Langkah Demi Langkah: Tonsillitis

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Tonsillitis

Sore throat

The tonsils are lymph nodes at the back of the throat that serve as the first line of defense against germs entering the body through the nose and mouth. Tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils themselves get infected by the micro-organisms they filter. The disorder is common in childhood but rare in adults, who usually experience sore throats or pharyngitis instead. Some children get recurring attacks.

Symptoms

Swollen tonsils on either side, which sometimes have white spots on them.
Flu-like symptoms, fever, headache : Tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite.
Pain when swallowing.
Earache.
Foul-smelling breath.

In children (in come cases):

Abdominal pain.
Cough.
Vomiting.
Swellings on either side of the neck due to enlarged lymph nodes (other then the tonsils).

Complications

Quinsy (an abscess on the tonsil).
Rheumatic heart disease, due to an untreated bacterial infection.
Kidney damage due to an untreated bacterial infection.

Cause

Viral (more common) or bacterial infection on the tonsils.

What you can do

Nothing. The disorder goes away on its own in a few days.
Stop smoking.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Gargle with mouthwashes or warm salt water.
Suck antiseptic lozenges or cough drops.
Take simple painkillers or antifever medicine. However, give a child paracetamol, not aspirin. Aspirin puts him at a risk of contracting Reye's syndrome, a rare life-threatening disease which affects the brain and liver.
Consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than 2 days, you run a high fever, or pus can be seen on the tonsils.

What your doctor can do