Methods for treating tonsillitis in adults at home

Tonsillitis affects the tonsils, thereby causing inflammation in them. Belongs to the group of infectious diseases, the causative agent of which is a viral or bacterial infection.

Acute tonsillitis is more often called tonsillitis, and its chronic form is diagnosed in 10-15% of the world's population. The characteristic symptoms of tonsillitis are manifested in an increase in body temperature, which is accompanied by grief pain of varying intensity.

Causes

The disease can occur in acute or chronic form. The causative agent of tonsillitis can be the following bacteria: staphylococcus, meningococcus, anaerobe, streptococcus, pneumococcus, and in rare cases, typhoid bacillus. The source of infection in sore throat is a patient with various forms of acute diseases and a carrier of pathogenic microorganisms.

Predisposing factors: hypothermia, decreased immunity, damage to the tonsils, impaired nasal breathing, chronic inflammatory processes in the mouth, nose and paranasal sinuses. Most often, tonsillitis develops after an acute respiratory viral infection. ARVI pathogens reduce the protective functions of the epithelial cover and promote the invasion of streptococci.

In children, tonsillitis often results from various diseases: adenoids, polyps, congenital curvature of the nasal septum, which impairs breathing.

With improper treatment or its absence, a weakened body or the presence of other chronic diseases, acute tonsillitis can become chronic, which is characterized by periodic exacerbations. During the break between exacerbations, a person may feel practically healthy, and even with an objective examination by an ENT doctor, pathological changes in the tonsils themselves are not always detected.

Why does the disease develop

The predominant causes of the disease are long-term infections that were treated improperly.

1. Sore throats, acute tonsillitis caused by streptococcus, staphylococcus, enterococcus and other bacteria.
2. Oral infections: periodontal disease, gingivitis, stomatitis, etc.
3. Impaired respiratory functions of the nose due to a deformed septum, the presence of polyps, adenoids, purulent sinusitis, sinusitis.
4. Dental caries.
5. Heredity.

In addition to the main causes of chronic tonsillitis in adults, there are a number of factors that contribute to its development:

A small amount of liquid to drink. Water removes pathogenic microflora from the body. You should drink about 2 liters of purified water per day. Prolonged or excessive hypothermia.

Important to know: Treatment of chronic tonsillitis with folk remedies

Severe stress, high psycho-emotional stress, depression, lack of proper rest, constant fatigue.

Professions associated with high levels of dust, gas pollution, etc. Unfavorable environmental conditions: industrial emissions into the atmosphere, exhaust gases, etc.

Bad habits of adults: alcoholism and smoking. An unbalanced diet, when too many proteins and carbohydrates are consumed and not enough vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Symptoms of tonsillitis

Tonsillitis and its symptoms will vary significantly, depending on the form of the process. The incubation period for tonsillitis is very short, only 1-2 days. After which, classic symptoms of sore throat begin to develop in adults and children.

The disease begins suddenly, the first signs of tonsillitis are:

• regional enlargement of lymph nodes;
• sore throat when swallowing;
• high temperature accompanied by chills;
• aching joints, general weakness;
• headache.

The sore throat gradually intensifies, becomes constant, and reaches a maximum on the second day. When examining the pharynx, you can see reddened, enlarged tonsils; in many patients, follicles with pus are observed on them.

Regional lymph nodes enlarge and become painful. The severity of fever, intoxication and pharyngoscopy picture depend on the form of the disease (catarrhal, lacunar, follicular, etc.). If you did not answer the question in time - how and with what to treat tonsillitis, then over time it becomes chronic.

Unlike tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis is more difficult to diagnose, as it can occur without visible symptoms, periodically turning into an acute form.

The most characteristic symptoms of chronic tonsillitis are:

• the appearance of periodic or constant pain when swallowing food or saliva;
• frequent episodes of sore throat and severe course of the disease;
• pain in the area of ​​the submandibular lymph nodes;
• dryness, rawness and sore throat;
• release of purulent plugs during coughing;
• pain in the area of ​​the heart muscle, as well as in the patient’s joints;
• periodic slight increase in temperature.

Chronic tonsillitis can occur in compensated and decompensated (with damage to the heart, kidneys, joints, chronic intoxication) form. Therefore, you should not hesitate; the faster you can cure tonsillitis, the fewer complications you will experience. An experienced specialist will tell you how to do this once and for all.

The most dangerous consequence of untreated sore throat is rheumatism, which affects the joints and valve apparatus of the heart, leading to the formation of heart defects and the development of heart failure.

Causes of tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is an infectious disease that can be easily transmitted by airborne droplets and contact.

