|
Tonsillitis And Sore Throats |
|
Sore throats often involve the tonsils. These are the pair of rounded tissues on either side of the back of the throat. The tonsils help fight infections, but they can become infected themselves. Acute tonsillitis goes along with many throat infections, including strep throat. It is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 10. It usually lasts 4 to 6 days. However, tonsillitis can become a chronic or recurring problem in children or adults.
ACUTE TONSILLITIS BEGINS WITH A MILD TO SEVERE SORE THROAT. OTHER SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE: - fever
- red, swollen tonsils
- yellow or white spots of pus on the tonsils
- swollen, tender lymph glands in the neck
- discomfort or pain with swallowing
- painful stomach (often with children)
- headaches
- muscle and joint pains
- loss of appetite
- ear aches
- breathing through the mouth
- nausea or vomiting, and
- bad breath
A person with tonsillitis should consult a doctor, as antibiotics may be required if it is due to a bacterial infection. Many viruses, including glandular fever, cause tonsillitis. These infections do not require antibiotics. For children, use medication such as paracetamol (Panadol), to relieve pain or reduce fever. Get plenty of bed rest. Drink plenty of cool (not cold) liquids, even though it hurts. Eat soft foods, such as ice cream or soup. It helps to gargle with warm salt water. Chronic tonsillitis produces recurrent sore throats. There are often small plugs of pus that emerge from small dents in the tonsils. These may be the size of rice, have an unpleasant odour and may occur with no other symptoms. Sometimes, the person coughs them out without realizing they are from the tonsils. The person may go on feeling unwell and tired. In severe cases, an abscess develops or the tonsils become quite large obstructing the airway or making swallowing impossible. If someone has many attacks of tonsillitis each year, taking the tonsils out may help, although many doctors are reluctant to recommend it as the operation can be unsafe. However in the past two years a new technique has been trialled to remove the tonsils using a radiowave ablation technique. This technique uses a much lower temperature than standard techniques such as cauterisation and therefore causes less damage to surrounding tissue. According to the trials there was less post-operative pain, dehydration and weight-loss, and therefore a quicker recovery rate. [Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2003; 129:533-37.] Article #4459 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
