Tonsils

Tonsillitis Treatment in Sadashiv Peth, Pune

Tonsils are two pads of tissues that are oval and are located in the back of our throats. When the tonsils become inflamed, you will experience sore throat, tender lymph nodes, and find it difficult in swallowing. Swollen tonsils occur because of viral or bacterial infections.

Symptoms

Generally, tonsils affect school-going children and mid-teenagers. The symptoms include;

• Swollen or red tonsils
• The white or yellowish covering on the tonsils
• Sore throat
• Facing difficulty in swallowing
• Fever
• Lymph nodes in the neck become enlarged
• Throaty voice
• Stomachache
• Headache
• Pain in the neck

In very young children, the symptoms are;

• Drooling as they find it tough to swallow
• Not eating
• Fussiness for no reason

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Causes

Tonsils occur because of viral or bacterial infections. The most common bacteria responsible for tonsils is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), which is also the bacteria that causes strep throat. The reason why tonsils get infected is that they are the first ones to encounter any bacteria or virus that enters the mouth. However, after the children hit puberty, the tonsil’s immune system becomes weak, hence, tonsils are generally not or very rarely experienced in adulthood. It is important to see a doctor if;

• Your child is experiencing a sore throat with a fever
• Even after 48 hours, the sore throat is persistent
• Finding it extremely difficult to swallow
• Fatigue or weakness
• Breathing difficulty or drooling in very young children

Diagnosis

When you visit a doctor, they will;

• Use a torch or other lighted instrument to take a look inside your child’s throat and/or ears and nose to see if they too have any signs of infection.
• Check for any rashes in the throat
• Feel the sides of your child’s neck for signs of swollen lymph nodes
• Listen to the breathing with a stethoscope
• Look at the spleen to see if they are enlarged
• Throat swab and complete blood cell count to determine the cause of tonsil

Treatment

Antibiotics

If the tonsils have occurred due to a bacterial or viral infection then the doctor might prescribe antibiotics for more than a week. However, it is important to mention any allergies that your child might suffer from as the doctor will then prescribe medicines accordingly. The full course of antibiotics must be taken without fail as that can help get rid of the infection and avoid any complications such as rheumatic fever or inflammation of the kidneys.

Surgery

If tonsils occur every frequently or your kid is suffering from a chronic condition, surgery might be recommended. Frequent tonsils mean at least seven episodes in the preceding year, five episodes in the past two years, and at least three episodes in the past three years. The removal of tonsils is known as a tonsillectomy and is an outpatient procedure. This means you will be able to take your child home the same day of the surgery. However, total recovery takes up to 14 days.

Home Remedies

• It is necessary to take complete rest
• Make sure your child consumes necessary fluids especially warm fluids, such as soup and warm water
• Taking a saltwater gargle is important, for this, you need to mix a teaspoon of salt in warm water and make sure your child gargles for at least a minute
• Make sure there are no irritants at home, such as any smoke