Tonsillitis (angina tonsillaris) – causes, symptoms & therapy

Tonsillitis, also known medically as tonsillitis and angina tonsillaris, is a painful infection of the tonsils. Tonsillitis can be acute (acute tonsillitis) or chronic (chronic tonsillitis), and can occur on one or both sides.

The inflammatory reaction is usually triggered by bacteria , a viral infection is less common. In addition, tonsillitis is highly contagious and is transmitted by droplet infection .

Since the tonsils only increase in size up to the age of three and hardly change after that, tonsillitis is most common in children and adolescents, but can also occur in adults with a weakened immune system.

causes

Tonsillitis occurs primarily in people who are struggling with a weak immune system or pre-existing conditions. If the general condition is rather poor, the body has little protection against various infections , and it also takes more time to recover from an illness.In the case of tonsillitis, bacteria such as streptococci, staphylococci or pneumococci penetrate the organism and trigger tonsillitis. If you get tonsillitis more than five times a year, it can lead to chronic tonsillitis.

Since the tonsil tissue continues to scar due to frequent stress, bacteria can very quickly settle on the tonsils and spread there. This can lead to the infection remaining permanent. If tonsillitis is already chronic, serious secondary diseases can occur in some cases and further weaken the immune system.

symptoms and course

Possible symptoms of tonsillitis:

• difficulties swallowing

• Sore throat

• lymph node swelling

• Fever

• headache

• bad breath

• exhaustion

• earache

Tonsillitis is usually accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, sore throat, swelling of the lymph nodes and fever. In addition, tonsillitis is often accompanied by symptoms such as earaches, headaches and general weakness .

In the case of acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis acuta), the symptoms appear suddenly and are very painful. However, the symptoms usually subside on their own after 7-14 days. The chronic form of tonsillitis (tonsillitis chronica) persists without appropriate therapy (removal of the tonsils). Chronic tonsillitis usually does not cause any symptoms, but can cause unpleasant bad breath as a side effect.

Acute tonsillitis can cause the tonsils to swell and cause breathing difficulties ( shortness of breath ). Both acute and chronic tonsillitis carry the risk of purulent abscesses.

Diagnose

To diagnose acute tonsillitis, the doctor first examines the oral cavity, tongue, pharynx and larynx. If the tonsils are red and swollen and also have purulent deposits, the doctor quickly concludes tonsillitis. If pain occurs when palpating the lymph nodes in the neck, this is another sure indication of acute tonsillitis.

Chronic tonsillitis that causes hardly any pain can be recognized by scarred tonsils. When pressure is applied to the tonsils, they may ooze pus or some similar waste product. The visual diagnosis (in both acute and chronic tonsillitis) is confirmed by a rapid streptococcal test, by the result of a bacterial culture from a throat swab and by the detection of antibodies against the pathogen causing tonsillitis in the patient’s blood.

treatment and therapy

Acute tonsillitis can usually be treated well with antibiotic therapy. In addition, fever-reducing and pain-relieving drugs are used. In any case, it is necessary to see a doctor, as an untreated infection of the tonsils can spread to other organs, such as the heart or kidneys, or promote joint inflammation.

Acute tonsillitis can last up to two weeks. During this time you should take it easy, consume enough chilled drinks, only eat food that causes little pain when swallowing and not smoke. You can also gargle with tea preparations made from chamomile or sage .

↳ More information: Home remedies for a sore throat

The doctor also usually prescribes lozenges, which can relieve the swallowing difficulties. Since antibiotics should not be taken for a long period of time, chronic tonsillitis cannot be treated in principle. In this case, it is recommended to have the tonsils removed surgically.

prevention

Tonsillitis can only be prevented by strengthening the immune system, as this is the only way to successfully fight off bacteria and viruses.People who lead a healthy lifestyle are generally better protected against tonsillitis than people whose immune system is weakened. One should try to protect the mucous membranes from harmful influences such as smoke, fine dust and alcohol.

You should also eat a diet rich in vitamins and exercise regularly. Mental and physical stress and sleep problems can also weaken the immune system.

Hygiene is also very important to avoid contamination. Those who follow these instructions are better protected against tonsillitis.