With this disease, inflammation of the palatine tonsils, or tonsils, occurs. Tonsils are lymphoid tissue, the main purpose of which is to create a protective barrier against the penetration of pathogenic microflora into the body.

Therefore, if tonsillitis is not treated, then:

• there is a danger of infecting other people with the disease;
• The body’s immunity will be seriously weakened, and various diseases and complications may begin to develop, since harmful microbes will penetrate many human organs and systems.

Most often, the causative agents of the disease in adults are bacteria, and a little less often viruses. However, tonsillitis does not always begin when viruses and bacteria enter the tonsils.

If the immune system works well, then these pathogens simply die. But immunity can be weakened for a number of reasons. These include:

• Previous illnesses and associated severe therapy;
• Unstable psychological state, stress, depression;
• High fatigue;
• Lack of proper rest;
• Partial or complete hypothermia;
• Bad habits – smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction.

Smoking actively helps the development of the disease: tobacco tar destroys the cells of the tonsils, thereby reducing the body's immunity.

Smoking leads to the fact that a person begins to often suffer from colds and tonsillitis, the symptoms of which do not take long to manifest themselves.

Important to know: Is chronic tonsillitis contagious or not?

Treatment of tonsillitis

As a rule, tonsillitis is treated at home with bed rest.

Considering that sore throat in the vast majority of cases is caused by streptococci, to treat tonsillitis the doctor prescribes a course of antibiotics and, if necessary, antiviral therapy. In parallel with taking antibiotics, it is necessary to use local antiseptics that relieve pain (Hexoral, Bioparox, Stop-Angin).

In addition, conservative treatment includes washing the tonsils (to remove purulent plugs) and lubrication with Lugol's solution, and physiotherapeutic procedures. To eliminate pain and fever, NSAIDs are prescribed - Paracetamol, Analgin, Ibuprofen and others.

A gentle diet rich in vitamins C and B, and drinking plenty of fluids are necessary. Do not forget about gargling with special preparations, including those based on natural ingredients. If outpatient treatment does not lead to success, then surgical intervention is considered. Most often, the tonsils are simply removed as the main source of the threat.

It must be remembered that if acute tonsillitis is not treated correctly or is not treated, it becomes chronic. And at the moment, doctors’ opinions differ on how to treat chronic tonsillitis. The choice of treatment regimen in each specific case depends on the form of chronic tonsillitis, the general condition of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases, etc.

Chronic tonsillitis: what is it?

Chronic tonsillitis is a long-term inflammation of the pharyngeal and palatine tonsils (from the Latin tonsollitae - tonsil glands). Develops after a sore throat and other infectious diseases accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx

The tonsils, located in the nasopharynx and pharynx, are part of the lymphoepithelial system responsible for immunity. The surface of the tonsils is covered with non-pathogenic microorganisms and has the ability to self-clean. But when this process is disrupted for some reason, they become inflamed; this inflammation is tonsillitis, which can become chronic if treated incorrectly or untimely.

In some cases (about 3% of the total number of patients), chronic tonsillitis is a primarily chronic disease, that is, it occurs without previous tonsillitis.

Several factors can lead to infection of the tonsils:

• untreated infectious diseases;
• frequent pharyngitis (sore throat);
• allergy;
• inflammation in the sinuses;
• deviated nasal septum;
• caries and gum disease;
• low immunity.

The symptoms of chronic tonsillitis clearly manifest themselves during periods of relapse, when during an exacerbation the body temperature rises, the lymph nodes become enlarged, pain appears, a sore throat, pain when swallowing, and bad breath.

Inflammation develops as a result of the influence of a number of unfavorable factors - severe hypothermia, a decrease in the body's defenses and resistance, and allergic reactions.

An important role in the transition of acute to chronic tonsillitis is played by a decrease in the body's immune response and allergies.

Antibiotics for tonsillitis

Prescribing antibiotics is justified only in severe cases of the disease. It must be remembered that antibiotics are drugs against bacteria, so they are prescribed only when bacterial flora is the causative agent of the disease.

Most likely, you will be prescribed antibacterial drugs from the penicillin group:

• amoxicillin;
• penicillin;
• oxacillin.

If you are allergic to this component, antibiotics from the macrolide group are prescribed:

• erythromycin;
• clarithromycin;
• azithromycin.

The range of antibacterial drugs for the treatment of acute tonsillitis is very extensive. The final decision on the advisability of using a particular drug should be made by the doctor. In addition, even an obvious improvement in well-being does not give reason to break the regimen, diet, or stop taking antibiotics. Treatment must be completed to completely destroy the bacteria.

Treatment

In most cases, streptococcal tonsillitis occurs, therefore, it is logical to prescribe antibiotics. For viral causes of acute tonsillitis, antiviral drugs may be prescribed.

