Human tonsils are the first "barrier" that protects the body from harmful microorganisms that enter from food and air. They have a large number of winding tubules - gaps in which microbes and food debris accumulate. In a healthy body, gaps can self-clean.
What are caseous plugs?
When an inflammatory process occurs in the tonsils, purulent accumulations occur, as with angina. If the disease is started or improperly treated, chronic tonsillitis develops. With this disease, caseous plugs occur, accompanied by bad breath.
WHO reports that chronic tonsillitis is the second most common disease after tooth decay. Any inflammation in the oral cavity can provoke the appearance of plugs, including teeth affected by caries (a constant source of infection in the mouth). Traffic jams may be the consequences of impaired nasal breathing (septum curvature, polyps in the nose, hyperplasia of the nasal concha).
Reasons for education
Doctors distinguish such situations and human conditions that contribute to the appearance of a similar pathology in the throat:
- Frequent colds.
- Smoking.
- The impact of environmental factors.
- Stress state.
- Disorders in the immune system.
- Improper nutrition.
- Allergies.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Microorganisms in traffic jams feel great, actively multiply there, supporting the inflammatory process in the tonsils.
Mechanism of occurrence
Why and how are caseous jams formed? The reasons are not fully understood. It is only known that this is due to the anatomical structure of the tonsils and their participation in the immune response. Lacunae branch into crypts, the walls of which are lined with three to four layers of epithelium. But there are sites on the crypts in which there is no epithelium. If microorganisms get here, then direct contact with the tonsil tissue occurs, physiological inflammation occurs, the body begins to produce antibodies. When viruses get in, a huge number of white blood cells hurries to fight them, swelling of the mucous membranes of the tonsils occurs, which complicates the natural outflow of dead white blood cells and viruses. They remain in the bowels of the glands, forming purulent-caseous clusters.
How is the disease manifested?
Caseous plugs in the tonsils with chronic tonsillitis may not appear in any way, but they can create the following inconveniences:
- Due to the decay of the contents of the corks, halitosis appears.
- Sore throat occurs.
- The feeling of a foreign body in the place where the cork is located.
Inflammatory processes in the glands do not disappear completely, but only subside a little. Pathogenic bacteria are constantly found in gaps and crypts, and the body’s attempts to get rid of them do not stop. During this period, the appearance of purulent formations. Over time, they accumulate substances rich in calcium and magnesium, which contribute to the hardening of corks. But the disease at this stage is almost asymptomatic, caseous plugs on the tonsils appear almost imperceptibly for the patient. If you look at the tonsils, you can see white, yellowish, sometimes with a gray tint lumps, in their structure resembling cottage cheese.
In people with a healthy immune system, caseous plugs occur temporarily. With the onset of recovery, they disappear. If a person’s immunity is weakened, then traffic jams can remain on the tonsils for a long time.
Most often, this disease affects children. It is not difficult to meet caseous jams in a child of 5-15 years old.
The disease is less common in people from 18 to 35 years old. Further, in the human body, the restructuring of lymphoid tissue occurs. Thanks to it, the occurrence of purulent processes in the tonsils becomes a much rarer phenomenon.
General symptoms of chronic tonsillitis
The appearance of caseous plugs in the throat is the main hallmark of chronic tonsillitis. This disease is chronic, with the following additional symptoms:
- Frequent sore throats (both catarrhal and complicated by lacunar changes), respiratory infections, accompanied by swelling and inflammation of the tonsils (more than 3 times a year).
- Hyperemia, swelling of the palatine arches - as a complication of inflammation of the tonsils. The formation of adhesions between these two organs is possible.
- Low-grade fever, observed for several weeks, possibly an increase in lymph nodes.
- The patient complains of malaise, weakness, poor performance.
What happens with an exacerbation of the disease?
If chronic tonsillitis worsens, a person rises in temperature, intoxication phenomena are observed, an increase in submandibular, tonsillar lymph nodes is possible.
The patient complains of:
- Heavy breath that no toothpaste can drown out.
- Sore throat.
- Cough (most often dry).
- Pain when swallowing.
Edematous tonsils are observed, covered with white spots, which the patient himself can see. Various forms of angina develop. In this case, you can not do without medical assistance.
Complications
If a person with caseous plugs in the gaps does not receive appropriate treatment, dangerous complications may develop. If pathogens (for example, group A hemolytic streptococcus) get into the bloodstream or lymph flow, this can lead to trouble with the heart, joints, and kidneys.
Therefore, it is very important when exacerbating this disease, consult an ENT doctor for qualified help. If this is not possible, you can contact the local therapist, who is also competent in these matters.
How to get rid of caseous plugs?
