Tonsillitis |
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Have
you ever tried to eat a crispy,
chocolate chunk cookie and found
it to be extremely difficult? It
is not difficult to consume because
it has been over-baked to an extreme
degree; instead it is difficult
because your throat is wincing in
pain every time you try to swallow
the cookie down your throat. If
you have recently experienced an
event like this, you may have tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis is an infection in the
pair of tonsils that are above and
behind the tongue. |
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Causes and Risk Factors
Tonsils
are fleshy clusters of lymphatic
tissue on both sides of the back
of the throat that fight germs that
enter the body through the mouth.
In most cases, tonsillitis is caused
by viruses that frequently affect
the respiratory (breathing) system.
They include the flu (influenza)
virus, the parainfluenza virus (which
causes laryngitis and croup), the
adenovirus, the enterovirus, and
the rhinovirus. It may also be caused
by the same virus that causes strep
throat (the Epstein-Barr virus)
or the bacteria that cause mononucleosis
(Streptococcus pyogenes). A fungal
or parasitical infection rarely
causes tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis
is a contagious disease and it
can spread through the air in
the form of droplets when an infected
person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
Inhaling these droplets or coming
into contact with objects that
have been infected by these droplets
can cause tonsillitis in healthy
individuals.
Tonsils
are most likely to become infected
during the winter season, and
particularly when viral infections
inflict common colds. Children
are more vulnerable to tonsillitis
because they may become infected
in schools, child care facilities,
and places where they may come
into contact with infected children.
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Symptoms of Tonsillitis
Individuals
who are suffering from tonsillitis have
difficultly in swallowing their saliva.
Tonsillitis causes the patient to have
a painful and sore throat, which makes
it hard for him or her to eat, drink,
or swallow anything. Mild fever, tonsils
growing larger, more red, and tender,
swelling and pain in the tonsils and
glands in the neck, formation of yellow
or whitish spots on tonsils, cracked
or hoarse voice, and in some extreme
cases ulcers and pus on the tonsils
are some indicators of infection in
the tonsils. Tonsillitis that is caused
by viral infection may be cured within
a few days. However, bacterial tonsillitis
may be bothersome for a couple of weeks.
| Preventing
Tonsillitis |
| The
best way to prevent tonsillitis
is to avoid close contact
with people who have tonsillitis.
Here are a few additional
tips to prevent developing
this contagious disease: |
|
 |
Do
not share toothbrushes with
an infected individual and
avoid sharing eating or drinking
utensils. |
|
Wash
your hands frequently and
thoroughly because this is
the best way to ward off many
infections, including tonsillitis.
|
|
Do
not cough or sneeze in your
palms. Instead, sneeze into
your elbow or a tissue. |
|
Find
an appropriate child care
setting for your child that
follows sound hygiene practices
and has clear policies about
not allowing children to attend
when they are ill. |
Here
are some useful tips to
follow if you are suffering
from tonsillitis:
|
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Consume
more smooth food items including
fluids such as soups, juices,
apple sauce, gelatin, jelly,
ice cream, and custard. |
|
Avoid
spicy, oily, and junk foods
as well as crunchy hard snacks. |
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