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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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Etiology of chronic tonsillitis

Chronic tonsillitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the tonsils, which can arise from two sources. One is due to the repeated occurrences of acute inflammation of the tonsils, incomplete healing, poor physical constitution of the patient, or strong infectiousness of bacteria, resulting in unresolved, lingering chronic inflammation. In this case, the tonsils undergo recurrent acute flares on the basis of chronic inflammation, leading to the chronicity of the inflammation that cannot be cured. Another possible scenario for the onset of this tonsillitis is that it begins as a chronic inflammation. This is mainly due to a bacterial infection that is either not severe or a chronic latent infection. Therefore, the inflammation of the tonsils does not show obvious acute inflammatory signs but exhibits signs typical of chronic inflammation, primarily due to these two reasons.

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Treatment course for acute tonsillitis.

Acute tonsillitis is an acute, infectious inflammation of the tonsils, primarily caused by bacterial infection. For the treatment of acute tonsillitis, we mainly adopt antibiotic treatment for infection. The general course of treatment lasts 7-10 days, especially for acute suppurative tonsillitis, which may even extend to about 10-14 days. Clinically, we primarily administer cephalosporin antibiotics to control the infection. If the infection is severe, we may even opt for infusion therapy to counter the infection. During the infusion, we can administer some corticosteroids such as dexamethasone to treat concurrently, enhancing the anti-inflammatory effect. Clinically, we should pay attention to drinking plenty of water and eating a light diet, avoiding spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Acute tonsillitis signs and symptoms

The symptoms of acute tonsillitis are quite varied, with the most common symptom being pain in the tonsil area. Clinically, sudden onset of redness and pain in the tonsil area may occur, and in severe cases, there might also be fever, or swallowing or breathing difficulties. Overall, it is considered a common illness. Upon examination, the mucous membranes of the throat can be observed to have acute congestion, and the tonsils may be red and swollen to a first or second degree. In more severe cases, there might be third-degree swelling, and some patients may experience purulent infections in the tonsil area, which would require consideration for timely antibiotic treatment and regular follow-up examinations.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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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Written by Li Rui
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How to treat acute tonsillitis?

Acute tonsillitis is mainly caused by an acute bacterial infection, with the most common symptoms being sudden throat pain, and significant redness and congestion of the tonsils, which may also include pus formation if severe. In terms of treatment, oral medication is primarily preferred, generally focusing on antibiotics, and may include nebulization as well as traditional Chinese oral medications. If inflammation is particularly severe and oral medications are ineffective, infusion therapy may be considered. Some patients may also experience fever, thus requiring physical cooling methods, and if the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, antipyretic medications should be considered, along with regular blood tests.