Tonsils are lymphoid formations that provide the body's immunity. They are located in the pharynx and consist of the palatine, pharyngeal and lingual tonsils. Speaking that the tonsils hurt, we mean a process localized in the palatine tonsils.
The reason why a pathological process develops in the tonsils is the effect of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. In some cases, the factors contributing to the development of pain in the glands may be dry air, dangerous impurities in it, hypothermia. Pain in the tonsils is a constant symptom of such pathological conditions:
- angina;
- acute and chronic tonsillitis;
- infectious diseases;
- purulent diseases;
- pharyngitis;
- AIDS;
- tumor processes;
- neuralgia.
Angina
Angina is an infectious disease caused by bacteria streptococcus, staphylococcus. You can get sick by contact with an infected person. The process is characterized by an acute onset, when the patient's temperature rises for a short time, dryness, perspiration and significant sore throat appear. By its nature, it is constant, increases with swallowing, can be given to the neck or ear.
Depending on the nature of the lesion, catarrhal, purulent and necrotic forms are distinguished, which is confirmed by pharyngoscopy. The catarrhal form is characterized by sharply edematous, hyperemic tonsils and palatine arches. An objective examination of the pharynx with a purulent form of sore throat reveals plaques or plugs that fill the lacunae of the tonsils or follicles. The tonsils hurt when pressed with a spatula.
Depending on the nature of the lesion and its severity, temperature indicators range from 37.3 to 39-40 degrees.
An important symptom that characterizes angina is an increase and soreness of regional lymph nodes.
In this case, the degree of lymphadenopathy corresponds to the degree of damage and the severity of the disease.
Chronic tonsillitis
In the case of frequent tonsillitis, their incorrect treatment, as well as with other unfavorable factors, patients may develop a chronic form of the inflammatory process in the tonsils, chronic tonsillitis. Patients describe their sensations in the throat as pain in the glands of a pressing character, a feeling of a foreign body in the throat. Such patients are worried about constant malaise, weakness, fatigue, headache.
For chronic tonsillitis, prolonged subfebrile condition is typical. Another exacerbation is characterized by an increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees. An obligatory symptom of chronic tonsillitis is the presence of purulent foci localized in the area of lacunae, crypts of the tonsils. Pressure on the tonsils with a spatula is accompanied by the release of pus.
Purulent diseases
Tonsillar abscess is a complication of purulent tonsillitis. Usually, symptoms develop 3-4 days after the appearance of signs of lacunar or follicular tonsillitis. In this case, the patient's condition worsens, the body temperature rises to 40 degrees, the pain in the tonsils increases, and bad breath appears.
Acute pain in the tonsils also characterizes the pharyngeal abscess. The disease is a complication of other purulent processes occurring in the throat, nasopharynx, ear or regional lymph nodes.
At the same time, the patient's condition is sharply impaired, there is a pronounced intoxication. The temperature reaches high levels.
Sharp pain in the tonsil increases with swallowing, accompanied by shortness of breath on inspiration and snoring.
A feature of this disease is the patient's appearance. He has swelling in the corner of the lower jaw, descending along the front of the neck. A typical symptom is a forced position of the head: it tilts towards the affected side.
Pharyngitis
Pain in the glands can also occur with pharyngitis. However, in this case, the inflammatory process, to a greater extent, affects the mucous membrane of the pharynx, causing the development of catarrhal inflammation in it. The nature of pain is somewhat different. Patients are more worried about tickling, scratching in the throat, the desire to cough up. Pharyngeal mucosa during pharyngoscopy is characterized by redness, characterized by the presence of mucus flowing down the back of the pharynx. Sick tonsils are also somewhat hyperemic, but not enlarged. There are no purulent foci.
The disease is rarely characterized by a severe course. Intoxication phenomena are of minor concern to patients. However, symptoms may persist for a long time. At the same time, in addition to a sore throat, patients are worried about a dry, paroxysmal cough.
The state of the surrounding air is of great importance for the development of the pathological process in the throat. The presence of smoke, nicotine, chemical impurities irritates the throat mucosa and causes pain. The issue with the characteristics of the inhaled air in the room is especially acute.
The danger is not only air polluted by various compounds, but also too dry. Its impact on the mucous membrane is also accompanied by the development of pathological conditions. Chronic tonsillitis or pharyngitis can be exacerbated in just such conditions. An indispensable condition for the patient's normal condition is the ability to breathe cool and humid air that does not contain hazardous impurities.
Infectious diseases
The tonsils also hurt in various infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. Most often, the development of this symptom is characterized by
- ARVI;
- Infectious mononucleosis;
- scarlet fever;
- measles;
- chicken pox;
- diphtheria;
- gonorrhea;
- chlamydia.
Diseases caused by viruses, acute respiratory viral infections, measles, chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis are characterized by the fact that the tonsils hurt. The pain syndrome is less significant than in acute tonsillitis. The phenomena of intoxication come to the fore.
For the diagnosis of infectious diseases of a viral nature, in addition to pain, an important role is played by the presence of additional symptoms: acute onset, severe malaise, catarrhal phenomena, and the development of hyperthermia.
Depending on the effect of a particular virus, the presence of a rash, conjunctivitis, an enlarged liver and spleen may be characteristic. With infectious mononucleosis, an increase in lymph nodes is noted, which is not typical for viral diseases.
Diphtheria is characterized by severe pain in the tonsils. This disease is differentiated from purulent tonsillitis, since there are similar clinical symptoms and morphological changes in the tonsils. An obligatory symptom of diphtheria is a pronounced swelling of the tonsils and a characteristic purulent plaque on them, which is a dirty gray film. After removing it, a bleeding surface is formed.
The infection is characterized by a severe course. The phenomena of intoxication correspond to the degree of damage to the tonsils. Depending on the form of the disease, diphtheria can be complicated by infectious-toxic shock, asphyxia. In the diagnosis, laboratory research helps, which allows you to isolate the pathogen in the flush from the pharynx. Due to widespread vaccination, the incidence of diphtheria is sporadic.
Gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis are sexually transmitted infections that are also often characterized by sore throat and tonsils. The clinical signs of such infections are nonspecific. Anamnesis of the disease plays an important role in their diagnosis.Clarification of the diagnosis is also facilitated by scraping from the tonsils and from the throat cavity, serological diagnostics.
Cancer pathology and AIDS
Most AIDS patients have tonsils. The development of this symptom is due to the addition of a secondary infection. Since the disease is characterized by reduced immunity, the action of any pathogenic agents leads to the development of a catarrhal or ulcerative necrotic process in the mouth or throat.
A tumor process in the throat can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms. The disease is characterized by a slow onset of symptoms. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the risk group is smokers, employees of hazardous industries. In such patients, due to weakened immunity, clinical signs of the disease can be erased, there is no temperature reaction, which allows one to suspect this severe pathology.
Neuralgia
The main symptom of neuralgia is unilateral damage and paroxysmal pain. Arising at the root of the tongue or in the amygdala, it radiates into the throat, ear, and lower jaw. The seizure time lasts one to two minutes. At the same time, there is a pronounced dry mouth. The end of the attack is characterized by salivation. The disease is characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation. In some cases, its constant course is noted.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine can also be characterized by pain radiating down the throat and tonsils. At the same time, there is stiffness in the spine, crunching, increased pain when moving. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs helps to improve the situation. Pain in the tonsils can characterize various processes in the body, both acute and chronic.
In some cases, clarification of the diagnosis requires a thorough examination of the patient, including instrumental diagnostics and laboratory tests. The otolaryngologist will help to clarify the diagnosis.
