Is chronic tonsillitis serious?

Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Chronic tonsillitis is primarily caused by repeated acute tonsillitis attacks or due to poor drainage in the tonsillar crypts, where bacteria and viruses breed and infect, leading to chronic inflammation. It is mainly divided into three types: hyperplastic, fibrous, and cryptic. Clinically, it mainly manifests as sore throat, susceptibility to colds, and a history of acute tonsillitis attacks. Usually, there are few self-perceived symptoms, which may include dry throat, itching, foreign body sensation, and mild symptoms such as irritative cough. If cheesy decayed material or a large number of anaerobic bacteria accumulate in the tonsillar crypts, bad breath may occur. Excessive enlargement of the tonsils in children can lead to respiratory distress, snoring, or swallowing and speech function disorders, requiring surgical treatment. If chronic tonsillitis frequently inflames, accompanied by acute fever more than five times a year, or affects swallowing and breathing, surgical treatment is necessary; otherwise, it may lead to severe diseases such as rheumatic heart disease or nephritis.

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How long to receive IV therapy for acute tonsillitis?

Acute tonsillitis is an acute infectious inflammation of the tonsils, primarily caused by bacterial infection. Therefore, intravenous therapy is required for acute tonsillitis, which indicates that the symptoms of the tonsillitis are severe, often being suppurative tonsillitis. The duration of intravenous treatment generally lasts about three to five days, but it specifically depends on the patient's condition, and can even last longer. After the infection is controlled and symptoms are alleviated, treatment can switch to oral medications for anti-infection. Overall, there is no specific time rule for how long the infusion should last; it is often determined based on the specific condition of the patient.

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Is nebulization good for chronic tonsillitis?

Chronic tonsillitis is a relatively common otolaryngology disease, with significant individual differences in clinical symptoms, which may include sore throat and a foreign body sensation in the throat. In terms of treatment, nebulization is a commonly used method and is generally effective as it can reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms such as throat pain and foreign body sensations in the throat. If nebulization alone is ineffective, further evaluation with routine blood tests and laryngoscopy may be needed, possibly in addition to oral medication treatment. Diet should also be light, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, smoking, and drinking, with regular follow-ups.

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How is chronic tonsillitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis mainly relies on the patient's usual symptoms, medical history, and physical examination by the doctor. The symptoms of chronic tonsillitis typically include sore throat, frequent colds, dry throat, itchy cough, foreign body sensation, and even snoring during sleep among some individuals. Medical history is particularly crucial. If there are recurrent acute episodes, characterized by sore throat, painful swallowing, and sometimes accompanied by high fever, and these episodes occur more than four times a year, this history is significant for diagnosing chronic tonsillitis. Additionally, physical examination by a doctor, who will inspect the tonsils, is essential for making the diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis. The main basis for diagnosis includes symptoms, medical history, and physical examination.

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How many days of fever for chronic tonsillitis?

Chronic tonsillitis generally does not cause fever, but if chronic tonsillitis has an acute attack, it may cause fever. This situation is mainly due to an acute bacterial infection, with common symptoms including sudden sore throat, swollen tonsils, and pus formation, which may be accompanied by fever. Generally, the duration of the fever varies from person to person, typically around 3 days. During the acute episode, timely medicinal treatment should be considered, primarily with antibiotics. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, fever-reducing medications should be considered. It is also necessary to monitor the patient's blood routine and temperature fluctuations, with regular check-ups.

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Symptoms of acute tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis is an acute infectious disease of the tonsils, primarily caused by bacterial infection. Clinically, it mainly manifests as pain in the throat area, and sometimes the pain is very severe, even radiating to the base of the ears and down to the jaw. Additionally, there might be systemic symptoms such as loss of appetite, overall lethargy, weakness in the limbs, fever, night sweats, and chills. Generally, the presence of systemic symptoms indicates a severe infection of tonsillitis, requiring treatment through intravenous fluids. Clinical examinations can reveal enlarged tonsils, congested surfaces, and the presence of pin-point-like gray or white purulent secretions.