Chronic tonsillitis is an infectious inflammation of the tonsils (tonsils), which is protracted. With this disease, harmful bacteria and microbes (streptococci, staphylococci) are constantly present on the tonsils, ready to begin to actively multiply at any favorable opportunity, causing acute sore throat in the carrier (human). The peculiarity of chronic tonsillitis is that it is difficult to treat, since it is almost impossible to completely eliminate the bacteria that cause it. But you can help the body live peacefully with them and prevent the infection from exacerbating and further spreading.
How to cure chronic tonsillitis once and for all
Causes and symptoms of the disease
Chronic tonsillitis occurs among children and adults, regardless of place of residence and climate. Several factors can lead to infection of the tonsils:
- untreated infectious diseases (usually tonsillitis);
- frequent pharyngitis (sore throat);
- allergy;
- inflammation in the sinuses;
- deviated nasal septum;
- caries and gum disease;
- low immunity.
In most cases, the disease develops after poorly treated acute tonsillitis - tonsillitis. In this case, tonsillitis simply becomes chronic when the infection chooses the lymphatic tissue of the palatine tonsils as a permanent place of residence. In normal times, pathogenic bacteria are dormant and may not cause serious discomfort.
Bacteria that cause chronic tonsillitis
The following factors can provoke their activity:
- hypothermia of the oropharynx or the whole body;
- mechanical injury to the tonsil, chemical or thermal burn (for example, spicy, hot food, strong alcohol);
- severe decrease in immunity due to the presence of other infections in the body;
- improper and unbalanced diet;
- prolonged nervous tension, severe stress.
All these factors work to reduce the body’s immune defense, resulting in the creation of a favorable environment for the rapid proliferation of bacteria. Tonsillitis worsens, another sore throat begins.
A visual examination of the throat of patients with chronic tonsillitis reveals:
- enlargement and redness of the tonsils;
- looseness and grooves on the tissue of the tonsils;
- the presence of white pustules on the tonsils, from which a cheesy mass with a purulent odor periodically emerges.
Pathogenesis of chronic tonsillitis
Visual changes are accompanied by severe sore throat, fever, chills, and weakness. There may also be enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck.
IMPORTANT! If a person suffers from a sore throat more than once a year, most likely he has chronic tonsillitis.
Pronounced signs of chronic tonsillitis may appear and disappear, as periods of exacerbation are followed by periods of remission. In this case, we are talking about a compensated form of the disease, when the tonsils are able to cope with inflammation, preventing its development. However, over time, especially if a person’s immunity is suppressed, periods of remission may completely disappear, and tonsillitis will acquire a decompensated form. In this case, the tonsils will be constantly inflamed and enlarged, as well as persistent weakness, drowsiness, and incessant sore throat.
How to cure chronic tonsillitis
First, the etiology and causes of the disease are clarified. Chronic tonsillitis is an infectious-allergic disease that affects the palatine tonsils . And they are considered a strong defense for the entire body; they produce antibodies that destroy all harmful bacteria that enter the human body.
The tonsils usually become inflamed from pathogens - these can be: fungi, staphylococcus, enterococcus, streptococcus, adenovirus. Tonsillitis may also appear, perhaps from certain diseases: sore throat, sinusitis, caries, sinusitis.
Viruses and bacteria begin to actively reproduce in cold weather, so the peak of this disease occurs in early spring, autumn and winter. With this disease, you need to protect yourself from hypothermia and sudden changes in temperature (when you go from the heat to the cold).
Symptoms of tonsillitis
In acute tonsillitis (sore throat), severe pain in the throat begins, breathing becomes difficult and a feeling of squeezing appears.
weakness and malaise appear , joints hurt and headaches, the temperature rises (can rise to 39°).
With chronic tonsillitis, the symptoms are the same, but less pronounced: there is no pain, it can sometimes appear only when swallowing, there is a sore throat , there is an unpleasant odor from the mouth, the temperature does not rise. The condition of the body suffers, but it is easier than in the acute form.
Children are more susceptible to this disease than adults. severe pain in their throat and refuse to eat or drink. When the temperature is high, they develop diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
With tonsillitis of any form, the main symptom, visible to the naked eye, is greatly enlarged palatine tonsils . In the acute form they are bright red, in the chronic form they are stagnant red. The tonsils can become covered with ulcerations, film, plaque, and pustules.
Complications of tonsillitis
Quite often after tonsillitis there are complications: endocarditis and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis; acute rheumatic fever. Complications associated with chronic tonsillitis:
- skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema);
- hemorrhagic vasculitis;
- collagenoses (dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, periarthritis nodosa);
- thyrotoxicosis;
- thrombocytopenic purpura.
