Tonsils: Definition, How to Overcome, and Characteristics of the Tonsils

Characteristics of the Tonsils – Inflammation of the tonsils or tonsillitis is a condition when the tonsils become inflamed or inflamed. This condition is generally experienced in children aged 3–7 years. However, inflammation of the tonsils can also occur in adults, especially in the elderly.

The tonsils or tonsils are two small glands in the throat and have a function to prevent infection, especially in children. However, as you get older and your immune system gets stronger, the function of the tonsils then begins to be replaced and their size will slowly decrease.

Then, do you already know what is meant by tonsils? So, in this article, we will discuss more about the tonsils and how to treat tonsillitis. So, keep reading this article to the end, Sinaumed’s.

Meaning of Tonsils

The tonsils are actually not a disease but two small glands in the throat area. In children who don’t have strong body defenses, this one organ has a function to prevent various infections that can occur in the body.

But as time goes by and the immune system in children gets stronger, its function begins to be replaced. In fact, it can cause inflammation of the tonsils in a person.

Tonsillitis has recognizable symptoms. The most visible common symptom is swelling of the tonsils. In addition, there are several other symptoms that also accompany it, including fever, cough, hoarseness, headache, and bad breath.

In addition, this disease will also cause white or yellow spots on the bulge in the throat area. Sufferers will also feel a stiff neck, pain in the ear area, and a feeling of difficulty swallowing.

For some children who suffer from this disease, usually they cannot explain and also describe the pain they are suffering from. Even so, you can also recognize the symptoms from the behavior they show, such as being more fussy, not wanting to eat, and also drooling frequently. If the child or yourself experience some of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a doctor immediately, so they can be treated properly.

Characteristics of the Tonsils

Symptoms that may arise from inflammation of the tonsils can vary, ranging from symptoms that are quite normal and commonly encountered, symptoms that are not normal, to symptoms that require medical treatment as soon as possible. For more details about the characteristics of normal, abnormal tonsils and requiring doctor’s treatment, we will discuss this point.

Characteristics of Normal Inflamed Tonsils

In fairly common conditions, inflammation of the tonsils can heal on its own without the help of drugs. The time needed for the tonsils to heal is approximately one week.

Even so, of course these symptoms may cause uncomfortable feelings, especially on the third to fifth day since the tonsillitis first occurred. The characteristics of the tonsils about inflammation which are quite normal can be known, including:

Sore throat, especially when he is swallowing food.
The tonsils or appear swollen and reddish in the throat area are also filled with pus-filled spots.
Prolonged fever and chills.
Pain in the head area, earache and neck pain.
The body easily feels tired and has difficulty sleeping.
Coughs.
Swollen lymph nodes.

Characteristics of Abnormal Inflamed Tonsils

In addition to the characteristics of normal tonsils, when you are experiencing inflammation it is very possible that you will then experience symptoms or characteristics that are not normal or are less common. Some of the cases of abnormal tonsillitis include:

Nausea and vomiting
Stomach ache
Difficulty opening the mouth and changing voice
Bad breath
Hairy-looking tongue

Characteristics of Inflamed Tonsils That Need to Be Examined Immediately

If you or your child experience the symptoms of the tonsils that will be mentioned, you should immediately contact your doctor to then get a deeper examination. The symptoms or characteristics of inflamed tonsils to watch out for include:

Sore throat that is being experienced does not go away.
Painful and very difficult to swallow.
The fever continues to rise.
Stiff neck.
The body becomes weaker, tired and cranky quite badly.

In addition, symptoms of inflammation of the tonsils which then require action from the emergency department as soon as possible are as follows.

The patient becomes increasingly difficult to breathe.
Sufferers become very difficult to swallow.
Patients who can not control the secretion of saliva.

After knowing the definition and characteristics of the tonsils, to find out more about the tonsils, we also need a diagnosis of inflammation of the tonsils. With this diagnosis, someone will know whether the inflammation of the tonsils they are experiencing is dangerous or not. So, keep reading this article until it’s finished, Sinaumed’s.

Diagnosis of Inflammation of the Tonsils

In diagnosing inflammation of the tonsils, the doctor will then start by examining the throat, as well as asking questions about the symptoms being felt. If this inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, usually the symptoms can include swollen lymph nodes in the throat, spots of pus around the tonsils, and/or fever.

