Tonsillitis or tonsillitis, is also called angina, a word that comes from the Latin angere, which means to squeeze or strangle. The term angina expressed a sensation of pharyngeal constriction that can be observed in any inflammation at this level. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, tonsillitis is an acute inflammation of viral or bacterial origin of the tonsils or pharyngeal mucosa.
Classification of Tonsillitis
The classification of tonsillitis takes into account the appearance of the oropharynx on physical examination, regardless of whether the etiology is viral or bacterial. Erythematous (reddish) and erythematous (reddish with white patches) tonsillitis (which account for about 90% of gross forms of tonsillitis), pseudomembranous, and ulcerative or ulceronecrotic are distinguished. Likewise, erythematous tonsillitis can be acute, recurrent and chronic, and the pseudomenbranous one that has no subdivision.
Acute tonsillitis
The tonsillitis viral constitute 50-90% of tonsillitis. There are numerous viruses involved, notably Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex, influenza, parainfluenza, Coxsackie, and adenovirus. The tonsillitis bacterial constitute 10-50% of tonsillitis, among bacteria, the main is Streptococcus pyogenes or Streptococcus hemolytic of group A.
It is transmitted by the respiratory route, through droplets of saliva expelled by coughing, sneezing or talking, from infected people. There is also transmission through contamination of food or water; on the contrary, fomites (contaminated objects) do not play an important role as a source of contagion.
Recurrent tonsillitis
It is characterized by repetitive episodes of tonsillitis, when the number of episodes is greater than 7 per year in one year, 5 per year in two years and three per year in three years. It is more common in children.
Chronic tonsillitis
The tonsillitis chronic are more frequent in adults, while recurrent tonsillitis are more common in children. It is a disease characterized by persistent infection of the tonsils, there are cases of very intense and repeated infections with serious systemic repercussions.
The duration period varies, there are transitory cases, decreasing the number of episodes and the intensity of the episodes over time, disappearing after a few years, while others last a lifetime.
Pseudomembranous tonsillitis
They can be caused by infectious mononucleosis and diphtheria.
Infectious mononucleosis tonsillitis is related to a primary infection by EBV (herpes group virus) that generates intense lymphocytic stimulation, leading to hypertrophy of lymphoid tissues.
In most cases, it affects adolescents and young adults. It is spread by air. While diphtheria tonsillitis is caused by a Corynebacterium diphtheriae poisoning and is rare in developed countries, but it is a re-emerging disease in the world.
Ulcerative and necrotic tonsillitis
When they are bilateral, hemorrhagic, often with associated gingivitis, a malignant hemopathy or agranulocytosis should be suspected. When it is unilateral, they mainly orient towards Vincent's tonsillitis. The other two conditions to be suspected are syphilitic chancre and tonsil cancer.
Symptoms of tonsillitis
The symptoms of tonsillitis classified in their different types of conditions and symptoms.
Acute tonsillitis
The symptoms of tonsillitis consist of the variable association of: fever, pharyngeal pain (constrictive or burn-type), reflex earache, and pain when swallowing. There may also be symptoms such as:
· Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, especially in children.
· Rashes.
· Reddish tonsils. Sometimes there is additional presence of a whitish material on the tonsils defining erythematous tonsillitis.
· The presence of satellite, submandibular or subdigastric cervical lymphadenopathies is common in tonsillitis of bacterial origin.
· The arguments that point towards a viral etiology are: moderate fever, cough, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, pharyngeal vesicles, as well as the absence of adenopathies or, on the contrary, diffuse adenopathies.
Recurrent tonsillitis
It has the same symptoms as acute tonsillitis, only with repetitive episodes.
Chronic tonsillitis
It is said that it has an established profile: obstruction of the upper airways, enlargement of the tonsils and recurrent infections. In addition, the following signs and symptoms occur:
· Recurrent fevers.
· Pain when swallowing
· Halitosis.
· Mouth breathing
· Urinary incontinence
· Appetite and mood disorders.
· Snoring.
· Acute superinfections.
Pseudomembranous tonsillitis
By mononucllosis.
· The tonsils appear covered by whitish deposits that are strictly limited to the tonsil tissue, respecting the uvula, and can become detached and cause pain.
· It is associated with severe weakness or fatigue and may be accompanied by respiratory difficulties due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
· Petechiae of the soft palate.
By diphtheria.
· There are adherent whitish membranes, which exceed the limits of the tonsils and confluent.
· Rhinitis (nasal allergy) with often mucopurulent and unilateral rhinorrhea, as well as voluminous cervical lymphadenopathy.
· Exotoxin secretion.
· Myocarditis.
· Neurological condition (polyradiculoneuritis with paralysis of the veil and respiratory muscles).
· Renal involvement with glomerulonephritis.
Ulcerative and necrotic tonsillitis
Vincent's angina:
· Insidious onset in adolescents or young adults with a poor general condition (fatigue, overwork) and poor oral hygiene.
· General and functional signs are mild: subfebrile state, unilateral discrete pharyngeal pain, halitosis.
· Friable, grayish-white, purple material on the tonsil, covering a nonspecific ulceration, with raised and irregular edges.
Syphilitic tonsillitis:
· Unilateral ulceration of the tonsil with an indurated base and more voluminous adenopathy.
Massaging the scalp after a hard day of work is not only helpful for blood circulation to the head, but also helps decrease stress caused by work-related problems and other trauma. People with migraines and headaches can reap incredible benefits from scalp massage with any of their chosen natural oils.