Monday, October 5, 2009
Tonsillitis
Tonsils are type of glands which are located near the throats. Their role is to defend respiratory system and other parts of the body by trapping microbes like viruses, bacteria and other harmful matters. When tonsils enlarges it can cause blockage of respiration which can become a serious matter. Many people tend to remove tonsils because of such fears or problems, but removing tonsils can disturb or lower your body’s resistance power.
Causes:
Bacterial or viral infection - Bacteria, specifically beta-hemolytic streptococci, is the main offender. Virus can also cause tonsillitis. The source of infection may be food or water or droplet infection from coughing or mucous secretions of an infected person.
It also occurs as an allergic reaction to allergens, for example pollens, cold things, food preservatives, drugs, mechanical injury, etc.
In patients with auto-immune disorders, who suffer from immunodeficiency, tonsillitis may occur due to multiple infections. For example HIV, psoriasis, SLE, etc.
Symptoms - differ from patient to patient depending upon the size and involvement of sides (single or both)
Red swollen tonsils - felt or visualised as a lump in throat.
Sore throat which induces constant hawking and choking.
Difficulty and pain during swallowing - due to obstruction. Sore throat is felt as tight constricted area, so there is delay in eating, which further produces aversion to food and weight loss.
Difficulty in breathing - due to the blockage of air way by enlarged tonsil. This may lead to snoring, mouth breath and restlessness at night due to sleep apnea (large pauses between two breaths). Due to sleeplessness at night, there will be excessive tiredness in daytime.
Poor growth and development due to air hunger and lack of appetite or aversion.
Excess salivation and dribbling of saliva when mouth breath predominates.
Ear ache and bad breath (halitosis) due to infection and pus formation.
White spots or yellow or grey coating over the tonsils.
Painful or painless lymph node enlargement below the angle of lower jaw.
Constitutional disturbances like fever with chill and tiredness.
Recurrent or repeated attack of cold and cough.
Constipation.
Home remedy for tonsils
* Add some salt to warm water and garger it twice or thrice a day.
* Create paste of turmeric powder and honey and then apply on tonsils, by this the rosen part will get back to normal.
* Add some honey to warm water and garger it twice a day, this also helps in reducing the size of tonsils.
* Consume one tablespoon of turmeric powder with one tablespoon of sugar and then drink milk slowly, by this the turmeric powder and sugar will be applied on tonsils.
* Tie skin of banana round the neck, this is slow but effective way.
Treatment
Drugs are prescribed to manage the situation or condition.
Surgery - As a last resort, to reduce recurrent infection in tonsils, they are removed. The procedure of removing tonsils from the throat is called a tonsillectomy. It simply frees the airway or swallowing obstruction due to swollen tonsils, but won't guarantee the stoppage of the infection which recurs and spreads inward.
Before the age of 8, tonsils removal should be strictly avoided since it plays a main role in the immunity of the children and may provoke serious complications if removed. But, after that, if the condition is absolutely necessary, i.e. mass is huge in size and fibrosed, obstructing the passage of digestion or respiration and doesn't respond to medicines, it is better to go in for surgery than treating for the sake of easing the deglutition and freeing respiration.
Homeopathic approach - Tonsillitis is not a pure surgical complaint. It can be cured in 70-80 per cent of cases. You can try homeopathy also before going for a surgery.