|
What is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is an acute inflammation of the tonsils. Chronic tonsillitis refers to the condition in which there is enlargement of the tonsils accompanied by repeated attacks of infection. It is also known as acute sore throat. Chronic tonsillitis is a term applied to cases in which there is enlargement of the tonsils accompanied by repeated attacks of infection.
Normally, they are about the size of a lima bean but they can become very much larger if severely infected. They are valuable organs of selective elimination and perform a two-fold function. Firstly, they protect the throat against disease germs. Secondly, they serve as barometers for indicating infection elsewhere in the body, when they become sore and swollen.
Signs & Symptoms of Tonsillitis The main symptoms of tonsillitis are sore throat, fever, headache, pain in various parts of the body, difficulty in swallowing and general weakness. The tonsils are seen to be inflamed and red when the mouth is opened wide. In many cases, spots of pus exude from them. Externally, the tonsillar lymph glands which lie just behind the angle of the jaw are tender and enlarged. In several cases there may be pain in the ear.
The symptoms of tonsillitis are sore throat, fever, headache, pain in various parts of the body, difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness of voice and general weakness. The tonsils are seen to be inflamed and red when mouth is opened wide. In many cases, spots of pus exude from them. Externally, the tonsillitis lymph glands, which lie just behind the angle of the jaw, are tender and enlarged. In several cases there may be pain in the ear. The children suffering from tonsillitis (tonsils) are often listless and pale. They may vomit frequently due to the irritation of large tonsils. In case of chronic tonsillitis the children may lose weight, they may be irritable, lethargic and weak in studies. The symptoms of tonsillitis are: as the time passes, eating, drinking and swallowing things become difficult. The pain can be accompanied with fever, earache and headache. The tonsils can be seen too. Just open the mouth wide open and the two masses of tissues at the either side of the throat are tonsils. They are usually dark pink in color, but when they get infected they turn red. A white or yellow coating can also be formed on the tonsils. There is an obvious change in voice as it becomes hoarser. The infected child can also develop bad breath. The infected kid can also get abdominal pain and can throw up what he eats.
Types of Tonsillitis
The tonsils are two almond shaped small glands situated one on each side of the throat. They can be seen just at the back of the mouth between two folds of membranes running up to the soft palate. They are tiny at birth but show a spurt of growth and activity during the early months of life. They can become very large when severely infected. They protect the throat against disease germs.
What Causes Tonsillitis?
The chief cause of tonsilities is a toxic condition of the system generally and is brought to a head by sudden lowering of vitality resulting from exposure and sudden chill. Tonsils enlarge and get inflamed when the toxins cannot be got rid of through the normal channels of elimination such as the bowels, kidneys and skin. Throat afflictions of this kind is also associated with the result of chronic constipation, when toxin, which should should have been ejected from the system in the normal way, are reabsorbed into the blood-stream. Inflammation of the tonsils is usually due to infection by streptococcus progenies. This infection is facilitated by the toxic condition of child's system generally, resulting from wrong feeding and unhygienic condition of living. Overeating, consumption of refined foods like sugar, white flour and products made from them, fired foods, condiments, excessive tea and coffee all contribute to tonsillitis (tonsils) and constipation. Tonsillitis is caused by both bacterial infection and viral infection. Bacterium known as streptococci causes infections which require special treatment.
Risk Factors:
Tonsillitis is one the most common ailments encountered at childhood. Its incidence is especially high among children in the age group between 5 to 10 years. It is indicative of a toxic condition of the system and is a continuous source of distress both for the child and his parents. In early childhood, especially in the first months at school. Children meet a wide variety of infections, most of which are transmitted through the nose and mouth. So the tonsils are ideally situated to attack and destroy these germs before they can enter the respiratory tract to set up a serious infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia. In fulfilling this protective function, the tonsils become red and swollen.
When to seek Medical Advice:
Tonsils are two tissue balls located at the back of the throat. They play a vital role and are an important part of the body’s infection fighting mechanism by helping to fight germs and diseases. Tonsils deal with the germs before they reach mouth, throat, or sinuses. When these infection fighters are infected by viruses or bacteria, the condition is known as tonsillitis.
