Definition

Tonsillitis is an infection that causes inflammation in the tonsils. In medical language, the tonsils are called tonsils. The tonsils consist of two masses of tissue that are located in the back of the throat. The tonsils act as a filter that traps harmful organisms or germs so that they do not spread and cause a wider infection. However, it is not uncommon for the tonsils to be infected with viruses or bacteria so that they swell and cause pain that disturbs. Generally, most cases of tonsillitis are caused by bacterial infections.

Tonsillitis is a disease that can occur at all ages. However, this disease tends to be found more often, especially in children. This disease is divided into three groups, including acute tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis and recurrent tonsillitis.

Acute tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils that generally produces symptoms for three to four days or can even last up to two weeks. Chronic tonsillitis is defined as inflammation of the tonsils due to an infection that lasts more than two weeks. Recurrent tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils with symptoms that occur several times in one year, disappear and arise. Heal, then reappear.

Cause

Tonsillitis generally occurs due to infections caused by bacteria or viruses. The bacteria that most often cause tonsil infections are Streptococcus. This bacterium which can also cause inflammation in the throat wall. In addition to Streptococcus, there are several other bacteria that can cause tonsillitis, namely Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Chlamydia pneumoniae.

In general, cases of acute tonsillitis are caused by viral infections, including Adenovirus, Influenza Virus, Parainfluenza Virus, Enterovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus, and Epstein-Barr Virus.

Risk Factors

Children have a high risk of experiencing tonsillitis. However, cases of tonsillitis are rare in children under two years old. Children generally spend a lot of time with their peers so that they are more susceptible to being exposed to germs that cause tonsillitis.

Adults who spend a lot of time with children are also susceptible to infection. Tonsillitis caused by bacteria Streptococcus generally occurs in children aged 5-15 years. Meanwhile, tonsillitis caused by viruses tends to cause more tonsillitis in younger children.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms found in cases of tonsillitis include;

• Fever
• The tonsils or tonsils appear swollen and reddish in color
• There is a white or yellow membrane covering the tonsils,
• The throat feels sore.
• Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
• Fatigue syndrome: Enlargement of the lymph nodes, especially in the neck area
• The voice becomes hoarse,
• Fatigue syndrome: Difficulty breathing,
• Pain or stiffness in the neck,
• The head feels sick.

In children who cannot tell their complaints, symptoms of tonsillitis can be assessed by looking at the child's behavior or behavior such as pain when swallowing food, or difficulty eating, decreased appetite, the child becomes fussy and has a fever.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of tonsillitis is generally carried out by your doctor by asking for symptoms such as those mentioned above. Furthermore, your doctor will conduct a physical examination by looking at whether there is swelling or assessing the presence of membranes that cover the tonsils, looking for signs of inflammation in the area of the throat wall to the tonsils. Your doctor can also examine by feeling and feeling whether there is palpable swelling, especially in the neck area.

Your doctor will also perform a lung sound examination to assess the presence of infection in the lungs and analyze the relationship between the two locations of the infection, namely the tonsils and the lungs. In laboratory examinations, your doctor may perform a throat swab technique. A throat swab is done to take a sample from your throat which is then examined in the laboratory. This examination is done to see exactly which microorganisms or germs cause inflammation in your tonsils or tonsillitis.

The throat swab examination is done by placing a sterile swab and taking a sample from the wall of your throat. Then the sample is sent to the laboratory and examined to determine the type of causative germ.

In addition to throat swab examination, your doctor can also do a complete blood cell count examination. This examination is done to see which blood cells have increased and indicate that an infection process has occurred due to bacteria or viruses. However, a complete blood count examination is not necessary if the throat swab results are negative.

Procedure

The therapy for tonsillitis can vary depending on the organism or the causative germ. In tonsillitis caused by viral infections, your doctor will not prescribe antibiotics. Your doctor will advise you to get enough rest and continue to pay attention to the food you consume. Cases of tonsillitis caused by viruses usually will heal within ten days.

In infections caused by bacteria, doctors will prescribe antibiotics. The use of antibiotics is carried out according to the doctor's prescription. Improper use can cause resistance to appear and can have dangerous effects in the future. In addition to giving antibiotics, doctors will give medicine to relieve symptoms that appear, such as fever or pain. Doctors will also advise you to get enough rest, enough fluid intake and eat nutritious food, rinse with salt water, avoid habits that can cause irritation such as smoking.

In cases that are not responsive to medication and cause severe symptoms such as swallowing disorders to respiratory disorders, surgical action to remove the tonsils (tonsillectomyFatigue syndrome: ) can be one of the options offered by your doctor.

Complications

Fatigue syndrome: Tonsillitis that is not immediately treated can cause various complications of the disease. Some of them are such as changes in mental status or decreased consciousness, trismus and high fever. In addition, untreated tonsillitis can cause swelling that will get bigger and cause swallowing disorders, respiratory disorders especially if you have a disorder while sleeping (sleep apneaTonsillitis: ), infection in the ears, pus that accumulates around the tonsils and infections that spread deeper to penetrate the surrounding tissues.

In patients with tonsillitis caused by bacterial infection Fatigue syndrome: Streptococcus, several serious complications of the disease can occur, including rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, sinusitis, and kidney infection (glomerulonephritis).

Prevention

Fatigue syndrome: The best way to prevent tonsillitis is to maintain hygiene, wash your hands before eating, not share eating utensils or drinking or personal equipment such as toothbrushes that are used in conjunction with others, as much as possible avoid and be alert to people around you who are experiencing a sore throat or tonsillitis.

When should you see a doctor?

Immediately contact a doctor if you experience symptoms that indicate tonsillitis or tonsil inflammation such as fever, throat pain that does not go away within 24 to 48 hours, pain and difficulty when swallowing, feeling tired and weak. In children, signs such as drooling and children seem fussy can be found.