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
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.
