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Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped tissue pads at the back of the throat, one on each side. Tonsillitis symptoms include swollen tonsils, aching throat, difficulty swallowing, and tender lymph nodes on both sides of the neck.
The majority of tonsillitis instances are caused by a common virus infection, however bacterial infections can sometimes cause tonsillitis.
Because the optimal treatment for tonsillitis is determined by the cause, it is critical to obtain a timely and correct diagnosis. Tonsil removal surgery, which was once a standard treatment for tonsillitis, is now normally undertaken only when tonsillitis happens frequently, does not respond to other therapies, or produces major problems.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TONSILLITIS?
Tonsillitis most usually affects youngsters between the ages of three and ten. Tonsillitis is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:
- Tonsils are red and swollen.
- Tonsils with a white or yellow coating or spots
- Breath that stinks
- Stomachache
- Neck ache or stiffness
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Swallowing that is difficult or painful
- Fever
- Neck lymph nodes that are enlarged and painful
- A voice that is scratchy, muffled, or throaty
Tonsillitis symptoms in young children who are unable to express their feelings include:
- Drooling as a result of unpleasant or difficult swallowing
- refusal to consume
- Extravagant fussiness
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF TONSILLITIS?
Tonsillitis is most commonly caused by common viruses, however bacterial infections can occasionally occur.
Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), the bacterium that causes strep throat, is the most common cause of tonsillitis. Other strep strains and germs can also cause tonsillitis.
Why do tonsils become infected?
The tonsils are the first line of defense for the immune system against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth. This function may render the tonsils more prone to infection and inflammation. However, following adolescence, the tonsil's immune system function diminishes, which may account for the infrequent incidences of tonsillitis in adults.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF TONSILLITIS?
Tonsillitis risk factors include:
- Age: Tonsillitis most commonly affects children, and bacteria-caused tonsillitis is most common in children aged 5 to 15.
- Frequent germ exposure: Children of school age have frequent interaction with their friends and are frequently exposed to viruses or germs that might cause tonsillitis.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF TONSILLITIS?
Tonsil inflammation or swelling caused by frequent or ongoing (chronic) tonsillitis can result in consequences such as:
- Breathing problems during sleeping (obstructive sleep apnea)
- Deep infection that spreads to surrounding tissue (tonsillar cellulitis)
- Infection that causes a pus buildup behind a tonsil (peritonsillar abscess)
STREP INFECTION
If your child does not receive therapy for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus or another strain of streptococcal bacteria, or if antibiotic treatment is insufficient, he or she is at risk of developing rare illnesses such as:
- Rheumatic fever, which is a severe inflammatory disease that affects the heart, joints, nervous system, and skin.
- Scarlet fever complications, a streptococcal infection characterized by a large rash
- Kidney inflammatory disease (poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis)
- Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis is a disorder that causes joint inflammation.
HOW IS TONSILLITIS DIAGNOSED?
Your child's doctor will begin with a physical exam, which will include the following:
- Examining your child's throat, as well as his or her ears and nose, which could be infected, using a lit tool
- Examining for scarlatina, a rash related with some episodes of strep throat.
- Checking your child's neck for swollen glands by gently palpating it (lymph nodes)
- Using a stethoscope to listen to his or her breathing
- Examining the spleen for enlargement (for consideration of mononucleosis, which also inflames the tonsils)
Throat swab
The doctor uses a sterile swab to collect secretions from the back of your child's throat during this straightforward test. The sample will be tested for streptococcal bacteria at the clinic or in a lab.
Many clinics have a lab where a test result can be obtained in a matter of minutes. However, a second, more trustworthy test is frequently submitted to a lab, which can often return results in a matter of hours or days.
If your child's fast in-clinic test results are positive, he or she almost probably has a bacterial illness. If the test results are negative, your child most likely has a viral infection. Your doctor, on the other hand, will wait for the more trustworthy out-of-clinic lab test to pinpoint the source of the infection.