Tonsils on the tonsils is a sign of a long-lasting inflammatory process. Removal of congestion should be accompanied by complex therapy aimed at removing this inflammation. In no case should you put pressure on the tonsils (with your finger, spoon), try to dig out the cork, as the possibility of damage to the tonsils is not excluded. This can lead to more severe inflammation in them, to more severe consequences of the disease. The most optimal action in this case will be a visit to the otolaryngologist.
Conservative treatment
Do not immediately try to resort to radical methods of treatment, since tonsils are a very important organ that provides protection against infections. By removing them, we provide a great "service" to pathogenic microbes, which in the mouth of each person can count hundreds of thousands.
There are other methods worth trying:
- Rinsing. During this process, caseous plugs in gaps are washed out. Treatment is carried out with antiseptic solutions of "Iodinol", "Chlorhexidine", "Miramistin", "Furatsilina". You can also use natural products for rinsing. Fine antiseptic properties have infusions of chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, coltsfoot;
- Do not forget about the restoration of the body's immune response. A competent specialist, based on the results of an immunogram, can advise a suitable immunostimulant (Likopid, Immudon, Polyoxidonium).
With exacerbation
If an exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis is observed, the tubes become caseous-purulent in nature. In this case, otolaryngologists resort to antibiotic therapy. The most commonly used drugs are the penicillin series (Amoxiclav), macrolides (Azithromycin), cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone). To get rid of caseous plugs in the gaps in children, doctors prescribe drugs and dosage, taking into account the age and weight of the small patient.
At the time of exacerbation, the best result will give the following composition of the rinse liquid:
- 1 teaspoon of salt.
- 1 teaspoon of soda.
- 5 drops of iodine.
- 1 cup of warm water.
If there is no allergic reaction to iodine, and the child can suffer the unpleasant taste of salt and soda, then this rinse will give the best result.
A good effect is given to the lubrication of the tonsils with a solution of lugol on glycerin.
Do not forget about the benefits and effectiveness of physiotherapy (in pediatric practice, quartzing, exposure to tonsils with ultrasound, phonophoresis are very popular).
Inhalation (thermal, with various vegetable essential oils, using a nebulizer) is of great benefit in the treatment of respiratory infections.
When treating acute tonsillitis, one should not forget about heavy drinking, as it helps to eliminate toxins of pathogenic microbes that poison the human body. It is important to observe bed rest, take vitamin complexes.
Long-term observations have shown a genetic predisposition to this disease. If parents had chronic tonsillitis in childhood, there is a great chance of ailment in children. It is necessary to be prepared for this and take the necessary measures in time to avoid surgical intervention.
Radical methods
It is not recommended to remove the tonsils completely. This is done only when caseous plugs in the gaps of the tonsils, the treatment of which by conservative methods was unsuccessful, contribute to serious complications in the work of the internal organs of the person and frequent relapses of tonsillitis.
Treatment in this case is carried out surgical. The most popular laser lacunotomy is when the most affected part of the tonsil is removed with a laser and the edges of the organ are sealed.
Preventive actions
The main methods of preventing this disease can be called hardening, playing sports in the fresh air, good nutrition. Winter sports (figure skating, hockey, snowboarding, skiing and others) have a beneficial effect on the body. In this case, the airways become hardened, as a person inhales cold air. Because stress and overwork negatively affect human health, you need to review your work schedule and lifestyle. Perhaps someone to get rid of problems with tonsils, it will be enough to move from a polluted city to the countryside and do work that brings moral satisfaction.
As a preventive measure, it is also necessary:
- At least once every 3-6 months to see a doctor.
- Treat tooth decayed on time. Streptococci, staphylococci and other pathogenic bacteria are able to get from the affected gums and teeth into the crypts of the tonsils, multiply there, contributing to the occurrence of caseous plugs, the treatment of which will take some time and effort.
- Observe oral hygiene. This will not only protect teeth and gums from damage by pathogens, but also prevent them from spreading to the tonsils.
- In time to treat colds. Untreated ARI and ARVI lead to the formation of caseous plugs.
- Try not to get too cold.
- Less contact with patients with respiratory infections. It is sometimes difficult to fulfill this condition, as children go to kindergarten, school, adults go to work, college, use public transport, buy groceries in stores, and medicines in pharmacies. We are all familiar with situations when in a crowded minibus someone starts coughing, thereby spreading viruses.
It will be ideal if sick people do not temporarily visit public places, thereby being able to protect others from infection. However, these are only dreams. Many parents take their children with a runny nose and cough to kindergarten just because the child does not have a fever, which means that the pediatrician does not prescribe a sick leave. For the same reason, many people are forced to go to work, as the therapist does not give them exemption from work if there are no serious symptoms of the disease.
For these reasons, prevention methods that help prevent the occurrence of caseous plugs in the tonsils come first. Treatment may not be necessary if you keep your body in good shape, eat rationally, and lead a healthy lifestyle.