Treatment/Therapy:
The doctor inspects the tonsils using a wooden stick known as tongue depressor, which will lower the tongue, so that the doctor can have a good look at the tonsils. After that the doctor checks the ears and nose. Heartbeat will be checked. If the doctor suspects strep, he/she will take a sample of saliva from the back of the throat using a long cotton swab, which can gag up the child a bit. After a day or two the results are received. Some doctors conduct a similar test known as rapid strep test, which give results within few minutes. Antibiotics are given when the test results come positive for strep. The bacteria get killed only when the course is completed and the correct dosage is taken at correct time. If virus is the cause of infection, there is no medicine for it and instead the body is capable of fighting the virus on its own. When the tonsils infection becomes frequent and the child finds it difficult to breath because of tonsillitis, it is recommended to get the tonsils removed. But it is the last resort after all other treatments do not do the trick, because tonsils are very important to the body’s immune system. The tonsils are taken out by surgery known as tonsillectomy. After the surgery, the child won’t suffer from sore throat and breathing problems anymore. The surgery won’t even leave any scars. A day before the surgery, the child cannot eat or drink, to keep the child from throwing up during the operation. The operation is very short and last for only twenty minutes. Because of the anesthesia, the child won’t feel a thing during the operation. And during the surgery, the tonsils are removed using an electric cautery, which is a burning tool, or a cutting tool. After the surgery, the child is given lots of fluids and after a day soft foods can also be given. Usually it takes about two weeks to completely recover from the surgery and the child can return back to normal activities.
When a child gets tonsillitis, the parent should give lots of fluids to drink. Smooth food should be consumed to ease the pain caused by swallowing coarse, crunchy, and hard food. Food like soups, ice creams, applesauce, and gelatin are a good option. Spicy food should also be avoided. A humidifier or cool mist vaporizer can be placed in the child’s room as that will make breathing more easily. The kid must be given maximum rest and complete bed rest for at least two days is recommended. The bacteria and viruses cause tonsillitis to spread by sneezing, coughing or touching. The infected child must cover his/her mouth while coughing and sneezing. A disposable tissue can be used instead of a towel or handkerchief. Things such as utensils, towel, clothing, etc. of the sick kid should be separated so that the rest of the family doesn’t get affected.
Diet change strategies: Tonsillitis Treatment - Home Remedy For Tonsillitis (tonsils) Treatment. • Use pounded acacia bark to make a decoction. Add a pinch of salt and gargle - for enlarged tonsils. • Dry water lettuce or tropical duckweed and burn it an ash. Moisten it with a drop of mustard oil, and apply a thin layer on chronic, enlarged tonsils, twice a day. Helps to get rid of tonsillitis. • Dried figs, boiled, softened and then mashed and the warm paste applied to tonsils is soothing and quite palatable too. Add honey to this and eat the stewed figs with just a little water/ syrup - ideal for hoarseness caused by laryngitis. • One of the most effective home remedy is the use of lime. Half a fresh lime squeezed in a glass of warm water, mixed with two teaspoons of honey and little salt, should be sipped slowly in such cases. • The use of milk has been found valuable in this disease. A glass of pure boiled milk, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder, should be taken every night for three nights. It will provide great relief from tonsillitis (tonsils). • Raw vegetable juice are also beneficial in the treatment of tonsillitis. The juices of carrot, beet and cucumber taken individually or in combination are especially valuable. Formula proportions found helpful, when used in combination are carrot 150ml, beet 50ml and cucumber 50ml to prepare 250ml of combined juice. • The throat may be gargled with hot water mixed with a little salt and lime juice several times daily. This will help draw out fluids from the inflamed throat, their by relieving discomfort. Gargling with solutions made from the fenugreek (methi) seeds is effective in severe cases. To make such a gargle, two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be allowed to simmer for half an hour in a liter of water and then set aside to cool. The entire quantity should be used as a soothing gargle in a day with beneficial results. Hot packs may be applied to neck. A warm water bath will also be helpful.
