I am glad to welcome you again, dear mothers! Probably tired from the day. Such is our lot: our mouths are full of worries. There is so much to do that sometimes there is not enough time to pay attention to your loved ones, your spouse and children. My son, for example, often coughs and I sometimes attribute this to his “vocal” activity. I screamed again in the cold while I was going down the hill, and my throat started to hurt.
But one day, when the child complained that “something was in the way” in his mouth, I took a coffee spoon and examined his oral cavity. And do you know what I saw?! Two huge red balls near the throat! God, what is this? Bilateral tumor? The worst thing was spinning in my head.
I grabbed my child’s hand and rushed to the hospital. “Well, everything is clear, the child has inflamed tonsils, treatment must be started immediately,” the doctor stated. In general, I have experience with treatment and am ready to share. Take note and “look in the mouth” of your children more often.
Let me explain once again what tonsils are and what they are needed for. Otherwise called “tongs,” they are located on both sides near the root of the tongue in the pharyngeal part of the throat. They look like an almond or an acorn. Hence, apparently, the name.
Photos of healthy and inflamed tonsils are available on the Internet. The tonsils contain a huge number of lymphocytes, which prevent foreign infections from entering the body. The tonsils cope well with their “barrier” function until they become inflamed.
The mechanism of pathology development
Tonsils are a key element of the immune system that prevents harmful agents from entering the body. This is due to the production of special antibodies that prevent viruses, fungal microorganisms and bacteria from settling on mucous membranes.
The basis of the tonsils is lymphoid tissue. They are located between the palatine arches. The tonsils are also localized at the base of the tongue and in the nasopharynx. All these elements tend to increase.
Persistent and prolonged viral infections, tonsillitis, sinusitis, and adenoiditis cause weakened immunity in children. The tonsils cannot cope with this type of load. This provokes their increase. The more often inflammation of the tonsils is observed, the faster the lymphoid tissue grows. Only adequate and timely therapy can cope with enlargement and inflamed lesions.
Most often, inflamed tonsils are the result of infection with bacterial microorganisms - streptococci and staphylococci. After some time, permanent inflamed foci appear in their structure and protective functions decrease. As a result, instead of protecting the tonsils themselves become a source of chronic infection. This provokes weakened immunity and persistent diseases.
Inflammatory process
In medical Latin, tonsils are called tonsillae. This word gave the name to the disease - tonsillitis. Therefore, if you hear that your child has tonsillitis, know that this is inflammation of the tonsils. In common parlance, they are usually called tonsils, and their inflammation is called sore throat.
The disease can occur in acute and chronic form. In both the first and second cases, you can encounter complications, the process of which will be very difficult to stop. Affected tonsils lead to new, unnecessary health problems.
The bacteria that cause the disease are:
Causes of inflammation of the tonsils
Typically, enlarged tonsils are the result of frequent respiratory infections and colds. This is often caused by general or local hypothermia, which causes a severe weakening of the immune system.
The following factors lead to the main causes of pathology:
- long-term infectious diseases;
- thymus enlargement;
- congenital abnormalities in the immune system;
- vitamin deficiency;
- endocrine pathologies;
- anemia;
- complex somatic diseases;
- lymphatic-hypoplastic diathesis;
- intrauterine infection;
- problems with nasal breathing - can be the result of the formation of polyps, adenoid growths, or a deviated nasal septum.
In addition, provoking factors are:
- allergic reactions;
- persistent tonsillitis;
- hereditary tendency;
- unfavorable living conditions for the baby.
Degrees and types of disease
The tonsils in children can have several degrees of enlargement:
- The first stage is accompanied by the tonsils filling a third of the space between the middle of the pharynx and the edges of the anterior palatine arch. This stage is not accompanied by obvious manifestations. During the daytime, the baby breathes without problems. At night, certain disturbances may occur - lack of nasal breathing, snoring.
- The second stage of the pathology is accompanied by the tonsils covering half of the vomer. Breathing disorders become more pronounced.
- At the third stage, the vomer is almost completely covered by the tonsils. The baby develops discomfort when swallowing and breathing is severely impaired.
- The fourth degree is accompanied by complete closure of the lumen of the pharynx. The tonsils become very enlarged.
