Is it just a sore throat or are you suffering from Tonsillitis? Know the causes and consequences of the same.
Did you know that when tonsils become infected, the condition is called tonsillitis? Well, you should also know that tonsillitis can occur at any age and is a common childhood illness. Here’s what you need to know — from causes to consequences.
Tonsillitis results from…?
Viruses are the most common cause of tonsillitis. The viruses causing the common cold are often the source of tonsillitis. The other viruses causing it include rhinovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis A, and HIV. If you have viral tonsillitis, your symptoms might include coughing or a stuffy nose. Around 15-30% of tonsillitis cases result from bacteria. Most often it is strep bacteria, which causes strep throat, but other bacteria can also cause tonsillitis.
Is it just a sore throat or it’s much more than that…?
Possible tonsillitis symptoms include the following.
- A scratchy-sounding voice
- A stiff neck
- A very sore throat
- Bad breath
- Chills
- Difficulty or pain while swallowing
- Earaches
- Fever
- Headaches
- Jaw and neck tenderness from distended lymph nodes
- Stomachaches
- Tonsils that appear red and swollen
- Tonsils that have white or yellow spots
In very young children, you might also notice increased irritability, poor appetite, or excessive drooling.
Read More: Swollen Tonsils Check Your Signs and Symptoms
Have you ever thought about tonsillitis complications…?
Listed below are the most common tonsillitis complications.
- A middle ear infection where fluid between the eardrum and inner ear gets infected by bacteria
- Difficulty breathing
- Disrupted breathing during sleep i.e. obstructive sleep apnea
- Infection that results in pus behind a tonsil
- Infection that spreads deep into the surrounding tissue
If tonsillitis is caused by group A streptococcus, the child has an increased risk of rare problems such as rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disorder that affects the heart, joints and other tissues; or an inflammatory disorder of the kidneys that results in inadequate removal of waste and excess fluids from the blood.
When should you book an appointment…?
Make sure to book an appointment with your homeopath if you experience the following symptoms:
- Fever that’s higher than 39.5°C
- Muscle weakness
- Neck stiffness
- A sore throat that doesn’t go away after two days
Tonsillitis can cause the throat to swell so much that it can cause trouble breathing. If this happens, seek immediate medical attention.
Are you wondering how tonsillitis can be diagnosed…?
It is most often diagnosed in children from preschool to teenage years. Diagnosis is based on a physical examination of the child’s throat. The homeopaths at Dr Batra’s® will start with a physical exam that will include using a torch to look at the child's throat, followed by the ears and nose, as these may also be sites of infection. Next, the homeopaths will gently start feeling (palpating) the child's neck to check for swollen glands (lymph nodes) and listen to their breathing with a stethoscope.
How to treat tonsillitis…?
The first line of treatment in conventional medicine is prescribing antibiotics when the symptoms of pain and inflammation do not subside within four days. This is done to prevent secondary bacterial infection. Due to the emerging resistance of antibiotics, the usual practice is to identify the bacteria's sensitivity towards antibiotics before prescribing it. But this can be exhausting after some time.
Homeopathic tonsillitis treatment is an exceptional treatment option. Homeopathic medicines work on strengthening the immune system allowing the body to deal with infections in an efficient manner. They are safe and provide relief from the acute tonsillitis symptoms. They are selected based on the symptoms and individual case history. The constitutional homeopathic medicine prescribed on the basis of the case history helps in overcoming the pain and difficulty of acute tonsillitis attacks and raises the child’s immunity so that frequent tonsillitis attacks are avoided.
Watch Video: Tonsillitis Symptoms and treatment | Dr. Batra's® Homeopathy
Conclusion
This blog has helped you to understand everything you should know about tonsillitis. It is very important to visit your nearest homeopathy clinic as soon as you notice tonsillitis symptoms.
