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Tonsillitis refers to the inflammation of the tonsil glands located above the throat, which is generally divided into acute or chronic.Acute tonsillitis usually occurs suddenly, and common symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils, difficulty swallowing, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.In some cases, a peritonsillar abscess may occur.The most common cause of tonsillitis is viral infection, but about 5% to 40% of cases are caused by bacterial infection, especially group A streptococci infection is called "streptococcus throat".
"The symptoms of acute tonsillitis will be self-relieved in 82% of people within a week, regardless of the accompanying virus or bacteria."
Symptoms of Tonsillitis
Patients with tonsillitis usually experience sore throat, difficulty swallowing, weakness and fever.During examination, the tonsils and the back of the throat may appear red and swollen, sometimes accompanied by white secretions.Swelling of lymph nodes can also cause neck pain.Many viruses that cause tonsillitis can also cause symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, hoarse voice, or blisters in the mouth or throat.Infectious mononucleosis can lead to enlarged tonsils and red dots or white secretions, which can also be accompanied by fever, sore throat, and even enlarged liver and spleen.
Possible Causes
According to the study, 40% to 60% of tonsillitis cases are caused by the virus.Many viruses can cause inflammation in the tonsils and other parts of the throat, such as adenovirus, influenza virus, measles virus, etc.In addition, infection with group A beta hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) can also cause tonsillitis.When tonsillitis recurs after antibiotic treatment, it is usually caused by the same bacteria re-inducing infection, which indicates that the antibiotic treatment is not ideal.
Diagnosis method
For acute sore throat, doctors usually judge the possibility of GABHS infection based on the Centor criteria.These indicators can help doctors determine whether antibiotics are needed.Common methods for diagnosing GABHS infection include throat swabs and cultures on blood agar medium.Even so, the positive rate of this test can reach 40% in asymptomatic patients.Therefore, this examination is not routinely performed in hospitals.
"For acute tonsillitis, the main diagnosis depends on clinical manifestations and Centor guidelines."
Treatment
The treatment of tonsillitis is mainly focused on reducing symptoms and avoiding complications.Common soothing measures include the use of painkillers such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve throat pain.In addition, patients can choose to rinse their mouths with warm saline water, take lozenges, honey or drink warm drinks to soothe.However, there is no antiviral treatment for tonsillitis caused by the virus.
Using antibiotics
If tonsillitis is caused by GABHS, antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin are the main choices.If the patient is allergic to penicillin, cephalosporin or macrolide drugs, such as azithromycin, can be used.In some cases, the use of antibiotics can prevent the aggravation of the condition, especially in hospitalized patients.The general antibiotic use cycle is seven to ten days.
Surgery treatment
For patients with frequent relapse of tonsillitis, usually defined as patients who occur at least five times in a year, tonsillectomy may be considered.Studies have shown that tonsillectomy in adults undergoing this surgery has a significant effect on reducing sore throat and is more cost-effective in individual cases.However, for children, the effect of surgery is relatively small.
Prognosis
Since the advent of Pandou antibiotics in the 1940s, the treatment goal of tonsillitis is not only to relieve pain, but to a greater extent to prevent the occurrence of complications such as rheumatism and fever.Although the occurrence of related complications is still a minority in developed countries, this is still a relatively important issue in poor countries.Patients should pay special attention to any abnormal signs in their throat, as this may lead to more serious health problems. Have you ever noticed any abnormalities in your throat?