Diagnosis of tonsillitis
The acute form of tonsillitis is diagnosed by a doctor based on the patient’s complaints and the course of the disease. He examines the oropharynx and, if he considers it necessary, prescribes other examinations.
Depending on what form of tonsillitis you have, the mucous membrane is affected. It may fill with pus, dirty green or gray deposits
A general blood test is taken to determine the presence of bacterial infections in the body. If infection is present, the number of leukocytes and ESR increases. To determine the type of pathogen, the patient takes a throat swab .
Two or more signs confirm the presence of chronic tonsillitis:
- There is liquid pus or an accumulation of purulent mass in the tonsils.
- The edges of the palatines are hyperemic.
- There are scar adhesions between the tonsils and arches.
- The palatine tonsils are enlarged, compacted, and have scar changes.
- Enlarged jaw and cervical lymph nodes.
Is it possible to get rid of chronic tonsillitis once and for all?
Unfortunately, it's not possible. It is not possible to eliminate all pathogenic bacteria and microbes, because they lie in wait for a person everywhere: in the air, water, food. But a healthy and strong human body copes well with the infection that has entered it on its own. The immune response guards health, quickly identifying and destroying harmful bacteria. If immunity decreases, any infection that enters the body lingers in it and causes various inflammations and diseases.
Another reason why it is problematic to eliminate tonsillitis completely is the ability of microbes to quickly adapt and develop resistance to adverse conditions. The widespread modern habit of treating even minor ailments with antibiotics has helped pathogenic bacteria develop reliable defense mechanisms. In response to the action of the antibiotic, microbes produce special enzymes that neutralize and destroy the active components of the drug. As a result, the antibiotic does not clear the infection.
But that's not all. One of the culprits of chronic tonsillitis, Staphylococcus aureus, forms colonies living in multilayer films. Therefore, even if the medicine destroys the top layer of bacteria, the remaining layers continue to function actively.
Palatine tonsils with chronic tosillitis
Lifestyle to help relieve tonsillitis symptoms
Since the main reason for the development of infection is reduced immunity, in the process of treating chronic tonsillitis one cannot do without restorative procedures.
You can increase your immunity and resist exacerbations by:
- sufficient physical activity;
- balanced diet;
- hardening;
- giving up bad habits (cigarette smoke and alcohol irritate the tonsils and reduce immunity);
- maintaining indoor air humidity at 60-70% (using a humidifier).
The point about the need for hardening causes a justified protest in many people, because chronic tonsillitis is often aggravated due to hypothermia. But the hardening technique involves a gradual and very slow decrease in water or air temperature, allowing the body to adapt to changes and gently expand its comfort zone. You can pay attention to the hardening system of Porfiry Ivanov . There are other methods for children: Komarovsky, Grebenkin, Tolkachev .
Prevention of chronic tonsillitis
You can also carry out hardening with the help of a contrast shower, when hot (up to 45 degrees) and cool (up to 18 degrees) water is turned on alternately. The temperature contrast increases in stages: in the first days the temperature drops and rises by only two to three degrees from the comfortable level, then the temperature gap widens.
IMPORTANT! Procedures for hardening the body cannot be carried out during an exacerbation of any diseases, including chronic tonsillitis.
How to get rid of tonsillitis forever
Chronic sore throat can be cured in two main ways. This:
- Conservative treatment. It involves ridding the patient of the pathogen living in his body.
- Surgery. It radically relieves the patient from the organ that contains the pathogen - that is, from the tonsils.
The operation is considered the last resort - after all, removing the tonsils means depriving the body of one of the bastions of immunity. Before prescribing it, doctors usually try all the possibilities of a conservative approach.
Conservative therapy
In the case of treatment of chronic sore throat, medications are used depending on the phase. If this is an exacerbation, use:
- Antibiotics. So that, if not completely destroy the pathogen, then at least reduce its amount in the body.
- Antipyretic. To bring down the temperature if it gets too high.
- Painkillers. To relieve headaches and severe sore throats.
- Sucking lozenges. To moisturize the mucous membrane and reduce pain when swallowing.
During an exacerbation, the main task is to remove it and put it into remission. After this, you can apply a much wider range of influences that will help destroy the disease completely.
It is interesting that in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis not in the acute stage, antibiotics are practically not used. They have a radical effect on the body, but are not able to solve the problem thoroughly. Moreover, they have a detrimental effect on the immune system, which only slows down recovery.
With chronic tonsillitis in a state of remission, everything possible is done to, on the one hand, increase immunity, and on the other, reduce the amount of pathogen in it. For this purpose medications are used:
- Antiseptics. Relieves inflammation, swelling, and reduces tonsils.