Tonsillitis can be successfully treated by the natural home remedy outlined above. Surgery for the removal of the tonsils will be necessary only in very rare cases, when tonsils are seriously diseased, rugged and contain hopelessly incurable pus pockets.
Using Ayurveda Therapy:
The treatment of the tonsillitis on the lines of modern medical system by means of painting and spraying is both harmful and suppressive. It does not help to rid the system of the toxins, which are the root of the trouble. In fact it forces these toxins back into the system, which may cause more serious trouble later on. The correct way to treat the disease is to cleanse the system of toxic waste through proper dietary and other natural methods. To begin with, the patient should fast for three to five days by which time serious symptoms would subside. Nothing but water and orange juice should be taken during this time. The bowels should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema during the period of fasting. A cold pack should be applied to the throat at two-hourly interval during the day. The procedure is to wring out some linen material in cold water, wrap it two or three times around the throat and cover it with some flannelling. The throat may be gargled several times daily with neat lemon juice. Gargle made from the fenugreek seeds is very effective in severe cases. To make such a gargle , two tablespoonful of fenugreek seeds should be allowed to simmer for half an hour in a litre of water and then set aside to cool. The entire quantity should be used as a soothing gargle in a day with beneficial results. A hot Epsom -salt bath taken every day or every other day will also be beneficial. After the acute symptoms of tonsillities are over, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for further three or four days. In this regimen, three meals of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, pears, pineapple, peaches and melon may be taken. The juice of fresh pineapple is most valuable in all throat afflictions of this kind. After the all-fruit diet the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet on the following lines : Breakfast : Fresh fruits, or grated raw carrot or any other raw salad, and milk. Prunes or other dried fruits may be added , if desired. Lunch : Steamed vegetables, as obtainable, and whole wheat chappatis. Vegetables likes bitter gourd and fenugreek are specially beneficial. Dinner : A good-sized raw salad of vegetables as obtainable, sprouts seeds as mung beans and alfalfa seeds, wholemeal bread and butter or cottage cheese. Raw vegetable juices are also valuable in the treatment of tonsillitis. Juice of carrot, beet and cucumber taken individually or in combination are especially beneficial. Formula proportion found to be helpful when used in combination are carrot 300 ml., beet 100ml., and cucumber 100 ml. The daily dry friction and hip bath as well as breathing and other exercises should all form part of the daily health regimen. A hot Epsom-salts bath once or twice a week can also be taken regularly with beneficial results. Tonsillits can be successfully treated by the natural methods outlined above. Surgery for the removal of the tonsils is necessary only in very rare cases, when tonsils are seriously diseased, rugged and contain hopelessly incurable pus pockets
Vitamin & Nutrient Associations Even when we try to eat well, we're disadvantaged. The nutritional content of most food has been compromised over the years, not only by deficient soils and modern production, transportation, storage and processing methods, but also by the enormous amounts of chemical and artificial substances added to promote growth, storage life, taste and appearance. It's for this reason that more and more medical authorities are advocating the use of vitamin and mineral supplements. However, finding them in the right combination can be both confusing and costly. Aloe Vera Juice is a refreshing and anti-bacterial drink that can be a big assistence with a sore throat. You might find that taking this daily, diluted in some filtered water will not only refresh you like ‘a shower inside you’ but also assists in dealing with any digestive issues you may also be experiencing. You may find benefit from our information on detoxification as well as a bit about detoxing because of change of diet We wish you well in your search for solutions to this Tonsillitis problem and your movement towards better health in all areas. More Resources available about Tonsillitis:
If you are interested in products mentioned on this site and want to check pricing and availability in your country, then please click back to the home page of the person who referred you here.
Back to Top of your health online Tonsillitis page *** GENERAL RELEASE AND ASSIGNMENT I understand that in submitting my material for publication I am granting the rights to reproduce this material on the internet or in other form and I have read the conditions above
============================================================
|
The tonsils are two small lymphoid organs that lie one on each side of the throat. They can be
seen just behind the back of the tongue between two folds of membrane running up to the soft
palate.
