What Are the Common Causes of Swollen Tonsils?

Tonsillary enlargement is a disease of abnormal swelling of the pharynx tonsils. It is one of the more common diseases in the clinic. It is mainly because children's physical resistance and immunity are relatively low under the influence of age factors.

English name: antiadoncus
Visiting department: ENT

Whether it is contagious: no
Disease site: Pharynx
Can it be cured: Can be cured

Causes of tonsil enlargement

Pathogens are introduced through droplets, direct contact, etc., and are usually hidden in the tonsil fossa. When the body's resistance weakens due to fatigue, cold or other reasons, the pathogens multiply rapidly and cause disease. Inflammation begins in the fossa and spreads throughout the tonsils. In acute inflammation, the tonsils are substantially congested with polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and yellow and white spots are visible on the mucosal surface. The tonsils are significantly swollen and can form most small abscesses. The purulent exudate composed of cellulose, exfoliated epithelium, and pus cells in the small fossa is discharged to the small fossa, so pus spots can be seen in the small fossa. The pathological changes of chronic inflammation are obvious, the proliferation of lymphocytes and reticulocytes is active, and the tonsils are enlarged. Mucosal epithelium of the fossa is thickened, the surface is hyperkeratotic, or a small ulcer is formed. Keratin, inflammatory exudate, exfoliated epithelial cells, white blood cells, bacteria, etc. are mixed to form cheese-like emboli, which are plugged into the small fossa. Long-term inflammation can cause occlusion of small blood vessels in the tonsils, degeneration of lymphoid tissues, and gradually replaced by connective tissue. Thereafter, the tonsils shrink and eventually cause tonsil fibrosis. The small fossa is narrowed by scars, and its contents are difficult to exclude and often become lesions.

Clinical manifestations of tonsil enlargement

(A) ear symptoms:

Due to the tonsil hypertrophy and the accumulation of inflammatory secretions in the nasopharynx, the eustachian tube of the eustachian tube is blocked, which can be accompanied by non-purulent or purulent otitis media, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus and ear tightness.

(2) Nasal symptoms:

Hypertrophy of tonsil is often accompanied by rhinitis and sinusitis. The child had symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose, open mouth breathing, salivation, occlusive nasal sounds during speech, and sleep snoring.

(Three) symptoms of respiratory infections:

Because secretions stimulate the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and often cause throat, trachea, and bronchitis, patients may experience symptoms such as throat discomfort, sound changes, cough and spit, asthma, and low fever.

(4) "Adenoid Face":

Due to long-term open mouth breathing, which affects the development of facial bones, the maxilla is long and narrow, and the hard palate high arch narrows. Teeth are extruded, dentition is not good, bite is bad, jaw is drooping, lip is thick, upper lip is upturned, lower lip is hanging, outer condyle is pulled down, and nasolabial sulcus is shallow and flat. With a lack of energy, a dull and dull facial expression, it becomes a so-called "adenoid face."

Examination of tonsil enlargement

Local examination of tonsil enlargement

1. Oral, oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and pharyngeal:

Focus on the examination of the anterior pharyngeal column, oral mucosa, posterior molar triangle, soft palate, and saggy. Indirect nasopharyngoscope, laryngoscope or fiber laryngoscope was used to observe the nasopharynx, hypopharynx and laryngo-pharynx to determine the extent of enlargement and its relationship with surrounding structures.
2. Upper neck and submandibular area:

Pay attention to the location, number, size, stiffness, and mobility of the lymph nodes.

Imaging examination of tonsil enlargement

Observing the localized location, size, scope, and degree of infiltration of surrounding structures, and observing cervical lymph nodes are helpful for determining the diagnosis, clarifying the clinical stage, and judging the prognosis, and can help to formulate treatment plans.

Treatment of tonsil enlargement

General treatment of tonsil enlargement

Drug treatment: antibacterial anti-inflammatory drug treatment. The disadvantage of this local treatment is that it only eliminates inflammation, but cannot clear the bacteria in the tonsil pits. Once the body's resistance is reduced, it is easy to recur, and chronic lesions will form over time.

Surgery for tonsil enlargement

Indications for tonsillectomy include: upper respiratory tract obstruction caused by tonsil enlargement, severe snoring, poor swallowing, and inarticulate speech; there have been tonsil abscesses once or more; tonsils caused systemic disease and became focal tonsils.

Prognosis of tonsil enlargement

The prognosis is good.

Prevention of tonsil enlargement

1. Pay attention to rest, drink plenty of water, pass stool, eat fluid or soft food, and when sore throat is obvious, pay attention to infusion treatment as soon as possible to prevent the spread of infection.

2. For patients with tonsil enlargement, a liquid diet should be given, eat less irritating food, eat more moist food, and gargle after each meal.

3. Pay attention to oral hygiene, drink plenty of water or fruit water to supplement the body's moisture.

4. Patients with chronic tonsillitis should develop good living habits, ensure adequate sleep time, increase and decrease clothes in time as weather changes, and remove the humid air in the room. For patients, they should develop a good habit of not picky eaters, but not food.

5. Persist in physical exercise, improve the body's ability to resist disease, do not overwork, if you are tired, you should adjust your rest in time. Quitting alcohol and tobacco is an important point in preventing chronic tonsillitis.

6. To prevent various infectious diseases, epidemics, liquid or semi-liquid food, those with high fever should use alcohol rubbing bath to help cool down.

7. Pay attention to strengthening diet and nutrition, strengthening physique and improving body resistance.

Swollen tonsils diet

1. Fresh pomegranate juice: Two fresh pomegranate juices. Peel the meat (even seeds) and mash them. Use boiling water to brew the juice to remove residue. After cooling, swallow slowly.

2. White radish, fresh olives, etc., slice and fry for tea.

3. A few amaranths, wash and dry the ground fines, use a little each time, directly blow into the affected area.