- Oroseptics. Sucking lozenges that moisten the throat.
- Drugs that have a beneficial effect on the immune system.
But chronic tonsillitis can be completely treated only using a wide range of techniques. You need to supplement the medications with rinses:
- With saline solution. A spoonful of salt, a pinch of soda, a couple of drops of iodine per glass of water.
- With herbal infusions. Chamomile, calendula, lemon balm, sage and their combinations.
- With antiseptics. The most common of them is Miramistin.
- With saline solution. It can be bought at any pharmacy.
- With honey. Add a spoonful of honey to a glass of warm water and stir well.
Rinsing helps to wash out purulent plugs, thus reducing the amount of pathogen. They should be done about six times a day, only an hour after meals and an hour before the next meal.
The solution must be warm. If a burning sensation and pain are felt, the procedure should be stopped immediately and either reduce the concentration of the solution or lower the temperature.
The drugs should also be supplemented with inhalations:
- With antiseptic solutions. Usually this is the same Miramistin, which can be perfectly combined with any modern nebulizer.
- With herbal infusions. The same chamomile, sage, lemon balm, and calendula can be used either with expensive nebulizers or with a regular steam inhaler.
- With saline solution or sea water. Such inhalations are completely harmless; they are used for chronic tonsillitis, even when small children need to be treated.
- With essential oils. Tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, citrus fruits moisturize and disinfect mucous membranes along with tonsils.
Inhalations are carried out twice a day, also an hour before meals and an hour after.
If during the process (especially steam inhalations) the patient begins to feel dizzy or have a burning throat, the procedure should be immediately interrupted and lie down.
Both after inhalations and after rinsing, it is recommended not to leave the house for at least half an hour and try not to move too actively. Quiet indoor play is recommended for children.
In parallel with active therapy, the patient is also recommended to make slight lifestyle changes in order to maximize immunity. To do this you need:
- Start eating right. Less fatty, fried, spicy, salty. Fewer store-bought sweets, fewer preservatives and dyes. Natural food. Dairy and fermented milk products, white meat. More vegetables, fruits and cereals, low-fat soups. The ideal solution would be to start monitoring the amount of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, as well as the correct caloric intake.
- Start maintaining optimal conditions in your home. Ventilation should be carried out twice a day. Humidity should be no less than sixty. Temperature – no more than twenty-five.
- Start sleeping properly. In a dark room where there are no extraneous sounds (if there is, a good solution would be to wear earplugs). At least eight hours.
- Avoid stress. Or wash them down with herbal sedatives.
- Take vitamins. This is especially true for winter and autumn, and special complexes can be found in any pharmacy - and for any financial opportunity.
- To refuse from bad habits. Both smoking and alcoholism have a bad effect on the immune system.
- Pay more attention to physical activity. You don't need to run or lift weights every day. A half-hour walk in the park is enough.
Immunity is the most important tool in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis. To increase it further, you can start drinking infusions of chamomile, mint, lemon balm, as well as fruit juices every day, as a preventive measure.
You can supplement the entire regimen - rinsing, inhalations, medications, and improving immunity - by attending tonsil rinsing sessions. They are carried out in any clinic, but they have contraindications:
- acute inflammatory process;
- cancer;
- pregnancy;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- retinal detachment.
Do not rinse for small children or patients with severe hypertension.
There are several options for the procedure:
- Using a syringe. A syringe without a needle is inserted into the lacuna and saline (or any antiseptic) is injected. The lacuna overflows, the purulent contents pour out and the patient is asked to spit it out. The process may be painful, so the patient may ask for pain relief. There is also the possibility of a medical error - the doctor may damage the tonsils.
- Using a vacuum. A tube with a suction cup is attached to the tonsil, after which the pus is pumped out and the gaps are filled with an antiseptic. Afterwards it is also pumped out - the patient does not need to spit. But there is a drawback - after the procedure, exacerbation of symptoms may begin and last for two to three days.
For rinsing to have an effect, they must be carried out five to ten times. There is a possibility that the course will have to be repeated after some time, so the patient must be prepared for this - treatment of chronic tonsillitis requires patience.
Drug therapy
In case of chronic tonsillitis in remission, antibiotics are used extremely rarely, and preference is given to antihistamines and antiseptic sprays. The doctor also prescribes inhalations with medications: Furacilin, Tonsilgon N, Dioxidin and others.
To treat exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis, antibiotics are almost always used. They allow you to quickly and reliably suppress the activity and growth of pathogenic bacteria, eliminating the infection and alleviating the patient’s condition.
Treatment of chronic tonsillitis
The following groups of antibacterial agents are used to treat chronic tonsillitis:
- penicillins ( Flemoxin Solutab, Panclave, Ampisid );
- macrolides ( Sumamed ) and cephalosporins ( Cefspan );
- aminoglycosides ( Amikacin ).
