The palatine tonsils, or tonsils, are one of the most important immune barriers located in the oropharyngeal cavity. Maintaining the functional activity of the glands is extremely important - especially in childhood, when the mechanisms of immune defense are not yet fully formed. This is why concerns about tonsil health are wholly and entirely justified; if, when examining the pharynx (pharyngoscopy), holes are visible in the tonsils, this cannot be considered a variant of the norm. Why do holes appear in the tissue of the tonsils and what to do in this case?
Causes
The palatine tonsils are available for quick examination, so the patient can pay attention to the presence of pockets or holes on their surface. They can be hollow with no content; also in the lumen of the pocket, purulent plugs are often seen. What does this symptom indicate? Among the probable reasons:
- Acute infection.
Pockets in the tonsils remain after the transferred infection of a viral or bacterial nature, are visible both in the acute period and in the period of convalescence (recovery).
- Chronic tonsillitis.
This is the most common explanation for holes. The gland with tonsillitis is inflamed, can be enlarged, contains purulent plugs and liquid pus in the lacunae. The inflammatory process is bilateral.
It is worth paying attention not only to the condition of the tonsils, but also to the general condition. Frequent relapses of tonsillitis, a tendency to colds, recurrent sore throat and subfebrile body temperature without exacerbation of angina are characteristic signs of a chronic inflammatory process.
Algorithm of actions
Regardless of the cause of the appearance of holes in the tonsils, you need:
- monitor the hygiene of the oropharyngeal cavity;
- give up smoking, alcohol, irritating, crumbling food;
- timely treatment of infectious and inflammatory processes in the throat;
- do not try to remove the plugs from the pockets of the tonsils yourself with your fingers, tweezers.
The main complaint of patients who have holes in the tonsils is anxiety about the accumulation of food debris, discomfort and bad breath. Therefore, it is important to monitor the cleanliness of the tonsils:
- drink enough fluids;
- gargle after eating.
Clean warm water is used for hygienic rinsing; antiseptics are not shown without a doctor's prescription.
Trying to take out food with improvised objects is not worth it. This leads to trauma to the mucous membrane, the spread of the inflammatory process - and. as a consequence, to the appearance of new holes. There is also a risk of additional infection.
Chronic tonsillitis treatment
Among the methods of treating chronic tonsillitis are:
- Conservative (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, physiotherapy).
- Operational (tonsillectomy, that is, removal of the palatine tonsils).
Antibiotics (Augmentin, Ceftriaxone) are indicated only for exacerbation of angina. The basis of conservative treatment is the washing of the tonsils with antiseptics (Chlorhexidine, Furacilin). Also, gargle with an infusion of chamomile, calendula, immunomodulators (IRS-19) is used. Physiotherapy includes laser therapy, magnetotherapy.
The choice of treatment depends on the form of the course of the disease. The tonsils are a focus of chronic infection, and if they are dotted with holes and purulent plugs, it is unlikely that it will be possible to cure the patient conservatively. Only a doctor can confirm any of the assumptions regarding the formation of holes in the tonsils after an objective examination, a survey.