Complete blood cell count (CBC)
A CBC using a small sample of your child's blood may be ordered by your doctor. This test, which is commonly performed in a clinic, yields a count of the various types of blood cells. The profile of what is high, normal, or below normal can help determine if an infection is caused by a bacterial or viral agent. A CBC is rarely required to diagnose strep throat. If the strep throat lab test results are negative, the CBC may be required to help diagnose the reason of tonsillitis.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR TONSILLITIS?
Home health care
Whether your child's tonsillitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, at-home care strategies can make him or her more comfortable and promote a faster recovery.
If a virus is the expected cause of tonsillitis, these are the only treatment options. Antibiotics will not be prescribed by your doctor. Your youngster should be OK in seven to ten days.
Among the at-home care options to employ throughout the healing period are the following:
- Rest: Encourage your child to get enough rest.
- Provide enough fluids: Drink plenty of water to keep your child's throat moist and prevent dehydration.
- Provide soothing meals and beverages: Warm drinks such as broth, caffeine-free tea, or warm water with honey, as well as cool delights such as ice pops, can help ease a sore throat.
- Irritants should be avoided: Keep cigarette smoke and throat-irritating cleaning agents out of your home.
- Treat fever and pain: Consult your doctor about using ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Motrin, and other brands) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, and other brands) to relieve throat pain and control a temperature. Low fevers without pain do not necessitate medical attention.
Children and teenagers should not take aspirin unless it has been prescribed by a doctor to treat a specific ailment. The use of aspirin by children to treat cold or flu-like symptoms has been related to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disorder.
- Prepare a saltwater gargle: A saltwater gargle of 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) table salt to 8 ounces (237 milliliters) warm water can help ease a sore throat if your child can gargle. Allow your child to gargle and then spit out the solution.
- Make the air more humid: Use a cool-air humidifier to eliminate dry air that may aggravate a sore throat, or sit in a steamy bathroom with your child for several minutes.
- Provide lozenges: To ease a sore throat, children over the age of four can suck on lozenges.
Antibiotics
If the cause of your tonsillitis is a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. The most common antibiotic treatment for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus is penicillin administered orally for 10 days. Your doctor will prescribe an alternative antibiotic if your child is allergic to penicillin.
Even if the symptoms disappear completely, your child must complete the entire course of antibiotics. If you do not take all of the medication as prescribed, the infection may progress or spread to other parts of your body. Failure to finish the entire course of antibiotics can raise your child's risk of rheumatic fever and significant kidney inflammation.
Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist what you should do if you forget to give your child a dosage.
Surgery
Tonsillectomy surgery may be done to treat reoccurring tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis, or bacterial tonsillitis that does not respond to antibiotic treatment. Tonsillitis is commonly defined as follows:
- At least seven occurrences occurred in the previous year
- In the last two years, there have been at least five episodes per year.
- In the last three years, there have been at least three episodes per year.
A tonsillectomy may also be performed if tonsillitis causes consequences that are difficult to treat, such as:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Breathing problems
- Swallowing difficulties, particularly with meats and other chunky foods
- An abscess that does not improve with antibiotics
Unless your child is very young, has a complex medical condition, or complications emerge following surgery, a tonsillectomy is normally performed as an outpatient treatment. That means your child should be able to leave the hospital on the day of the surgery. A full recovery normally takes seven to fourteen days.
HOW CAN TONSILLITIS BE PREVENTED?
Contagious microorganisms cause viral and bacterial tonsillitis. As a result, practicing excellent hygiene is the best form of preventive. Instruct your child on:
- He or she should wash his or her hands thoroughly and regularly, especially after using the restroom and before eating.
- Share food, drinking glasses, water bottles, or utensils as little as possible.
- After being diagnosed with tonsillitis, replace his or her toothbrush.
To assist your child in preventing the spread of a bacterial or viral infection to others, do the following:
- When your child is sick, keep him or her at home.
- Inquire with your doctor when it is safe for your youngster to return to school.
- Teach your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue or, if required, into the inside of his or her elbow.
- Teach your child to clean his or her hands after coughing or sneezing.