IMPORTANT! Only a doctor can choose medications, prescribe dosages and duration of treatment. Self-medication with antibiotics can lead to irreversible changes in the body.
Treatment methods for chronic tonsillitis
Physiotherapeutic procedures play an important role in the treatment of chronic tonsillitis:
- UV irradiation is carried out on the area of the lymph nodes and tonsils.
- UHF, the laser is aimed at the submandibular area.
- Ultrasonic aerosols are used with a solution of “Dioxidine”, a suspension of “Hydrocartisone”, “Lysozyme”.
- Therapeutic mud and ozokerite are carried out (applied to the lymph node area in the form of applications).
It is necessary to undergo all procedures; the course of treatment for one is from 10 to 15 sessions. If conservative treatment does not give the desired effect, surgery is prescribed . It is carried out if there are no contraindications to it, during a period of stable remission.
There are the following methods of treating chronic tonsillitis:
- natural medicines are taken to improve the body's defenses;
- The immunologist prescribes immunity correctors and vaccines: “Bronchomunal”, “IRS-19”, “Levamisole”;
- vitamins C, E, K and group B;
- antihistamines and calcium.
Sanitation of the tonsils is carried out by washing with antiseptic solutions “Dioxidin”, “Furacilin”, enzymes “Lidaza”, antibiotics “Ceftriaxone”, immunostimulating and antihistamines are prescribed.
Contraindications to surgery for chronic tonsillitis
- Severe diabetes mellitus.
- Pulmonary tuberculosis in open form.
- Heart disease with chronic failure of 2–3 degrees.
- Kidney failure at a high level.
- Diseases of the hematopoietic system, accompanied by diathesis.
Relative contraindications:
- caries;
- menstrual period;
- inflammatory diseases in the acute period;
- in late pregnancy.
After the operation, the patient remains in the hospital for five days . Then he is given freedom from physical activity for two weeks.
Penicillins
These drugs not only relieve symptoms during exacerbation, but also protect the body from complications caused by streptococci.
Flemoxin Solutab
The drug Flemoxin Solutab actively fights staphylococci, streptococci and other bacteria
Available in tablet form. This semi-synthetic antibiotic actively fights staphylococci, streptococci and other bacteria. The exact dosage is determined by the doctor, but usually it does not exceed 750 mg per day for children and 1500 mg for adults. The duration of treatment is at least 10 days.
Ampisid
Forms of release of the drug Ampisid
Presented in the form of tablets, powders for suspension and injections. The active ingredients of the drug make it effective even against resistant strains of bacteria. The drug is taken orally in dosages of up to 25 mg per day for children and up to 2000 mg for adults. Duration of treatment is up to two weeks.
Macrolides and cephalosporins
Macrolides have a bacteriostatic effect, blocking the reproduction and growth of bacteria. In addition, they are able to easily penetrate the body's cells and destroy the microbes in them. And cephalosporins act on all bacteria resistant to penicillins.
Sumamed
Release form of the drug Sumamed
Presented in the form of tablets, capsules, lyophilisate, powder and granules for suspension. Active against a wide range of bacteria, including streptococci and staphylococci. Adults are prescribed 0.5 g per day for three days, children - 10 mg per day per kilogram of weight for three days.
Cefspan
Cefspan, available in the form of capsules and granules for suspension, contains the antibiotic cefixime, which suppresses pathogenic bacteria and is resistant to the protective enzyme they secrete - beta-lactamases. Children weighing more than 50 kg and adults are prescribed 400 mg of the drug per day, children weighing less than 50 kg - up to 12 mg per day. The course lasts up to 10 days.
How to quickly cure an acute form of sore throat at home
Inflammation and pathogenic microorganisms that have settled in the throat can be eliminated using proven folk therapy. The acute form of the disease is considered less dangerous, since its symptoms can be recognized in time and the development of complications can be prevented.
Decoctions for rinsing
To treat acute tonsillitis and rinse the throat today, it is effective to use the following recipes that are easy to prepare at home:
- You can fight the infection with an infusion of yarrow . It is necessary to take 20 g of raw material and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Leave for about 1 hour, filter and use to rinse the throat once a day. But how chamomile is used for coughs for children is described in great detail in this article.
A decoction made from chamomile, honey, oak bark and linden inflorescences will help cope with acute tonsillitis . Its action is aimed at eliminating the infection. Take 3 parts of chamomile inflorescences, combine with 2 parts of oak bark and 1 part of linden inflorescences. For 20 g of the mixture you will need 200 ml of boiling water. Place the container on the stove and simmer for 5 minutes. Use the filtered and cooled broth to rinse the throat. But does chamomile help with colds, and how should it be brewed? is discussed in this article.
