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How To Relieve Severe Tonsil Pain?
By
Patricia | February 15, 2010
Tonsils refer to a cluster of tissues situated at the back of the throat that helps in warding off infections. These are easily visible to the naked eye. Tonsillitis is a condition where these tissues get develop an infection due to various reasons. The work of the tonsil is to filter microorganisms that enter the body. However, sometimes, the tonsils get affected by the bacteria and virus they come in contact with, resulting in infected tonsils.
Tonsillitis is usually characterized by moderate to severe tonsil pain, and usually goes away on its own in the case of a viral infection. Tonsillitis is not chronic, and even bacterial tonsillitis subsides in a few weeks after medication. This type of infection is very common in young children and is nothing to be anxious about.
In this article, we will discuss the causes and symptoms of tonsillitis, along with some essential options that could be used for treating the condition.
Causes:
Tonsillitis can cause moderate to severe pain. Severe pain is usually only in cases when the tonsillitis is left untreated in the case of bacterial infections. Tonsillitis is mainly caused by bacterial and viral infections. Listed below are some of the common bacteria and virus that cause tonsillitis.
Bacteria that cause tonsillitis
- Streptococcus (the most common cause of bacterial tonsillitis, the causative agent of the common strep throat)
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Chlamydia pneumoniae
- Pertusis
- Diptheria
Virus that cause tonsillitis
- Adenovirus
- Rhinovirus
- Influenza virus
- Cornonavirus
- Epstein Barr virus
- Herpes simplex virus
Symptoms:
Tonsillitis is the infection of the tonsil by microorganisms. Listed below are the symptoms associated with tonsillitis.
- Discomfort or a prickly sensation in the throat when swallowing
- Ear pain
- Sore throat
- Pain behind the tonsils, near the jaws and back of the throat
- Fever in severe cases
- Flu like symptoms such as chills, cough, fever, headaches, body ache, and sore eyes
- Blocked nose
Symptoms ckeck by doctors
- White or pale yellow patches on the tonsils that are apparent when the mouth is opened wide and examined.
- Inflamed or red tonsils.
- In severe cases, pus may form on top of the tonsils.
If you are experiencing any of the milder symptoms, they are usually nothing to worry about as they will go away on their own within a few days. If the symptoms do not go away in that time, it is best to check with a doctor in order to get the best possible treatment.
Home Remedies:
There are a number of home remedies that you can use to help soothe the problems associated with tonsillitis. Given below are some of the common ones, along with helpful tips.
Tips on how to deal with tonsils pain
- Drink fluids that soothe the throat like warm and bland liquids and cool drinks. Popsicle sticks and ice creams will help soothe the throat to a large extent.
- Salt water gargles are excellent ways to help reduce inflammation and irritation associated with sore throats. Make sure that you use warm water, as extremely cold or hot water will damage the tonsils, worsening the condition. Salt water gargles will help prevent the infection from getting worse.
- A tablespoon of honey is also believed to help reduce the pain and inflammation associated with tonsillitis. Since honey does have antimicrobial properties, this may be a good home remedy option for tonsillitis.
- A homeopathic combination of Phytolacca Americana (American pokeweed), Guajacum officinale (roughbark lignumvitae) as well as Capsicum annuum (capsicum or peppers) helps to reduce the severity of the problem effectively.
- Do not consume hot and spicy liquids as they will tend to aggravate the problem.
Treatment:
Treating tonsillitis depends on what causes tonsillitis in the first place. Below are some of the common treatment options for tonsillitis:
- Antibiotics: Tonsillitis caused by bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics can easily cure the problem within a few days.
- Cough drops and Lozenges: Lozenges are great for tonsillitis. They come in many flavors and can help soothe the throat discomfort that occurs in tonsillitis. Lozenges usually contain painkillers that help reduce the pain as well.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs: The swelling of the tonsils is brought down using anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
- Surgery: In some cases, tonsillitis is chronic, with repeated infections. If tonsillitis is very severe, it is surgically removed in a procedure known as tonsillectomy.
The best way to prevent the spread of tonsillitis is to stay home for a couple of days. This way you will not be spreading the infection further.
Tonsillitis is not a serious problem; however, there are some instances where you need to be concerned. If you experience a very high fever, excessive drooling especially in very small children, pus in the throat, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, redness in the throat or swollen glands, it is vital that you seek medical help immediately.