Acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis) is an infectious-allergic inflammation with a predominant lesion of lymphoid formations, in particular the palatine tonsils. Signs of sore throat very similar to the symptoms of other otolaryngological diseases, which somewhat complicates the diagnosis. Often, the development of pathology is facilitated by gram-positive microbes, such as streptococci and staphylococci. Much less often, tonsillitis occurs as a result of the development of viral pathogens.
Delayed diagnosis and treatment infection leads to chronic inflammatory processes. Severe intoxication caused by the poisoning of the body with metabolites of bacteria and viruses is fraught with serious consequences. Common post-infectious complications include pyelonephritis, meningitis, otitis media, labyrinthitis, myocarditis, etc.
Features of tonsillitis
How to define a sore throat? The course of diseases such as acute tonsillitis, colds, pharyngitis, flu and laryngitis has similar symptoms. Typical manifestations of pathologies are:
- acute onset;
- inflammation of the airways;
- temperature increase;
- development of general intoxication signs.
A distinctive feature of angina is inflammation of the tissues of the lymphatic pharyngeal ring. A characteristic symptom of the disease is the defeat of the palatine tonsils.
Inflammatory processes in the ENT organs are caused by the development of bacterial or viral flora in the ciliated epithelium. The provocateurs of pathological changes in tissues are cocci, herpes virus, rhinovirus, as well as some types of yeast-like fungi. The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets and by contact when using common utensils or hygiene products.
Primary symptoms
The incubation period for the development of the pathogenic flora is 1-2 days from the moment of its penetration into the upper respiratory tract. The first signs of a sore throat are fever and sore throat, aggravated by swallowing. Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the oropharynx contributes to the appearance of swelling, as a result of which patients complain of a feeling of a lump in the throat.
Typical symptoms of a bacterial infection are:
- febrile fever;
- discomfort in the throat;
- difficulty swallowing;
- muscle weakness;
- lack of appetite.
Streptococcal tonsillitis is never accompanied by rhinitis and barking cough.
In most cases, a viral infection is a complication of ARVI, the treatment of which was ineffective. The symptoms of angina caused by the development of pathogenic viruses have a number of important differences, namely:
- cough;
- severe rhinitis;
- conjunctivitis;
- hoarseness of voice.
With the development of bacterial flora, a white plaque forms on the walls of the pharynx, and punctate abscesses on the palatine tonsils. With a viral lesion of the ENT organs, hyperemia of the mucous membranes is observed, but without purulent plaque on the lymphoid formations.
Types of tonsillitis
How to recognize a sore throat? There are several types of acute tonsillitis, the manifestations of which have a number of significant differences. That is why, upon detection of characteristic signs of the development of an ENT disease, the specialist conducts differential diagnostics. Treatment of a specific type of pathology requires taking certain groups of antibacterial or antiviral medications.
In otolaryngology, acute tonsillitis is usually divided into three types:
- primary - acute inflammation, characterized by damage to the main sections of the lymphoid ring of the pharynx;
- symptomatic (secondary) - a disease resulting from the development of inflammatory processes in the palatine tonsils, provoked by agranulocytosis, leukemia and other pathologies in the blood system;
- specific - otolaryngological pathology, manifested against the background of the development of candidiasis infection or sore throat of Simanovsky-Plaut-Vincent.
Untimely treatment of the disease leads to hematogenous spread of the infection, which is fraught with the development of tonsillitis sepsis.
In all of the above cases, drug therapy is accompanied by the intake of drugs that are different according to the principle of action. For the treatment of purulent inflammation, antibiotics are used, candidal - antifungal, and viral - antiviral agents.