Place 40 g of St. John's wort and 200 ml of vodka into a container. Leave the mixture for 2 weeks, then filter and use as a gargle for acute tonsillitis. But only before the actual procedure, mix the broth with water in equal proportions.
Home inhalations
You can carry out inhalations in the treatment of acute tonsillitis at home using proven means:
- Place eucalyptus tincture in hot water. In this case, the following proportion must be observed: 20 g of tincture per 1 liter of water. Inhale medicinal vapors for 10-15 minutes.
- An alcoholic infusion based on St. John's wort is very useful for inhalation to treat sore throat. Take 20 g of grass and 100 ml of vodka. Leave the mixture for 2 weeks. Then filter, heat and use in the same way as the first recipe.
- Pour 40 g of fine and dry sage with 2 cups of boiling water. Leave for about 15 minutes. Place the filtered broth in hot water (200 ml of raw material per 1 liter of water). Breathe in pairs for about 10-15 minutes.
- Garlic inhalations can cope with acute tonsillitis. First you need to squeeze the juice out of the garlic and dilute it with water, following the ratio: 1 part juice = 10 parts water. Pour the broth into a wide cup, bend over and inhale the vapors with your mouth. The course of therapy will last 2 weeks.
But how much soda is needed to gargle, and how effective this remedy is. The article explains it in great detail.
This article will help you understand how a sore throat is treated with folk remedies, as well as how to use rinsing.
How to use Chlorhexidine for sore throat in children, and how effective this remedy is. indicated here in the article: https://prolor.ru/g/lechenie/xlorgeksidin-pri-angine.html
But how to rinse with Furacilin for a sore throat, and how to use such a remedy correctly for the best result, is described in this article.
Pharmacy drugs
How to quickly cure a sore throat at home: it is assumed to use not only folk remedies. In this case, the following medications for tonsillitis can be used as prescribed by the doctor:
- Antibacterial agents that have a wide range of effects . Most often this includes drugs from the macrolites and penicillins groups. They have no toxic effect on the human body and are very effective against various bacteria, even those that are not concentrated on the tonsils.
- Local antibiotics . They have an effect at the local level and can influence the pathogenic microflora that lives on the surface of the tonsils.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs . Their action is aimed at relieving inflammation and accelerating tissue repair.
- Analgesics . In case of acute tonsillitis, the patient experiences severe pain in the throat, then it can be eliminated with the help of painkillers.
- Immunomodulatory drugs, the action of which is aimed at strengthening the body's defenses and normalizing the functioning of the immune system.
- Antiviral agents – fight viruses.
- Combined action drugs . They contain several components, due to which they affect the area of inflammation in several directions.
Aminoglycosides
Aminoglycosides treat even the most severe infections, but are highly toxic, so their use is justified only in the case of decompensated chronic tonsillitis. It is advisable to use third-generation drugs with reduced toxic effects.
Amikacin
Amikacin drug
Amikacin is available exclusively in the form of powder and solution for injection. It is effective in the fight against staphylococci resistant to penicillin and cephalosporin. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor. During the treatment period, it is necessary to check the functions of the kidneys, auditory nerve and vestibular apparatus every week.
Washing the tonsils
The procedure for washing the tonsils is often prescribed during an exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis. To carry it out, antibacterial drugs are used - Furacilin, Chlorhexidine, Miramistin , bacteriophages against staphylococci and streptococci.
A stream of the drug solution is directed under pressure into the lacunae of the tonsils, washing out the infection and disinfecting the affected area. Additionally, suctioning of the infected contents of the lacunae using a special device can be used. The result of the procedure is the elimination or significant reduction of inflammation, improvement in the condition of the tonsils and general well-being, and a reduction in the frequency of exacerbations.
The process of washing the tonsils
IMPORTANT! The procedure for washing the tonsils can only be done by a specially trained ENT specialist.
Herbal medicine recipes
When chronic tonsillitis occurs in a compensated form, it can be dealt with using simple folk remedies. The most common of them are gargling and inhalation with herbal decoctions. And if tonsillitis has worsened, you cannot do without rinsing and inhalations.
The most effective herbs in the treatment of tonsillitis:
- sage;
- yarrow;
- calendula;
- chamomile;
- eucalyptus leaves.
You can use each herb separately or together. For inhalation, both the old method with a saucepan and special devices – inhalers and nebulizers – can be used.