Meanwhile, if the inflammation of the tonsils is caused by a viral infection, the symptoms that appear are then considered to be milder than a bacterial infection, and are often accompanied by symptoms of cough and runny nose. Usually the diagnosis is made, such as:

Further tests in the laboratory, such as a blood test, are usually needed by a doctor to then determine whether the sufferer also has various other conditions, such as glandular fever. In most cases, inflammation of the tonsils will usually heal within one week, and rarely progresses to a serious condition.

Steps to Overcome Inflammation of the Tonsils

If the inflammation of the tonsils that occurs is severe enough, the doctor will usually then take medical action, including:

Home Care

Inflamed tonsils can be treated with home remedies so that they recover quickly. Some home care strategies that need to be done include:

Get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Make sure the room is kept moist.
Take lozenges to soothe sore throats.
Avoid secondhand smoke.
Consume foods and drinks that provide comfort, such as broth and warm water mixed with honey.
Gargle with salt water to relieve sore throat.

Administering Antibiotics

The next treatment for inflammation of the tonsils is to take drugs. As it is known that inflammation of the tonsils is then caused by a viral or bacterial infection, usually the doctor will prescribe antibiotics for you. The type of antibiotic given is generally penicillin for inflammation of the tonsils due to infection with group A Streptococcus bacteria.

Meanwhile, for inflammation of the tonsils that is not caused by a virus, the sufferer then only needs limited medicine to relieve the symptoms they are experiencing. These drugs include paracetamol or ibuprofen as pain relievers and reduce fever due to inflammation of the tonsils.

Operation

In some cases, someone who suffers from tonsillitis will usually be directed to perform surgery in the form of removing the tonsils. The operation given by this doctor aims to treat inflammation of the tonsils that is quite chronic or inflammation of the tonsils caused by bacteria that cannot respond to antibiotics.

Inflammation of the tonsils that recurs too often and may require surgery, here are some characteristics of the tonsils that need surgery:

Tonsils that continue to occur more than seven times a year.
Tonsils that have continued to occur more than four to five times a year in the previous two years.
Tonsils that have continued to occur more than three times in one year in the previous three years.

Having a tonsillectomy will also allow someone with tonsillitis which can trigger the following complications:

Episodes of intermittent breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea disorder).
Difficulty in breathing
Difficulty swallowing food, especially meat and other thick foods
An abscess that doesn’t respond to antibiotics.

You can do all the steps to overcome inflammation above. However, as previously explained, if the symptoms of tonsillitis are increasingly disturbing, you should immediately consult a doctor.

How to Distinguish Tonsillitis and Sore Throat

Did you know that tonsillitis and strep throat can occur together and what’s the difference? Here’s the full explanation.

In fact, a person can experience tonsillitis and strep throat at the same time. However, there are still differences in symptoms between the two. If you don’t understand which one you are experiencing, then you should immediately consult a doctor and do the recommendations the doctor has given, such as taking regular medication and getting enough rest.

Tonsillitis itself can be caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, which are then responsible for strep throat as well. However, you can experience tonsillitis due to bacterial infections as well as various other viruses. In addition, inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis) which attacks the tonsil glands, namely glands which then function as the body’s defense system.

Meanwhile, strep throat or pharyngitis is a disease that occurs due to inflammation in the throat area.

Here are some ways to differentiate tonsils and strep throat.

Appearance Features

However, in some aspects you can still see the difference. For example, in tonsillitis, redness will appear in the tonsil area, whereas in strep throat, only red spots appear in the mouth area.

Symptoms

Inflammation can cause a variety of symptoms such as fever, neck stiffness, abdominal pain, and white or yellow discoloration on or around the tonsils. Meanwhile, strep throat causes a higher fever, aching rheumatic pain all over the body, nausea and vomiting, so that the tonsils appear red swollen with white streaks of pus.

If you experience one or more of the symptoms as mentioned above, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Closing

Basically, the tonsils are one part of the body that is owned by every human being. Then, as previously explained, these tonsils already have a function, which is to ward off germs or viruses from entering the body. However, as we get older, the tonsils in a person will get thinner, so that their function will weaken. Therefore, it will be easier to get tonsillitis.

Even so, inflammation of the tonsils itself is harmless and some are dangerous. Apart from that, inflammation of the tonsils is also caused by a virus which can make it difficult to swallow food. If inflammation of the tonsils is increasingly interfering with your activities, you should immediately consult a doctor to get further treatment.

This is a discussion about the meaning of tonsils, the characteristics of tonsils, and how to distinguish tonsillitis from strep throat. Hopefully all the discussion above is useful and can add to your insight.

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Source: from various sources