Any stage of pathology poses a danger to the baby. The tonsils can rapidly enlarge in the presence of a constant source of infection. In addition, rapidly progressing inflammation can affect adjacent organs. Often pathogenic microorganisms enter the blood. As a result, the infection spreads throughout the body.
Therefore, therapy must be started immediately. Otherwise, there is a risk of dangerous changes in the body:
- anemia;
- retardation in intellectual development;
- formation of malocclusion;
- improper formation of the chest.
Article on the topic - how to treat white plaque on the tonsils.
Symptoms
Inflammation of the tonsils is accompanied not only by a change in their size. Sore throat, difficulty breathing, discomfort when swallowing - all this also indicates the onset of an inflammatory process . Of course, the child becomes apathetic, weak and shows no interest in toys. Sometimes irritability joins lethargy. Appetite also suffers with enlarged tonsils: the child refuses to eat the food offered by the mother or does not finish eating.
Photo: Child refuses to eat
In exceptional cases, the tonsils may become so enlarged that it becomes impossible for the child to swallow food.
Other signs characteristic of the problem include fever, intoxication of the body and difficulty in nasal breathing , due to which the child cannot sleep peacefully at night. Some children are even afraid of suffocating, which certainly affects their psyche.
If the tonsils become too enlarged, urinary incontinence may occur.
Photos of enlarged and healthy tonsils
To understand what enlarged tonsils look like, you should look at the photo.
This is what healthy tonsils look like:
The general condition of the baby is disturbed. He develops weakness, apathy gives way to irritability. Not only nasal breathing, but also oral breathing is often impaired. Loss of appetite may also occur. Inflammation is often accompanied by an increase in temperature. The chronic process can occur without fever.
Treatment methods for loose tonsils
Treatment of enlarged tonsils in children is carried out taking into account the cause of the pathology. Children are often prescribed specific antibiotics – most often macrolides are preferred. The dosage is selected individually depending on the age category and body weight. The course of therapy must not be interrupted immediately after achieving remission.
In addition to antibacterial therapy, it is necessary to rinse and perform inhalations using decoctions of medicinal plants. You also need to irrigate the affected tissue with antiseptic solutions.
Thanks to properly selected therapy, it is possible to stop acute inflammation. In case of chronic pathology, the condition of children needs to be monitored. During an exacerbation of a viral infection, preventive treatment is carried out. Gentle techniques are used to regulate the size of the tonsils.
If the immune system is disrupted, heart pathologies and rheumatism develop, standard methods do not produce results. In such a situation, surgical intervention is indicated. This will help to avoid the baby’s developmental delay, increased fatigue, and deterioration of intellectual abilities.
We recommend how to treat caseous plugs on the lacunae of the tonsils.
Why do the tonsils swell?
Swelling of the tonsils is one of the symptoms of various throat diseases. The swelling is caused by a rush of blood and accumulation of fluid in the organ against the background of the inflammatory process. In addition, swelling of the tonsils is common after various manipulations, for example, washing lacunae due to tonsillitis.
Swelling, hyperemia and sore throat are a typical symptom of inflammation of the tonsils. This phenomenon is observed against the background of infectious diseases, and can also accompany ARVI.
Swelling of the tonsils itself is not a disease, so treatment begins only after the cause of this symptom has been established.
Only an otolaryngologist can determine exactly why a person’s tonsils are swollen. You can independently assume the diagnosis based on the nature of the accompanying symptoms.
Manifestations of sore throat
The throat becomes coated
Sore throat, or tonsillitis, is an inflammatory disease of the tonsils. The cause of inflammation is most often bacteria or viruses. Viral sore throat can be a consequence of an untreated cold. Symptoms of viral sore throat are as follows:
- swelling of the tonsils;
- redness of the tonsils;
- sore throat;
- pain when swallowing.
The temperature rises slightly.
In bacterial tonsillitis, the cause is pathogenic microorganisms that actively multiply on the surface of the tonsils. The tonsils are an important part of the immune system and take the first blow of infection, trapping bacteria that enter the body with air. With decreased immunity or a high infectious load, this leads to the development of inflammation.
Note! Most often, sore throats are caused by staphylococci and streptococci.
