimed at preventing dehydration of the body and warming the throat.
When medication is not effective, as an extreme option, doctors use the surgical method, which consists in partial or complete removal of the tonsils. Avoid surgery will allow timely access to a doctor.
Folk methods
The medical treatment of chronic tonsillitis can be successfully combined with alternative methods tested by more than one generation of connoisseurs of their properties. An effective decoction of sage, plantain and sundew flowers, taken in 50 grams. This composition is required to grind and boil a couple of minutes in a liter of boiling water. Then insist for an hour, filter. Take a tablespoon three times a day. The regular use of honey, lemon, onions and green onions is very useful.
It is worth in your diet to increase the number of berries of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.
Full examination of the body with angina
In the treatment of chronic sore throat, not only the oral cavity, but also the gastrointestinal tract should be examined. After all, tonsils, which ceased to fully perform their natural functions, could allow infections to enter the body. If with a single sore throat, regular irrigation of the oral cavity, taking antibiotics, vitamins and other medicines is required, then with its chronic form, it is important to go through all medical specialists to determine the cause of the disease: from an immunologist to a dentist. Indeed, the timely identification of foci of infection helps to save a person from many sufferings.