Tonsillitis - Causes, Preventions and Treatments
What Is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is the swelling of the tonsils, usually
caused by infection. Other causes of tonsillitis include acute appendicitis or
sore throat.
The most common symptoms are a pain in swallowing,
fever, cough, or hoarseness. Some people with tonsillitis may have a white
coating over their tongue instead of just around it.
Some people use Tonsillectomy as an option for treating
tonsillitis. This surgery permanently removes the infected tissue from the
mouth and throat so that it never becomes inflamed again in future years.
Just one procedure lasts for about 20 minutes and you
can go home after being given antibiotics to take at home afterward.
The surgery is in a minor operation under local
anesthetic and all risks are very low, but the operation is not always
successful, and after the surgery, there can be pain, bleeding, or infections.
The size of the tonsils varies from person to person,
but they will usually shrink after Tonsillectomy. In some cases, they can grow
back again.
Tonsillotomy is a type of Tonsillectomy where an
incision is made in the tonsils instead of removing them completely.
It is similar to leaving a margin in a piece of paper
when cutting it out with scissors - rather than cutting it out whole. In this
way, there is a small amount of tissue that remains after the operation.
The benefits of Tonsillectomy are that it may reduce
pain from tonsillitis quickly and there may be faster healing compared to
Tonsillectomy.
In the UK, over 400,000 people undergo Tonsillectomy
every year and there are many reasons to get it done:
Tonsillitis can infect other parts of the body and
cause other illnesses. Some of these problems include:
Studies show that having an operation for tonsillitis
can lower your risk of getting upper respiratory tract infections like
bronchitis and pneumonia by 50% for adults, but not as much for children.
Prevention Of Tonsillitis
Tonsillectomy can be a long process to get done, and
some people get it done after having many of the symptoms listed above. However,
there are ways to prevent these symptoms from occurring in the first place:
People who have had a Tonsillectomy may get it double,
even though they do still have their tonsils. In this case, it is important to
get checked out because further problems could be occurring in this part of the
throat.
Tonsillitis i an inflammation of the tonsils which can
clear up on its own but in some cases, surgery will be needed. If you suffer
from frequent and severe tonsillitis then surgery may just be for you.
Frequently Asked Questions On Tonsillitis
What Treatment Can I Do At Home?
Usually, people with tonsillitis will be able to look
after themselves at home. If you have a sore throat, gargle with salt water to
ease the pain.
You can also use a painkiller if needed. Some people
take antibiotics but make sure that you do not take them for longer than
recommended as this may cause resistance to develop or an allergic reaction. If
you have a fever, try to rest as much as possible and drink plenty of fluids.
What Is A Tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils
from someone's body as a treatment for tonsillitis or other conditions that
affect them. The two main types of tonsillectomy are general anesthetic and
mini-gastro-intestinal (MGI).
In a mini-gastro-intestinal tonsillectomy, the surgeon
makes a small incision in the side of the mouth and removes some of the
diseased tonsillar tissue.
What After Tonsillectomy?
After a tonsillectomy, your throat may take a while to
heal. You will need to keep it clean and dry for a while after surgery, but
most people can recover at home with regular doses of painkillers like
paracetamol (usually twice daily).
Your doctor or nurse will show you how much you should
take. Most people should only take the painkillers prescribed by their surgeon.
You mustn't take anti-inflammatories, NSAID's or other non-steroidal medications (pain killers) for at least ten days after surgery as they can increase the risk of bleeding and interfere with wound healing.