Symptoms of acute bacterial inflammatory process:
- swelling of the throat and tonsils;
- redness of the throat mucosa;
- severe pain when swallowing;
- light plaque on the tonsils;
- high body temperature (over 38 degrees);
- symptoms of intoxication.
Most often, angina is one-sided. Therefore, if the tonsil is swollen on one side and the body temperature has increased, it is first necessary to exclude acute tonsillitis.
Chronic tonsillitis
Acute sore throat requires timely treatment. If the disease is started, the symptoms gradually subside, and the inflammation becomes chronic. As a result, a permanent focus of infection forms in the body on the tonsils, which leads to decreased immunity and general malaise.
Chronic tonsillitis is dangerous because it disrupts the functions of the tonsils. As a result, the organ cannot cope with its tasks, which leads to frequent colds and can cause complications from the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, kidneys and liver.
Typical symptoms of chronic tonsillitis:
- constantly swollen tonsils;
- enlarged cervical lymph nodes;
- purulent plugs on the tonsils;
- bad breath;
- lack of strength, asthenia.
Due to the sluggish inflammatory process, the body's immune defense is weakened. All “reserves” are used to fight the disease, so a person constantly feels tired. There is a loss of strength, decreased performance, and an increased need for longer sleep.
Chronic tonsillitis is difficult to treat. Sometimes the only solution is to remove the tonsils.
Pharyngitis
The tongue takes on an unhealthy color
Pharyngitis is a constant companion for long-time smokers. This disease is an inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. The main reason is irritation of the throat by cold or hot air and decreased immunity. People who smoke have a weakened local immune defense, so they are more susceptible to this disease.
Pharyngitis can be distinguished from a sore throat by the following characteristic features:
- swelling of the larynx and redness of the throat;
- dry mucous membranes;
- sore throat and nonproductive cough;
- slight increase in temperature (up to 37.5 degrees);
- muscle pain;
- swelling of the tonsils.
The throat with pharyngitis hurts, but the discomfort is moderate, unlike sore throat, in which it is excruciatingly painful to swallow. Body temperature can increase significantly only with acute bacterial pharyngitis. In this case, plaque forms on the tonsils, throat and tongue, symptoms of intoxication and severe weakness appear.
Peritonsillar abscess
This disease is a dangerous complication of acute tonsillitis. With a peritonsillar abscess, the peritonsillar tissue is affected, and inflammation spreads to the tissue around the tonsils. An abscess is a cavity filled with pus that forms on or near the tonsils.
Stages of abscess development and symptoms:
- 1-2 days – swelling of the tonsils, severe sore throat, high fever;
- 3-5 days – abscess formation, excruciating tearing pain, difficulty swallowing and fever up to 40 degrees;
- Days 5-14 – enlargement of the abscess, intensification of symptoms, opening of the cavity.
An abscess can open on its own, but this is very dangerous. The purulent masses infect surrounding tissues and can enter the bloodstream, causing blood poisoning (sepsis).
If the abscess is located near the pharynx, it can be injured when eating, which increases the risk of its opening. Large cavities can block part of the nasopharynx, interfering with the normal breathing process.
In most cases, the abscess is unilateral, meaning one side of the throat is affected. If one gland is severely swollen, excruciating pain is felt, and a visual examination reveals a large tumor with white contents, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.
Tonsil injuries
Bread crust can scratch tonsils
The tonsils can become swollen due to accidental mechanical damage. This occurs as a result of eating too hard and coarse food, for example, crackers, or when trying to clear plaque from the tonsils with improvised objects.
A minor injury in itself is not dangerous, since the tissue of the tonsils is quickly restored, but at the site of damage the immune defense is reduced, so there is a risk of infection of the tonsils and the development of an abscess or sore throat.
Neoplasms on the tonsils
An increase in the size of the tonsils, the appearance of asymmetry and visible tumors are an alarming symptom. One of the reasons may be a tonsil cyst. This is a benign neoplasm, which is a tumor filled with liquid contents. Cysts must be treated surgically, otherwise they can interfere with swallowing food or become injured, increasing the risk of infection. The cyst, which has become infected with a bacterial infection, develops into a throat abscess.
Important! With a cyst, there may be no pain in the throat, but the tumor feels like a foreign object in the throat.