Inhaler for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis
Simple and effective recipes against tonsillitis
Purpose | Dosages | Cooking method | How and how much to use |
Infusion for rinsing No. 1 | A tablespoon of yarrow or sage, a glass of boiling water | Pour boiling water over the herb in a mug, cover, leave for 15-17 minutes, and then strain | Gargle with warm infusion five to seven times throughout the day immediately after meals. Do not drink or eat for an hour after the procedure. Treatment period: three days |
Infusion for rinsing No. 2 | A teaspoon of calendula and chamomile flowers, a glass of boiling water | Pour boiling water over the herb in a mug, leave for 18-20 minutes, strain | Gargle up to seven times a day with warm infusion an hour and a half before meals. Course – week |
Decoction for inhalation | One tablespoon each of eucalyptus leaves, sage grass and chamomile flowers, two liters of water | Bring the herbs covered in water to a boil, cook over low heat for three to four minutes, remove the pan and leave to cool (to 60-65 degrees) | Bend over the pan (distance 20-30 cm), inhale the steam shallowly with your mouth for five minutes. Course – one inhalation per day for a week |
Inhalation solution with mineral water and eucalyptus infusion | A tablespoon of eucalyptus leaves, a glass of boiling water, a liter of mineral water | Pour boiling water over eucalyptus and leave for 15-25 minutes. Release the gas from the mineral water, heat it in a saucepan to a temperature of 55-60 degrees, remove from the stove, add eucalyptus infusion | Bend over the pan at a distance of 20-30 cm (it feels like it), inhale the steam shallowly with your mouth for ten minutes. You can do five to seven inhalations every two days |
IMPORTANT! The use of recipes for rinsing and inhalation is contraindicated in the presence of allergic reactions to any herb, since additional swelling caused by the allergy will only aggravate the condition of the tonsils.
Video - How to treat tonsillitis with folk remedies
Symptoms of chronic tonsillitis in adults
Chronic tonsillitis can occur in the form of periodically aggravated tonsillitis. And in the interval between exacerbations, a person can feel healthy. In more severe forms of chronic tonsillitis, the disease develops into a sluggish inflammatory process. This course is more dangerous because bacterial toxins and other harmful substances constantly enter the body from the source of inflammation. The likelihood of complications developing in this case increases significantly.
Common symptoms of chronic tonsillitis in adults include:
- Frequent exacerbations of the disease in the form of tonsillitis due to hypothermia, fatigue, viral and bacterial infections;
Increased body temperature to subfebrile;
Enlargement and tenderness of the mandibular or cervical lymph nodes;
- General weakness, increased fatigue.
Local symptoms include redness of the throat and enlarged tonsils. Patients complain of dry throat, pain when swallowing and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. There may be pain radiating to the ear and discomfort in the heart area.
A disease that occurs in a chronic form can cause changes in the immune system, as a result of which complications such as rheumatism, rheumatic carditis, glomerulonephritis, and pyelonephritis can develop.
Aromatherapy
All essential oils have excellent antibacterial properties.
Essential oils will help cope with the manifestations of tonsillitis:
- sage;
- basilica;
- eucalyptus;
- tea tree.
Oils for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis
The main area of application of oils for chronic tonsillitis is inhalation. Since essential oils are potent compounds, therapeutic (minimal) doses are used for inhalation.
Any of the selected oils is added in the amount of just one drop per liter of hot water. You need to inhale the steam through your mouth, but not deeply. The session lasts no more than five minutes. It is possible to carry out 10 procedures every other day.
IMPORTANT! The water temperature should not exceed 60 degrees to avoid burns to the mucous membrane.
Before using any oil, an allergy test is required. To do this, a drop of undiluted ether is applied to the inner bend of the elbow for 30 minutes. Slight redness of the skin is a normal reaction. If itching or rash occurs, you should stop using this scent and choose another one.
How to cure a sore throat
You can get rid of the symptoms of chronic sore throat in a few days at home. Timely diagnosis and proper therapy will help to quickly cure tonsillitis. If you notice a deterioration in the patient’s well-being, increased temperature, swelling of the mucous membranes, use the most common methods. These include:
- rinsing;
- washing the tonsils;
- inhalation;
- throat lubrication;
- taking certain medications;
- throat irrigation;
- cleansing the mucous membrane.
In addition, it is useful for the patient to take decoctions and tinctures of medicinal herbs and actively strengthen the immune system. Let's look at each point in more detail.
Gargling
When chronic tonsillitis worsens, the patient should begin therapy as quickly as possible , but not everyone knows how and how to treat tonsillitis at home. The first step is to clean the gaps and stop the development of the inflammatory process. To do this, gargle with specialized solutions or a decoction of medicinal herbs.
Rinsing allows you to wash away purulent plugs and also dull the pain.
