Tonsillitis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Inflammation of the tonsils or tonsillitis is an inflammatory condition due to infection of the tonsils (tonsils).
Tonsils are a collection of lymph nodes that are at the back of the throat.
The gland functions as a filter to trap germs that enter the airways. In addition, the tonsils also produce antibodies to fight infection.
Tonsillitis generally occurs in children and is prone to recurrence. However, as we get older, when the immune system gets stronger, slowly the tonsils’ job to protect the body from infection begins to be replaced.
Now, when the tonsils are no longer on duty, this organ will slowly shrink.
Tonsillitis
| Medical specialist | child specialist; ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist |
| Symptoms | Swelling and redness of the tonsils, sore throat; there is a white or yellow coating on the tonsils; blisters or ulcers in the throat; headache; decreased appetite |
| Risk Factors | Young age (children), often exposed to bacteria (school age) |
| Diagnosis | Physical examination (tonsils), throat swab check, complete blood count ( CBC) |
| Treatment | Home remedies, giving antibiotics, surgical procedures (surgeries) |
| Complications | Obstructive sleep apnea, tonsillar cellulitis, peritonsillar abscess, rheumatic fever, kidney inflammation (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, post-streptococcal reactive arthritis). |
| Prevention | Wash hands more often, teach children how to cough or sneeze properly, avoid sharing food, drinking glasses, water bottles or cutlery with other people |
| When to see a doctor? | Sore throat with fever, sore throat that doesn’t go away within 24-48 hours, swallowing that is painful or very difficult, extreme weakness, fussy child, trouble breathing |
Tonsillitis Symptoms
The main symptom of tonsillitis is inflammation and swelling of the tonsils.
In severe cases, swollen tonsils can block the airway and make it difficult for sufferers to breathe.
Other symptoms of tonsillitis can also include:
- Sore throat
- Tonsils become reddish
- There is a white or yellow coating on the tonsils
- Blisters or ulcers in the throat
- Headache
- Decreased appetite
- Ear pain
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing through the mouth
- Swollen glands in the neck or jaw area
- Fever or chills
- Bad breath
- In children, symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain may also occur
Tonsillitis Reason
Inflammation of the tonsils can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. However, the most common cause of tonsillitis is Streptococcus bacteria.
Other common causes are influenza virus, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, enterovirus, parainfluenza virus, and herpes simplex virus.
Risk Factors
Meanwhile, the risk of suffering from tonsillitis can increase in conditions:
- Young age (children). Inflammation of the tonsils most often affects the age group of children. And, bacterial tonsillitis most often occurs in children aged 5-15 years
- Often exposed to germs. School-age children are very closely related to their peers and are often exposed to viruses or bacteria. This can cause tonsillitis
Diagnosis
Doctors can determine the diagnosis of tonsillitis through clinical symptoms and physical examination.
The doctor will usually start with a physical examination which includes:
- Using instruments to look at the child’s throat, or possibly the ears and nose, which may also be the site of an infection
- Check for a rash known as scarlatina, which is associated with some cases of strep throat
- Feel or palpate the child’s neck to check for swollen glands (lymph nodes)
- Listen to her breathing with a stethoscope
- Check for an enlarged spleen (may have mononucleosis, which can also exacerbate the tonsils)
Furthermore, the doctor may also carry out several other supporting examinations, such as:
1. Throat Swab
With this simple test, the doctor wipes a sterile cotton swab at the back of your child’s throat to obtain a sample of secretions.
The sample will then be examined in the clinic or in the laboratory for streptococcus bacteria.
2. Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC)
The doctor may do a complete blood cell count (CBC) from a sample of your child’s blood.
The results of this test will see which blood components are increased, normal or just below normal.
This test can show whether the infection is more likely to be caused by bacteria or viruses.
Tonsillitis Treatment
How to treat tonsillitis depends on the cause. If caused by a viral infection, the body can fight the infection itself.
Several things can be done to help the healing process, such as:
- Enough rest
- Drink warm or very cold water to relieve a sore throat
- Eat soft or smooth foods
- Using a vaporizer or humidifier in the room
- Gargle with warm salt water
- Suck lozenges
- Taking pain medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Avoid irritants, for example, keep your home away from cigarette smoke and cleaning products that can irritate your throat
However, if the inflammation of the tonsils is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic treatment for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus.
If the child is allergic to penicillin, the doctor will replace or prescribe alternative antibiotics.
Your little one should take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed even if the symptoms go away completely. It is important to take antibiotics until they run out to prevent resistance.
If the consumption of tonsillitis drugs is not as directed by the doctor, it can cause the infection to worsen or spread to other parts of the body.
Not completing antibiotics completely, actually increases the risk of rheumatic fever and serious inflammation of the kidneys in your child.
In addition to drug therapy, surgery can also be done as a way to cure tonsillitis.
The doctor can remove the entire tonsil gland or tonsillectomy, if:
- Recurrent tonsillitis
- Persistent or non-resolving tonsillitis
- Tonsillitis that closes the airway
- Tonsillitis which makes it difficult for sufferers to eat
The tonsils or tonsils are part of the body’s immune system, so the tonsillectomy process will not be carried out if there is no indication.
This method can be done traditionally using a scalpel or laser, radio waves, or cautery.
Tonsillectomy surgery is performed under general anesthesia and lasts from 30–45 minutes.
Usually, sufferers who undergo this procedure can go home 4 hours after surgery and will fully recover within 10 days.
Post-surgery, sufferers may experience sore throat, ears, jaw and neck, fever, and slight bleeding from the nose or saliva. Fever and pain medications can be used to help the recovery process.
Prevention
The germs that cause tonsillitis are quite contagious. That’s why, the best prevention of tonsillitis is to adopt a clean lifestyle for your little one.
So, try to teach children to:
- Wash hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet and before eating
- Teach the little one about coughing or sneezing etiquette, especially in public places
- Avoid sharing drinking glasses, water bottles, food, and cutlery with other people
- Change your toothbrush after being diagnosed with tonsillitis
Complications
Frequent or ongoing tonsillitis can lead to complications, such as:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- The infection spreads to the surrounding tissue or tonsillar cellulitis
- Infection resulting in a collection of pus behind the tonsils (peritonsillar abscess)
- Rheumatic fever, a serious inflammatory condition that can affect the heart, joints, nervous system and skin
- Kidney inflammation (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis)
- Post-streptococcal reactive arthritis, a condition that causes arthritis.
When to See a Doctor?
It is very important to get an accurate diagnosis if your child has symptoms that might indicate tonsillitis.
Call your doctor if your child has:
- Sore throat accompanied by fever
- Sore throat that doesn’t go away within 24-48 hours
- Painful or difficult swallowing
- Extreme weakness, tiredness or seeming irritable
Then immediately seek medical help, if your child has any of these signs:
- It’s hard to breathe
- Extreme difficulty swallowing and difficulty eating or drinking
- Have symptoms of dehydration