Tonsillitis: Fast Facts on This Throat Condition

Most of us who live in cities have to battle incessant levels of pollution on a daily basis. Apart from causing a host of allergies, the ever-increasing pollution also negatively impacts our immune system and leads to many infections. Children – with still developing immune systems – often fall prey to many resulting diseases. One such condition that has become increasingly common in urban areas is tonsillitis.

A study conducted found that most parents are surprisingly unaware of tonsillitis. A throat infection that can be caused either by a bacterium or a virus, tonsillitis is often mistaken to be a cough or the flu. This is mainly because most tonsillitis symptoms are similar to that of a common cold. However, the infection does not go away as easily and can often lead to hospitalisation if left untreated. Let’s take a closer look at what tonsillitis is and explore available treatment options as well as precautionary measures.

What are the Tonsils?

The tonsils are two masses of tissue that are situated at the back of your throat. They function to guard your airways against infection by trapping germs. Sometimes, your tonsils also produce antibodies to fight infection. However, the tonsils can get inflamed when plagued with an excess influx of bacterial or viral germs. This leads to a condition called tonsillitis.

Causes of Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial or a viral infection. The main bacteria known to cause tonsillitis symptoms is the Streptococcus bacteria. Common viruses known to cause this infection are the influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and herpes simplex virus.

Tonsillitis Symptoms

Tonsillitis symptoms are quite similar to those of a common cold, fever, and cough. Yet, tonsillitis cure follows a different course of treatment. Therefore, it is extremely essential never to self-diagnose or to head to a pharmacy and request medication. Always get your child examined by a doctor. Commonly observed tonsillitis symptoms are:

1. Throat pain and tenderness
2. Yellow or white coating on the tonsil tissues
3. Swelling in the neck and/or jaw area
4. Bad breath
5. Fever
6. Difficulty in swallowing food and water
7. Pain while breathing
8. Nausea
9. Headache
10. Ear ache
11. Blisters on the inside of the throat
12. Excessive salivation

Is Tonsillitis Contagious?

The answer is yes. Unfortunately, as most parents fear, this throat disease can spread easily from one child to another. The virus or bacteria spread through infected droplets while coughing or sneezing. This is why it is extremely important to always teach children to avoid sharing spoons, cups, water bottles, or napkins with friends.

Tonsillitis Cure and Prognosis

Tonsillitis treatment involves a lab test to determine the cause of infection as bacterial or viral. Post diagnosis, antibiotics are prescribed usually for a period of one week to 10 days, depending on the severity of the infection. In some cases, constant recurrent attacks of tonsillitis that interfere with regular activities might demand more serious action. In these cases, doctors recommend a tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsil tissues permanently. A widely popular and successful method of tonsillitis cure, the surgery is performed either through the traditional way with scalpels or with the help of laser to burn away the enlarged and infected tonsils. The child can usually go home the same day following surgery and recovery is quick with antibiotics and painkillers. 

Tonsillitis is a condition that impairs normal functioning and can prevent your child from focussing at school or playing with friends. This can sometimes lead to depression. Recovery can be improved by following a few basic steps to providing relief and care at home. These include:

1. Salt water gargling with warm water
2. Adequate rest
3. Avoiding oily and sugary foods which can lead to throat itching
4. Sucking on throat lozenges for cough
5. Drinking warm liquids
6. Home remedies such as ginger tea, honey in warm water, and turmeric (haldi) in warm milk help fasten recovery alongside medication

Homeopathy and Tonsillitis Cure

Homeopathic medicines help cure tonsillitis the safe and natural way without the need for surgery. Parents would always want to avoid their children going under the scalpel at a young age. Homeopathy helps in this aspect. The focus of homeopathic tonsillitis cure is on providing immediate relief from the symptoms of tonsil infection while reducing the frequency of tonsillitis attacks. Homeopathy does not aim for immediate results but rather focuses on permanent ones.

The best part about homeopathic treatment is that it comes absolutely free from the usual side-effects that normally accompany conventional medication. This makes homeopathy an especially great way to cure children. Moreover, homeopathic doctors never recommend tonsil removal as this leaves the airways prone to infection in adulthood. If your child is suffering from tonsillitis symptoms do consult a homeopathic doctor for the best viable solutions today.