Chronic tonsillitis in adults

Chronic tonsillitis is quite common. This disease affects about 10% of the European population. The lymphoid tissue of the tonsils serves as a barrier to the penetration of a bacterial or viral infection into the upper respiratory tract. However, with a long course of the disease, the tonsils themselves become a focus of infection, from which bacteria and their toxins can spread throughout the body.

And this is fraught with the development of such complications as rheumatism, rheumatic heart disease, pyelonephritis, rheumatic fever and some other autoimmune diseases.

The most common cause of chronic tonsillitis is untreated acute tonsillitis, frequent tonsillitis, SARS, the presence of other chronic foci of infection, such as caries, gingivitis, sinusitis and others.

Frequent inflammation leads to the fact that the tonsils cannot resist external infection. Viruses, bacteria, food particles settle in the lacunae of the tonsils. The lacunae of the tonsils are reservoirs in which microorganisms accumulate. It is they who become inflamed during a sore throat. About 30 types of various microorganisms are found on the surface of inflamed tonsils. For a long time it was believed that the most common causative agent of tonsillitis is hemolytic streptococcus. However, it turned out that mycoplasmas and chlamydia can also act as pathogens.

Chronic tonsillitis can also develop against the background of other infectious diseases – measles, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, which reduce the body’s resistance to infection.

Symptoms of chronic tonsillitis in adults

Chronic tonsillitis can occur in the form of periodically aggravated tonsillitis. And in the interval between exacerbations, a person can feel healthy. In more severe forms of chronic tonsillitis, the disease turns into a sluggish inflammatory process. Such a course is more dangerous, since bacterial toxins and other harmful substances constantly enter the body from the focus of inflammation. The likelihood of complications in this case increases significantly.

Common symptoms of chronic tonsillitis in adults include:

• frequent exacerbations of the disease in the form of tonsillitis with hypothermia, overwork, viral and bacterial infections;
• increase in body temperature to subfebrile;
• enlargement and soreness of the mandibular or cervical lymph nodes;
• general weakness, fatigue.

Local symptoms include redness of the throat and enlarged tonsils. Patients complain of dryness in the throat, pain when swallowing and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. There may be pain radiating to the ear, discomfort in the region of the heart.

A disease that occurs in a chronic form can cause changes in the immune system, as a result of which complications such as rheumatism, rheumatic heart disease, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis can develop.

Treatment of chronic tonsillitis in adults

Chronic tonsillitis is treated on an outpatient basis or at home.

Can be applied:

• drug therapy (antibiotic therapy, antihistamines);
• washing the tonsils with antiseptic solutions (Miramistin, Lugol’s solution);
• physiotherapy;
• surgical intervention.

Drug therapy is the most effective. In most cases, the tissue of the tonsils is affected by hemolytic streptococcus. In this regard, the appointment of antibiotics of the penicillin series has the greatest effect.

Local therapy of chronic tonsillitis consists in washing the tonsils with Lugol’s solution, irrigation with Miramistin. Washing is combined with the introduction of antiseptic solutions into the gaps. Recently, tonsil lavage has been used. With the help of electrovacuum suction. A special vacuum nozzle sucks out the contents of the lacunae, followed by the introduction of anti-inflammatory drugs. The procedure is safe and virtually painless. It allows you to completely evacuate the contents of purulent plugs.

Physiotherapy of chronic tonsillitis consists in the effect of ultraviolet rays on the tissues of the tonsils, warming up the throat. Laser therapy is also used to reduce swelling and the severity of the inflammatory process.

Recently, vacuum washing of the tonsils has been used. A special vacuum nozzle sucks out the contents of the gaps. The procedure is safe and virtually painless. It allows you to completely evacuate the contents of purulent plugs. To achieve the maximum effect, vacuum washing of the tonsils must be combined with antibiotic therapy, as well as rinsing with antiseptic solutions.

The decision to remove the tonsils is made last and only if other methods of treatment are ineffective. After the removal of the tonsils, the frequency of tracheitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis increases.

During an exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis, it is necessary to follow a sparing diet – limit solid, very hot or cold foods, alcoholic beverages, coffee and sparkling water.

What antibiotics can be used for chronic tonsillitis?

For the treatment of chronic tonsillitis, protected aminopenicillins (for example, amoxiclav) are used. It is also possible to prescribe azithromycin and clarithromycin.

Folk remedies

As an additional treatment at home, you can use alcohol tinctures and rinses. Tinctures are usually made on the basis of propolis. To do this, a 30% alcohol tincture of propolis is diluted in half with water. The prepared solution is lubricated with a throat or taken orally in a tablespoon 4 times a day.

They also use a tincture of birch buds with propolis based on 70% alcohol. The tincture is used for gargling, previously diluted 1:1.

At home, the throat can be gargled with decoctions of sage, chamomile, string.

Prevention at home

Prevention of chronic tonsillitis is the timely treatment of acute tonsillitis and compliance with doctor’s prescriptions. You should also treat other diseases of the oral cavity, ear and nose in time – caries, inflammation of the gums, otitis media, sinusitis.

Equally important is the overall strengthening of the body, hardening.

Popular questions and answers

We asked to answer questions about chronic tonsillitis otolaryngologist Alexander Kovalev.