Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat – one tonsil on each side. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck.
Tonsillitis is caused by infection with a common virus, but bacterial infections also may cause tonsillitis.
Symptoms
Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between preschool ages and the mid-teenage years. Common signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include:
- Red, swollen tonsils
- White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils
- Sore throat
- Difficult or painful swallowing
- Fever
- Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
- A scratchy, muffled or throaty voice
- Bad breath
- Stomachache, particularly in younger children
- Stiff neck
- Headache
- Drooling due to difficult or painful swallowing
- Refusal to eat
- Unusual fussiness
Causes
The most common bacterium causing tonsillitis is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), the bacterium that causes strep throat. Other strains of strep and other bacteria also may cause tonsillitis.
Why do tonsils get infected?
The tonsils are the immune system’s first line of defense against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth. This function may make the tonsils particularly vulnerable to infection and inflammation. However, the tonsil’s immune system function declines after puberty – a factor that may account for the rare cases of tonsillitis in adults.
Function Of Tonsils
- Release of Lymphocytes: Tonsils contains the T and B lymphocytes. It releases the lymphocytes at the time of any threat of viral or bacterial infection. The lymphocytes have the function of destroying the infected cells so that the infection can not spread further. Thus those 2 small masses of tonsils helps to protect our body from attack of any external infection that comes through inhalation or eating or drinking. Tonsils trap bacteria and viruses and destroy them.
- Prevent Respiratory Infections: The pair of tonsils protects the lungs from bacteria and viruses that enter the body through the nose. They trap the harmful inhaled bacteria and viruses and destroy them by releasing the lymphocytes, thus prevents to spread the infection from throat to lower part of respiratory tract. It protects the lungs each and every moment when we do exposes to various threats. Those are like the two gatekeeper that protects our lungs from any types of external threat. Some times when the tonsils are frequently affected it is advised in the conventional treatment to operate it or remove. But in fact it is not the right decision to remove those which are helping our body from external infection.
- Prevent Gastric Infections: Each pair of tonsils is made up of three types of tonsils, the palatine, pharyngeal and lingual tonsils. Collectively, these masses of lymphatic tissue encircle the back of the nasal and oral cavities. The major function of tonsils is to defend the body against various pathogens or microorganisms entering the digestive tract. The digestive tract or alimentary canal begins at the mouth and traverses down to pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, intestine, and ends at anus.
Risk factors
Risk factors for tonsillitis include:
- Young age. Tonsillitis most often occurs in children, but rarely in those younger than age 2. Tonsillitis caused by bacteria is most common in children ages 5 to 15, while viral tonsillitis is more common in younger children.
- Frequent exposure to germs. School-age children are in close contact with their peers and frequently exposed to viruses or bacteria that can cause tonsillitis.
- Complications
- Inflammation or swelling of the tonsils from frequent or ongoing (chronic) tonsillitis can cause complications such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Disrupted breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea)
- Infection that spreads deep into surrounding tissue (tonsillar cellulitis)
- Infection that results in a collection of pus behind a tonsil (peritonsillar abscess)
- Prevention
- The germs that cause viral and bacterial tonsillitis are contagious. Therefore, the best prevention is to practice good hygiene. Teach your child to:
- Wash his or her hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet and before eating
- Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses, water bottles or utensils
- Replace his or her toothbrush after being diagnosed with tonsillitis
Types Of Tonsillitis:
- Tonsillitis is divided into three types, which is dependent upon frequency of times tonsillitis occurs and how long it lasts:
- Acute tonsillitis: Acute tonsillitis includes cases where symptoms last anywhere from three days to about two weeks.
- Recurrent tonsillitis: Recurrent tonsillitis occurs when a person suffers multiple episodes of acute tonsillitis a year.
- Chronic tonsillitis: It occurs when a person suffers episodes of last longer than acute tonsillitis in addition to other symptoms that include:
- chronic sore throat
- bad breath, or halitosis
- tender lymph nodes in the neck
Homoeopathic Treatment
- Belladonna – belladonna is the most common and hugely prescribed homeopathy medicine in tonsillitis. Belladonna has the best anti inflammatory action and thus helps a lot to relieve the symptoms both in acute and chronic condition. The key symptoms by which belladonna is prescribed are – pain in throat at the time of wallowing, red congested and swelling of tonsils, mild to moderate fever associated with tonsillitis, headache and malaise also present. The tonsils are affected by taking any cold things like chilled drink or ice cream or cold drink or exposing to cold air etc. The throat pain is slightly relieved after taking any sort of warm drink. If all those symptoms are prominently found in a tonsillitis patient then belladonna is the suitable medicine for that person.
- Mercurius Solubis – Here is another best medicine for tonsillitis. The key symptoms to prescribe tonsillitis are – pain in throat, congestion of tonsils and unable to drink or eat anything. There is more salivation from the mouth. The pain is worse in the night time compared to day time. There is swelling of tonsils and also swelling of other lymph nodes in neck and sub mandibular regions. There is mild to moderate fever and the person feels thirsty though there is more salivation. If the above symptoms are prominent in any tonsillitis patient this medicine is most suitable medicine for that person
- Phytolacca – it is also one of the important medicines in tonsillitis. The tonsils are dark red or bluish red in colour. There is much pain at the root of the tongue, soft palate. The tonsils are swollen. There is a sensation of a lump in the throat. While taking any food the throat feels rough, narrow, and hot. The Tonsils are swollen, especially on the right side. There is a sharp shooting pain into ears on swallowing anything. There is much pain when swallowing anything hot. The pain of phytolacca is a burning type of pain. The person cannot swallow anything, even water.
- Hepar Sulphur – Hepar Sulphur is one of the best Homeopathic medicines for tonsillitis. The tendency to suppuration is most marked, and has been a strong guiding symptom in tonsillitis. When swallowing, sensations as if a plug and of a splinter like sensation in the throat. There is quinsy with suppuration of tonsils. When swallowing there is a stitching type of pain in the throat extending to the ear. There is mild to moderate fever and chilliness is feeling during the tonsillitis affection. The person is very chill and cannot tolerate any cold air or cold water.
- Calcarea Carb – It is a medicine for chronic tonsillitis problems. The person is bulky, obese, gaining weight easily. He is tough but very weak in stamina. Exhausted or tired on slightest physical activity. He/she sweats a lot on slightest physical exertion. He is very susceptible to catching colds. the tonsils are large, swelled and get acutely affected on slightest exposure to cold. The throat appearance itself is not always sufficient to prescribe on, but the complaints in the throat are those that come on in persons taking cold so frequently. On every cold he will have cough, tonsil affection, appetite is lost. The calcarea carb child is very lazy and lethargic in nature. He takes colds from every draft, from very exposure, and from damp weather. There are little red patches in the throat, this extends to the roof of the mouth, a sore tongue, and a constant dry, choking feeling in the pharynx, covering the tonsils. The throat is very painful from swallowing.
- Baryta Carb – it is one of the 1st grade medicines for chronic tonsillitis. The tonsils are inflamed, swollen and very painful in acute condition. After the acute attack passed on the tonsils looked larger than with the last cold. The child is weak, not fatty like calcarea carb. Physically and also mentally he is weak. He/she has a tendency to catch cold very easily. But the most important symptom is whenever he catches a cold first it attacks the tonsil or throat. So it is written in allens materia medica that every cold settles in the throat. The person sweats more from the feet. Every cold change inflames the tonsils, and in children they very soon enlarge. Children with enlarged tonsils, and with enlarged glands in other places, somewhat weak intellectually, slow to learn. The throat is very painful from swallowing. On every cold change of the weather, and on every exposure to the cold, he gets rattling respiration.
