What causes tonsillitis ?
An tonsillitis can be caused by a virus or by a bacterium. A viral infection usually goes back on its own by hydrating itself, taking painkillers and resting a lot.
Constantly swollen glands
In some cases, tonsillitis appears to be chronic. Chronic tonsillitis can cause pain when swallowing because the glands are swollen. In addition, the patient may experience difficulties in breathing while sleeping, causing him to snore more often and the breathing occasionally stops for a short period of time.
Chronic tonsillitis can be caused by allergies. Just like patients who have not recovered from an almond or throat inflammation in the past, chronic tonsillitis can lead to sleep problems.
Because our body learns to recognize and fight more and more pathogens through time, adults are less likely to suffer from tonsillitis than children who have not yet developed antibodies against the bacteria.
From one more than five times a year an tonsillitis gets one considers the tonsillitis as chronic. One can then opt to have the almonds removed, although this intervention is becoming increasingly controversial.
Bacterial infection
To treat a bacterial inflammation, however, an antibiotic should be taken. Tonsillitis is often the result of the streptococcal bacterium. If you suffer from high fever and swollen glands that are overloaded with white spots, chances are that you have contracted the streptococcal virus. The disease can be accompanied by severe headaches.
Rapid treatment with antibiotics is very important given that persistent streptococci can lead to scarlet fever and acute rheumatism.
Viral infection
A virus infection (eg a cold) or Pfeiffer's disease can cause tonsillitis. In order to cure viral tonsillitis, no treatment with medication is usually required. Only when the patient has additional complaints such as abdominal cramps, mild fever and extreme fatigue should one be careful, the previous symptoms can actually indicate glandular fever. Patients with glandular fever should consult a physician to avoid complications such as a swollen liver and spleen.
Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis
Your tonsils ensure that viruses and bacteria do not get into your body. The lymphatic tissue from which throat and nose almonds are built up provides this protection. When a lot of bacteria try to invade your body at once, the tonsils may not be able to protect you and be defeated, causing tonsillitis.
Almonds can ignite in different parts of your body. Inflamed nose almonds, for example, cause a stuffy nose and swollen tonsils. When your tonsils are swollen, chances are that you have difficulty breathing that makes you snore faster. In addition, it is possible that your breath may stop occasionally while sleeping.
Patients who have had tonsillitis often also suffer from bad breath and mild fever.
When you infect tonsils more than five times a year, you speak of chronic tonsillitis. Chronic tonsillitis is often accompanied by fatigue, mild fever, a drop in appetite and bad breath. Other symptoms include dry sore throat, headache, nausea, ear pain and thirst. Because your body becomes dehydrated when your tonsils are inflamed, it is important to drink a lot.