Tonsillitis is a common disease that many people often think is not serious and can be easily cured. However, in reality, if left untreated for a long time, it can be more dangerous than expected. Importantly, it is not only adults who can get tonsillitis, but young children can also suffer from this disease and are considered to be at higher risk than adults. Since tonsillitis is contagious, getting to know the disease is important so that we can take care of ourselves and our loved ones in the family to be as safe as possible from this disease.
What are tonsils and why are they important to our body?
“Tonsils,” or what we often call “tonsil glands,” are lymph nodes located in the oral cavity. Their function is to trap various pathogens before they enter the body. Tonsils in the mouth are located at the pharynx behind the left and right sides of the oral cavity, called palatine tonsils, and at the base of the tongue, called lingual tonsils.
Tonsils in young children are usually larger than in adults because children are more prone to infections more frequently and easily. Some children with allergies have tonsils that work more than usual, making them larger than normal children’s and adults’ tonsils. Therefore, if young children have tonsillitis symptoms, they are at higher risk because the tonsils can become so enlarged that breathing becomes difficult and obstructed.
What causes tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis can be caused by various factors, such as infections from the general environment, consuming contaminated food, or in some patients, it may result from underlying diseases that lower the immune system, making it easier for pathogens to infect the tonsils. At the same time, some patients are born with enlarged tonsils, which is considered a special risk. If the tonsils are already large, inflammation will further enlarge them, blocking the airway, causing snoring, difficulty breathing, and can be dangerous.
How to recognize tonsillitis symptoms?
Tonsillitis symptoms can be observed through various signs depending on the severity and the patient’s condition. Symptoms range from itchy and sore throat, some may have fever. In some children, pus may be present on the tonsils without sore throat, often accompanied by unexplained coughing. Some patients may have cough, runny nose, cold, sinusitis, or allergies, but not everyone. Therefore, if these abnormal symptoms persist for 1-2 weeks without improvement, it is advisable to consult a doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.
Who is at higher risk of getting tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is a common threat that can occur to anyone and is easily contagious. The high-risk groups more likely to get tonsillitis than the general population include:
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- Young children and children in daycare centers, because when children get sick, they cough and sneeze without protecting themselves as well as adults. They are at risk of touching contaminated objects and then putting their hands in their mouths, leading to infection and tonsillitis. Some children with allergies are more prone to throat inflammation. If symptoms are not well controlled and hygiene is not maintained, they are at risk of severe tonsillitis infection.
- People who do not get enough rest because lack of sleep lowers the immune system, increasing the risk of tonsil infections and tonsillitis more than those who rest adequately.
- People who eat unhygienic food, such as those who like to eat raw or undercooked food, grilled or fried food, because these increase the risk of pathogens entering the mouth and causing tonsillitis.
How is tonsillitis diagnosed for sure?
Doctors can diagnose tonsillitis by taking medical history, physical examination, and considering symptoms directly. Most patients come with a sore throat or a feeling of something stuck in the throat. Some may have swollen lymph nodes in the neck, which often present as a painful lump. Upon examination, the tonsils in the mouth will be red and swollen and may have pus. Tonsillitis diagnosis can also be differentiated based on the type of infection as follows:
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- Bacterial tonsillitis usually has pus on the tonsils.
- Tonsillitis caused by EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) appears with pus similar to bacterial infection. It is transmitted through shared food or saliva. In young children, it is often transmitted from adults through kissing or close affection, known as Kissing Disease. Diagnosis requires blood count or CBC test.
- Tonsillitis with canker sores shows white patches on the tonsils.
- Tonsil stones (tonsilloliths) appear as white patches similar to pus, but when touched, they are not painful. The stones have clear boundaries and are firm, unlike bacterial pus which is soft and painful when pressed.
How to treat tonsillitis?
The treatment approach for tonsillitis involves doctors first diagnosing whether it is caused by a virus or bacteria and then considering treatment with antibiotics along with pain relievers, anti-inflammatory and pain relief sprays for the mouth, as well as other symptomatic treatments such as cough medicine, expectorants, and throat lozenges to keep the throat moist.
Besides medication, doctors recommend maintaining good oral hygiene by gargling with clean water, mouthwash, or saline solution, getting enough rest, avoiding or refraining from eating spicy, fried, raw, or very hot foods to reduce the risk of oral infections. For patients with severe pain, doctors may allow sipping cold water.
If tonsillitis is left untreated for too long, it may worsen into a peritonsillar abscess, which causes severe sore throat, difficulty opening the mouth, and breathing problems. This condition requires urgent surgery. Surgery is also considered for patients with recurrent tonsillitis that does not improve. Surgical methods include electrocautery or monopolar surgery, which is the standard treatment, high-frequency ultrasonic surgery or Harmonic Scalpel (HS), among others. All surgical procedures involve general anesthesia and local anesthetic injections to help stop bleeding and reduce postoperative pain.
How to protect yourself from tonsillitis
Whether children or adults, everyone can take care of themselves to prevent infection and stay safe from tonsillitis by following these simple guidelines:
- Get enough rest, avoid staying up late or waking up late, and go to bed before 10 PM to build a strong immune system.
- Avoid crowded places to reduce the risk of infection.
- If you must go to crowded places, wear a mask to prevent infection from saliva droplets or coughs and sneezes.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap, especially after coming from outside and before eating.
- Avoid eating fried or raw foods.
- If someone in the household has tonsillitis, wear masks and separate utensils and personal items. If a young child in the house is infected and cannot wear a mask, other family members should wear masks to reduce the risk of infection.
Tonsillitis is a common threat that can affect anyone of any age, both children and adults. Although it may not be very severe, if left untreated, it can disrupt daily life and pose dangers. Regularly observing symptoms such as sore throat, cough, and sneezing, and monitoring changes in your own and your family’s oral health is important to effectively manage tonsillitis. If suspicious symptoms appear, promptly see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment planning to recover quickly.
