According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Luan, Department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat – Maxillofacial Surgery – Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital, tonsillitis is a benign disease.
However, if not treated promptly and completely, tonsillitis can lead to complications such as peritonsillar abscess, pharyngeal abscess, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, lymphadenitis, pericarditis, Arthritis, nephritis, sleep apnea…
Dr. Luan said, the tonsils (palatine tonsils) are the largest lymphoid organization in the oropharynx, belonging to the Waldayer lymphatic system (including adenoids, fauces tonsils, palatine tonsils, and lingual tonsils).
If not treated promptly and completely, tonsillitis can lead to dangerous complications. Shutterstock illustration
The tonsils have an immune function that protects the body once morest the invasion of pathogens. They are highly active from 4 to 10 years old. When reaching puberty, the immune level of the tonsils clearly decreases and is no longer as active. once more.
When bacteria massively invade and attack the nose and throat, the tonsils have to fight back and become inflamed, swollen, and red. The consequences of concentrating on killing bacteria in the tonsils often leave behind bacteria and white blood cells, necrotic tissue, forming pus spots and very foul-smelling pseudomembranes on the surface of the tonsils.
When the tonsils become chronically inflamed many times, their ability to fight bacteria is weakened. At this time, the inflammatory foci located in the tonsils are the starting point for recurrent inflammations in the mouth and throat area.
Signs of chronic tonsillitis?
Dr. Luan said that signs of chronic tonsillitis include:
Dry throat, bad breath: Due to bacteria accumulating in the tonsil cavities and remaining pus, it causes blockage and is often accompanied by a number of symptoms such as dry throat, itchy throat, difficulty swallowing, and frequent bad breath despite cleaning teeth. good mouth.
Overdeveloped tonsils: Common in children and has some symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, wheezing or loud snoring. If the tonsils are too enlarged, it can cause obstructive complications such as sleep apnea, changes in craniofacial structure and voice changes (muffled nasal voice).
Whole body manifestations: The tonsils and mucous membranes of the pharynx and palate have congestion, and white or yellow pus spots are seen on the surface. Patients have hot fever during acute inflammation, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, especially the lymph nodes under the jaw, which are swollen, red and painful. The number of white blood cells in the blood increases.
Side effects that harm the whole body: When tonsillitis occurs, fluids secrete and go to the stomach, from there the toxins are absorbed and cause systemic side effects such as fever, indigestion, loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, headaches. and some other symptoms.
At what level should tonsillitis be removed?
In many cases, when parents see their child has tonsillitis several times, they immediately take their child to the doctor to request a tonsillectomy.
“This is a misconception,” Dr. Luan affirmed.
According to Dr. Luan, in fact, indications for tonsillectomy are very limited because the tonsils have many benefits for the child’s body. Most cases of tonsillitis are mild and do not require removal.
When the tonsils are highly infected, medical treatment is less effective, and the tonsils are completely no longer beneficial to the body, then surgery should be considered.
Patients with tonsillitis need to go to the hospital for advice and proper treatment from an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist or to have their tonsils removed if necessary.
To minimize complications during tonsillectomy, patients should go to a reputable medical facility for treatment
Dr. Luan said that tonsillectomy is indicated in the following cases:
– Chronic recurrent tonsillitis (frequency of inflammation more than 7 times in a year, 5 times in 2 consecutive years or 3 times in 3 consecutive years) that requires antibiotics to cure.
– Excessive tonsillitis causes airway obstruction, snoring or sleep apnea.
– Tonsillitis causes local complications such as abscesses around the tonsils, abscesses on the side of the throat, proximal complications such as otitis media, rhinosinusitis, pneumonia or distant complications such as: rheumatic heart disease, arthritis, gonorrhea. kidney….
– In addition, tonsillectomy is also indicated when swallowing is difficult or tonsil tumors are suspected or to open access for other surgeries.