But malignant neoplasms on the tonsils (pharyngeal ring lymphoma) are manifested not by swelling, but by changes in the color and structure of the tissue. This is a very rare cancer pathology that can only be diagnosed by a doctor.
Tonsil hypertrophy
Swollen and enlarged tonsils with a loose structure indicate tissue hypertrophy. This phenomenon is most often encountered in childhood. With excessive growth of lymphoid tissue, the timbre of the voice may change, whistling and wheezing may appear when breathing, and swallowing may become difficult.
Hypertrophy is dangerous due to chronic inflammatory processes in the tonsils, and therefore requires timely treatment. Surgery is the most effective.
Washing the tonsils
Washing should be done in the hospital, not at home.
How to treat enlarged tonsils in children
Traditional methods of treating enlarged tonsils include the following:
- Antibacterial drugs, immunostimulants, rinsing with antiseptic solutions.
- Physiotherapy - ultrasound, laser and other methods can be used.
- The use of vitamin preparations.
For treatment to be successful, the following recommendations must be followed:
- adhere to bed rest;
- drink a lot of alkaline drinks;
- eat pureed food;
- wrap a scarf around your throat.
To rinse the affected area, you can use the following products:
- mix 1 small spoon of salt and soda and add a glass of water;
- take 1 small spoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide and mix with a glass of water;
- take 40 drops of propolis tincture and mix with 200 ml of warm water;
- take a handful of mint, sage or chamomile herbs and mix with 500 ml of boiling water;
- crush 2 tablets of furatsilin and dissolve in 200 ml of water.
Rinsing should be done at least 5 times a day. This must be done before using medications. Thanks to this procedure, it will be possible to free the tonsils from purulent contents, bacterial microorganisms and plaque.
For children, sumamed, erythromycin or azithromycin are most often recommended. Drugs are selected individually. This is done based on determining the baby’s body’s tolerance and sensitivity of certain strains of microorganisms.
To make the treatment more effective, the famous pediatrician Komarovsky recommends giving the child a lot of warm liquid. Compote, juice, tea with lemon are perfect. Nutrition should be gentle. It is best to give your baby liquid cereals, pureed soups, and low-fat broths.
Food and drinks must be at a moderate temperature - cold and hot foods are prohibited. It is also recommended to take vitamin complexes. If conservative treatment does not produce results, the tonsils must be removed. This will help protect the baby’s body from subsequent infection.
Gargling: a mandatory medical procedure
A child's inflamed tonsils must be rinsed with antiseptic solutions, and if purulent plugs appear in them, then they will also have to be rinsed. How to rinse at home? I recommend you try:
• solutions of chlorophyllipt and furatsilin (furacilin for children is diluted in the proportion of 1 tablet per 300 ml of water);
• a solution of soda and salt (a teaspoon of both per 0.5 liters of water, if for children).
Rinsing is a safe procedure that should be taught to a child from childhood. The procedure can be carried out both for the youngest (for example, 2 years old) and for older children.
If the child is very small and cannot gargle on his own, then treat the tonsils with antiseptics as follows:
• dip into the solution;
• Wipe your mouth and throat with a gentle circular motion.
Surgical methods of treatment
Surgical intervention is performed only when conservative methods are ineffective. Indications for radical measures are the following:
- frequency of relapses of chronic inflammation more than 4 times a year;
- Dangerous complications develop - polyarthritis, heart pathologies, pyelonephritis.
In other situations, enlarged tonsils at 5-6 years of age are considered normal. The decision on the need for surgery should be made only if the functioning of the organ is disrupted.
Tonsil removal is performed under local or general anesthesia. The second option is considered less traumatic for the child’s psyche.
There are several methods of surgical interventions. They are distinguished by the volume of tissue removed and the likely consequences. Children are most often prescribed the following types of operations:
- radio wave;
- cryofreezing;
- laser destruction – performed on patients over 10 years of age;
- ultrasonic
Prevention
To prevent problems from occurring, you need to follow these recommendations:
- avoid hypothermia;
- strengthen immunity;
- harden the body;
- minimize the amount of harmful foods in the child’s diet - the menu should be healthy and balanced;
- perform sanitation of the nose and mouth.
Enlarged tonsils are a serious disorder that can cause negative consequences. To avoid this, you must consult a doctor in a timely manner and strictly follow his instructions.
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