Types and symptoms of tonsillitis
Depending on the depth of the lesion of the lymphoid formations and the nature of the inflammation, several types of acute tonsillitis are distinguished. Each of them is characterized by a specific set of clinical manifestations, which can be used to determine the type of pathology:
- catarrhal - one of the simplest forms of ENT disease, with the development of which there is a superficial lesion of the palatine tonsils. Late treatment of angina can lead to the development of more severe forms of pathology, in particular, lacunar angina. Typical manifestations of the disease are fever (up to 39-40 degrees), sore throat, hyperemia of the arches of the pharyngeal mucosa and a slight increase in the submandibular lymph nodes;
- follicular - catarrhal processes in the follicular apparatus of lymphoid formations. In addition to an increase in temperature, the disease is characterized by hypertrophy of the tonsils, edema of the pharyngeal mucosa and the formation of small-puncture abscesses on the tubal, pharyngeal and palatine tonsils;
- lacunar - acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx, which is characterized by damage to the lacunae of the tonsils. With the development of the disease, there is a sharp increase in temperature up to 40 degrees, an increase in the cervical and mandibular lymph nodes, increased salivation, myalgia and sore throat;
- fibrinous - acute inflammation in the airways, accompanied by the formation of a fibrous yellowish plaque on the tonsils. As a rule, untimely treatment of lacunar tonsillitis leads to the development of this form of pathology. If the inflammation is not stopped in time, the increasing intoxication of the body will lead to damage to the membranes of the brain;
- herpetic - a serious infectious disease that occurs during the development of the Coxsackie virus. It is characterized by a critical increase in temperature, increasing pain in the pharynx, nausea and the formation of a vesicular rash on the pharyngeal tonsils;
- ulcerative membranous is a dangerous ENT disease that occurs as a result of the development of Vincent's spirochete and Plaut-Vincent's spindle-shaped bacillus. Inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa is accompanied by a stable increase in temperature and the appearance of a putrid odor from the oral cavity, which is due to the formation of purulent superficial ulcers on the tonsils;
- phlegmonous - one of the rarest forms of tonsillitis, which is characterized by the melting of tissues in the lymphoid formations. Often, only one amygdala is damaged, therefore, upon visual examination, the doctor can easily determine the asymmetry of the pharynx. Typical manifestations of the disease are fever, limited mobility of the soft palate, swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa, headaches, and severe myalgia.
Timely treatment of inflammation prevents the development of severe forms of pathology. To determine the optimal direction in the treatment of the disease, it is necessary to undergo differential diagnosis from a specialist.
Treatment principles
One of the most dangerous manifestations of acute tonsillitis is a sharp rise in temperature. Changes in thermoregulation of the body are caused by the development of pathogenic flora, which poorly "tolerates" hyperthermia.However, febrile fever suppresses the functioning of the central nervous system, which is fraught with the occurrence of audiological and visual hallucinations.
Treatment of infectious-allergic inflammation should be accompanied by the intake of drugs of symptomatic and pathogenetic action. As part of the passage of drug therapy, the following types of drugs can be used to relieve the symptoms of tonsillitis:
- antiviral (Ingavirin, Arbidol) - inhibit the activity of viruses in the foci of inflammation, which leads to the elimination of clinical manifestations of viral tonsillitis;
- antipyretics (Panadol, Ibuprofen) - help to lower the temperature and eliminate inflammatory reactions in the affected tissues;
- antibacterial ("Penodil", "Augmentin") - inhibit the synthesis of pathogenic RNA, which prevents the further development of microbial flora;
- local antiseptics ("Chlorhexidine", "Novosept Forte") - destroy pathogens directly in the foci of inflammation;
- rinsing solutions (Miramistin, Hexoral) - relieve inflammation and promote the regeneration of mucous membranes, which leads to an increase in tissue reactivity.
Important! Long-term treatment of angina with antibacterial drugs helps to suppress the activity of protective cells, which is fraught with a decrease in local immunity.
Symptomatic treatment for sore throat involves the use of sprays, lozenges, and lozenges to soften the throat. The drugs have practically no contraindications, therefore they are dispensed without a prescription. However, it should be borne in mind that relief of clinical manifestations of the disease does not lead to the elimination of pathogens. To prevent complications and eliminate the cause of the disease, you should contact a specialist who can determine the optimal course of therapy.
