Tonsils are lymph nodes in the back of the mouth & top of the throat. These oval tissue pads help to filter virus, bacteria & other germs to prevent infection in the body. When these get infected , they swell, inflammed adding ‘itis’ to it , so called Tonsillitis.
Acute Tonsillitis is the most common infections encountered in everyday practice. When these Acute infections become recurrent , they lead to Chronic Tonsillitis, one of the commonest chronic infection.
Sign & Symptoms:
- Raw sensation in throat, Sore throat
- Coughing- initially dry
- Increased secretion may lead to wet cough that is with expectoration
- Pain- mostly more painful while swallowing, sometimes radiating to the ears.
- Child may not be able to say pain, instead refuses to eat.
- Voice may be muffled, heavy
- Fever, bodyache
- Halitosis or bad breath may be present
- Sometimes- lymphnodes are enlarged in neck region and around.
- Acute tonsillitis usually lasts from 4-6 days
Types of Tonsillitis
- Acute Parenchymal Tonsillitis- tonsils are swollen and red & chronic type is common in children
- Acute Follicular Tonsillitis- white/ yellow pus crypts seen on red swollen tonsils,& chronic form is common in adults.
Causes:
- More frequent upto age of 15 years, although age is no bar.
- Invariably affects both sexes
- Frequent Cold intakes like ice cream, cold drinks, which lowers body resistance due to vasoconstrictions(narrow blood vessels).
- Pre existing upper respiratory infections like sinus trouble, cold-coryza etc.
- Weak immunity
- Pollution
- Infection from other individuals
- Allergies
Treatment
- Proper nutrition is mandatory to recover quickly
- Lukewarm Salt water gargle
- Proper rest
- In case of fever, remain well hydrated
- Homeopathy medicines have a lot of scope and witnessed many succesess. To name some commonest medicines are- Belladonna, Bryonia, Calcarea, Phytolacca, etc.
One must always take medicine (any) under doctors consultation only.
Bibliography:
- ENT diseases by Bhargawas, 8th Edition
- Homeopathic Materia Medica by Boericke
- Allen’s handbook