To reduce unpleasant symptoms, gargle with a decoction of oak bark, chamomile or St. John's wort . For a more effective result, add a spoonful of beekeeping product to the liquid.
Yarrow is known for its quick results. To prepare a decoction from the plant, brew thirty grams of herb in three hundred milliliters of hot water. Then let the broth sit for fifteen minutes, strain the liquid and rinse the inflamed area.
St. John's wort tincture is known for no less pronounced benefits. To prepare a medicinal mixture, pour fifty grams of herb with 200 milliliters of vodka. The product must be infused for at least two weeks. Gargle with tincture mixed with clean water in a ratio of one to three.
Gargle every day at least three times a day. When treating, make sure that the solution is at least fifty degrees Celsius.
More information about rinsing can be found here.
Inhalations
Treatment of chronic tonsillitis at home involves a complex effect. Therefore, in addition to gargling, the patient needs to inhale healing vapors.
Inhalations are allowed only from the age of six under the supervision of one of the parents.
Inhalations help eliminate pathogenic bacteria and also significantly moisturize the mucous membrane. To carry out the procedure, it is enough to know a few rules:
- Steam activities are prohibited at elevated body temperatures.
- During treatment, it is important to follow general safety precautions.
- After inhaling the healing vapors, do not go outside for an hour, and also close all the windows at home.
- The duration of the procedure when treating adults should last no more than fifteen minutes. Children should inhale vapors for no more than five minutes.
- You can start inhalation one hour after eating.
- Do not engage in active sports before the procedure.
- Watch your breathing. The medicinal vapors should be inhaled slowly and shallowly. When treating chronic tonsillitis, inhale the aerosol or medicinal vapors through the mouth.
- Before starting the procedure, do not take medications that may cause mucus production.
- Immediately after treatment, it is forbidden to talk or take any drinks or food for thirty minutes.
- The course of treatment for sore throat should last at least one week.
As medications for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis, use eucalyptus tincture, sage, chamomile or St. John's wort tincture. For two liters of water, use at least fifteen grams of your chosen ingredient.
- To prepare eucalyptus inhalation, boil one liter of water and add twenty grams of eucalyptus to the liquid. You need to breathe in the vapors covered with a towel for a quarter of an hour. For children, seven minutes is enough.
- To prepare an inhalation from sage or any other plant, pour forty grams of medicinal herb with half a liter of boiling water. Infuse the decoction for thirty minutes in a dry and dark place, then strain the liquid and heat again. The vapors should be inhaled every day three times a day.
- If the patient suffers from an allergic reaction, steam inhalations should be replaced with dry ones . To do this, cut a clove of garlic or onion into several pieces and inhale the vapors for fifteen minutes. For children, the duration of the procedure is reduced to seven minutes.
It is known that one of the most popular inhalation procedures is potato. You can find out how to treat with vegetables during pregnancy here.
Tinctures for children and adults
Treatment of tonsillitis at home can be done using tinctures . They will have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic effects. The most effective results are obtained from dry herbs of mint, yarrow and St. John's wort.
Tinctures can only be used if there is no hypersensitivity to the selected ingredient.
To prepare a medicinal mixture for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis, you need to grind any selected dry herb and stir it in a glass of boiling water.
The mixture should be infused for at least sixty minutes in a dark and dry place. After which the tincture should be strained and heated. You need to gargle with a medicinal drug five times a day.
Important! Treatment of tonsillitis at home is allowed only in combination with medications.
chamomile, oak bark or linden as the main ingredient For best results, keep the broth over low heat for ten minutes, stirring occasionally. After which the product should be cooled to a temperature of fifty degrees Celsius and the tonsils should be rinsed.
Treatment of tonsillitis in children at home using tinctures is carried out only after permission from a pediatrician. In this case, the tincture must be diluted with plenty of water to eliminate allergic reactions and other unpleasant side symptoms.
Rinsing the nasopharynx with salted water
How to rinse your nose correctly
This, unpleasant at first, but proven and effective method will help relieve inflammation and partially wash away the pathogenic flora from the tonsils.
Dilute a quarter teaspoon of salt (preferably sea salt) in a glass of water at body temperature. Draw in water through one nostril, closing the other, then spit it out through your mouth. The procedure will initially cause unusual or even unpleasant sensations, but they are worth enduring in order to obtain a good therapeutic effect. You can wash twice a day for an unlimited time.
Traditional methods used at home
It would be a big mistake to think that tonsillitis can be cured only with home methods. No, they are only an addition to the therapy prescribed by the doctor, and also help maintain health, preventing relapses and exacerbations.
Video - Chronic tonsillitis
Note. Such methods are especially indicated for allergy sufferers, young children, as well as pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. For such patients, doctors specially select natural-based medications, including those that can be prepared at home.