The consequences of incorrect or untimely treatment of tonsillitis are chronic tonsillitis in adults and children, paratonsillitis, and the possible development of indications for tonsillectomy.

Antibiotic drugs

They are selected exclusively by a doctor depending on the severity of the disease, the pathogen detected based on the results of tests and the general condition of the patient. In most cases, these are penicillin drugs; in case of an allergic reaction or lack of results, they can be replaced with Macrolides or Cephalosporins.

Antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs

If justified by the indication, the doctor prescribes antiviral medications. Often, antiviral drugs have an immunomodulatory effect, which is why they are prescribed to support weakened immunity. But, again, self-administration of this group of drugs can cause harm to the body; the dosage and variation of such drugs is selected by the attending physician according to individual requirements.

Local therapies

In case of purulent sore throat, it is extremely important to treat the tonsils using local application of drugs. These drugs have several forms of release:

• spray,
• lozenges,
• liquid for gargling and mouthwash.

Bioparox is a unique spray because...
It is not so much an antiseptic as it is an antibiotic in aerosol form. The main active ingredient of the spray is Fusafungin. Bioparox spray is effective against not only pathogens, but also fungi of the genus Candida.

The spray is used not only as an effective remedy that can treat acute and chronic tonsillitis in adults, but also for the prevention of diseases after surgery to remove the tonsils.

The spray can be administered through the nose or mouth, depending on the location of the infection to be treated, by pressing on the base of the balloon. The spray comes with nozzles for children and adults, marked in different colors.

Physiotherapy

The most effective treatment for exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis is physiotherapy, which is carried out on an outpatient basis.

• Rinsing lacunae using a special device, for example, Tonzillor MM;
• Impact on enlarged lacunae with phonophoresis;
• Ultraviolet sanitation;
• Laser therapy.

Operation

Situations where none of the above methods have proven effective are indications for surgery to remove tonsils. This, of course, is an extreme case of treatment, prescribed only if the tonsils, despite all attempts to treat them, continue to be a breeding ground for infection and a threat to the entire body.

In addition to the above, there are the following indications for surgery:

• development of paratonsillar abscess;
• breathing difficulties due to blockage of the airways by the adenoids;
• complications in the form of kidney, heart or joint diseases;
• frequent relapses;
• complications of allergic tonsillitis.

How to treat tonsillitis at home

For the greatest effectiveness, treatment at home should simultaneously eliminate unpleasant symptoms, the causes of the disease and fight infection.

Basic principles of home treatment:

• strict bed rest;
• drinking plenty of water;
• special diet;
• inhalation and gargling with antiseptic solutions and decoctions of medicinal herbs;
• irrigation of the tonsils with antiseptic drugs;
• taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce fever and pain;
• taking immunomodulators and vitamins;
• taking appropriate antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor.

If there is a prolonged absence of a positive therapeutic effect or if complications develop, the person is sent to a hospital.

Treatment with folk remedies

The use of folk remedies can be used as an addition to traditional medicine; it is not recommended to prescribe such treatment yourself, without the advice of a doctor. Among the folk remedies for treating tonsillitis, gargling with decoctions and pharmaceutical preparations is widely used.

1. Medicinal herbs - chamomile, marshmallow, sage, coltsfoot, calendula, oak bark decoction, St. John's wort;
2. Pharmacy products – Miramistin, Furacilin, Malavit;
3. A simple method using salt, soda and iodine;
4. They also do inhalations with decoctions of medicinal herbs (eucalyptus, sage, chamomile, etc.).

Basically, traditional methods of treatment are aimed at reducing inflammation in the pharynx, strengthening the immune system, and speeding recovery after illness. Traditional recipes are not suitable as the only method of treatment.

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Symptoms and treatment of chronic tonsillitis in adults with folk remedies

Regardless of the form in which a person’s tonsillitis occurs, he should not engage in amateur activities, but undergo treatment according to a regimen developed by a specialist.

Many ENT doctors do not object to the parallel use of traditional recipes, which are time-tested and have proven their effectiveness in practice.

But, before using the “old-fashioned” methods, patients should contact their doctors and get advice.

If they have no contraindications, then they can use the following recipes:

1. Tincture of coltsfoot herb. You need to take the drug up to three times a day.
2. Rinse with garlic solution.
3. Alcohol propolis tincture. You should gargle before use.
4. Beetroot infusion, which is recommended for both oral use and physical therapy.
5. Sea buckthorn berries, which can be consumed after gargling. The duration of therapy will be three months.
6. A decoction of yarrow herb, which is used for rinsing.