For home treatment of tonsillitis, herbal infusions and decoctions, herbal teas, gargling solutions, and some foods are used.
Gargling
Sanitation of the tonsils is a priority measure when signs of infection appear on them: swelling, redness, the appearance of white plaque or mucus, pain. Even gargling with ordinary clean and warm water is very useful, as it washes away bacteria from the mucous membrane, preventing them from spreading further. If the solution has an antibacterial, analgesic and sedative effect, the effectiveness of its use increases.
You can also add honey, red beet juice, and apple cider vinegar to the rinse water.
It is advisable to alternate different remedies throughout the day, this will help ensure a varied treatment. You should also monitor the reaction to a particular solution. For example, if soda really dries out the throat, causing additional pain, it should not be used more than twice a day.
Inhalations
Modern devices for home inhalation are very convenient, but are not always designed for the use of folk remedies. They are best used for inhalation of medications prescribed by a doctor, especially when treating children. Adults can easily use the classic method - inhaling hot healing steam while sitting under a towel over a bowl of solution.
It is important! Such procedures must be coordinated with a doctor, since in case of fever, purulent infections and in some other cases, it is impossible to warm a sore throat. In such cases, only inhalation of cold steam produced by an ultrasonic device is allowed.
The following is added to water for inhalation in the treatment of tonsillitis:
- alcohol tinctures of St. John's wort, chamomile, eucalyptus, aloe, sage and other medicinal plants;
- self-prepared decoctions of medicinal herbs and pine needles;
- propolis infusion.
Healing drinks
The same herbs from which decoctions are prepared for gargling can be used to prepare medicinal drinks. Containing essential oils, vitamins, valuable microelements and natural compounds, they not only relieve inflammation, but also improve immunity.
It is better to buy raw materials for such drinks at a pharmacy and brew them exactly according to the instructions. It’s even easier to use herbal teas in bags.
Herbal teas in bags
But it is not recommended to use fresh or self-dried herbs if you do not know how to do it correctly. The fact is that raw materials collected at the wrong time or dried incorrectly, at best, will not bring any benefit. And when the components included in a independently compiled collection interact, harmful substances can be formed.
The following decoctions can be used without fear:
- from chamomile, sage and rosehip;
- An infusion of equal parts of thyme, calendula, St. John's wort, peony, wormwood, coltsfoot and calamus root has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. This mixture is brewed in a thermos for about four hours. Before use, add honey and lemon juice.
Among pharmaceutical preparations, tincture of Eleutherococcus, which has high antiseptic and immunomodulatory properties, deserves special attention. Drink it twice a day, diluting 15-20 drops of tincture in a glass of warm water.
Eleutherococcus tincture
Another healing drink is prepared from an alcohol tincture of propolis, 25-30 drops of which are diluted in any warm liquid: water, milk, tea. It relieves exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis well, but can also be used to prevent the disease.
Propolis tincture with vodka: preparation at home
Healthy foods
Many foods used in our daily diet can also help fight the disease if used correctly. Below are recipes for medicinal products that you can prepare with your own hands.
Also, a sore throat can benefit from honey or lemon, which is kept in the mouth, trying not to swallow right away. But these products are allergens for some people and can irritate the mucous membranes, so they should be used with caution.
Each otolaryngologist may have his own proven recipes for home treatment of sore throat and tonsillitis. Any of them will definitely advise you on frequent rinsing, drinking plenty of fluids, and other ways to relieve pain, reduce fever and increase the body's protective functions. By using them in combination with medication and physiotherapy, you will sooner get rid of the disease.
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx, consisting of epithelial cells. The pathology is most often of an infectious nature and is caused by respiratory diseases and other infections: tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever. In some cases, the mucous membranes can become inflamed under the influence of mechanical factors. In order to start therapy in a timely manner and seek medical help, you need to know the symptoms and signs of laryngitis.
Surgery
Surgery to remove tonsils is a last resort. You should resort to it only when other means do not help, and the situation only worsens. Despite the fact that surgery allows you to get rid of chronic tonsillitis forever, doctors today try to avoid such a drastic method.
Surgical treatment of chronic tonsillitis
Tonsils perform a lot of useful functions in the body, protecting against infections and allergies. They also produce beneficial macrophages and lymphocytes. Thus, having lost the tonsils, the body is deprived of its natural defenses, and immunity decreases.
Therefore, you should not rush into the operation. To begin with, it is better to try to get rid of chronic tonsillitis using the proposed conservative methods. An integrated approach to treatment will eliminate the symptoms of the disease, improving the quality of life, and over time, completely forget about any manifestations of chronic tonsillitis.