Allergic tonsillitis has another name - allergic tonsillitis. This is one of the forms of chronic tonsillitis, while the disease is quite common. As a rule, it is preceded by a number of factors: hypothermia, SARS, rhinitis, caries, pharyngitis, sinusitis, stomatitis.
In allergic tonsillitis, there is a sharp and significant increase in the tonsils. In this case, the person will experience difficulty with swallowing, breathing. The reason for this phenomenon is due to the fact that a microbial infection is activated in the thickness of the tonsils.
The causative agents of tonsillitis can be a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. In the allergic form, the cause of inflammation is the effect on the body of allergens. Normally, they are accepted by the immune system and do not cause negative effects.
However, if a person's immunity is weakened or there is an innate tendency to manifest such reactions, allergic forms of diseases develop.
Causes of disease
The main factor influencing the appearance of allergic tonsillitis is associated with improperincreased reaction sensitivity of the body. The palatine tonsils perform a protective function. They are a kind of barrier against harmful microorganisms that enter the throat along with food, liquid, air. With a decrease in immunity, these bacteria lead to angina. Allergic tonsillitis appears with frequent sore throats.
Only in some cases is it considered a primary disease. As a rule, its appearance is preceded by a sore throat.
Allergic form appears in a state of hypersensitivity of the organism. Serious immune disorders, as a result of which a person has suffered measles or scarlet fever, can also be the cause of tonsillitis. Violation of the formation of acquired immunity is the main cause of the disease.
If a person is often sick with ARVI, it can be assumed that the cells to a particular infectious agent are poorly formed. These patients often carry the same infection.
Caries or sinusitis can also be a provoking factor. Polyposis of the nasal cavity, adenoids, deviated septum can also lead to allergic tonsillitis. Even chronic rhinitis or sinusitis provokes the development of pathology.
Other factors
Among other possible causes, it is worth noting seasonal allergies, in which there is difficulty in breathing. In this situation, the throat begins to perform the main respiratory function. But it is impossible to filter pathogens in the mouth.microorganisms. This role is played by the nose and its mucosa.
The tonsils cannot cope with the increased load on them and do not perform their functions. As a result, the inflammatory infectious process is activated.
Manifestations of allergic tonsillitis
Angina or the so-called tonsillitis is known to many. Most often, people get sick with it in autumn, winter, spring, when the wind blows and it is too damp outside.
At the beginning of the development of the disease, pain will be felt in the throat. Sometimes it seems that something foreign has stuck to the sky, which prevents normal breathing. In fact, the foreign bodies in this case are swollen and painful tonsils.
They increase in size, block the gap in the throat. Because of this, breathing becomes difficult. It is difficult for a person to speak, swallow, pain occurs. It even happens that opening the mouth and chewing food is accompanied by pain. The person may feel short of breath.
I have a bad taste in my mouth. The surface of the tonsils becomes loose, the palatine arches swell and acquire a reddish tint. Purulent-white or grayish-yellow masses with an unpleasant odor gather in the lacunae of the tonsils.
In addition to these symptoms of allergic tonsillitis, there may be a noticeable increase in cervical lymph nodes. When they are palpated, pain occurs. Against the background of the inflammatory process, the temperature rises. She's hard to knock down. The elevated temperature will continue until the inflammatory process stops.
In young children, the temperature can be critical, which requires immediate hospitalization. The signs and symptoms of tonsillitis are similar to infectious tonsillitis.
In severe situations, chronic toxic-allergic tonsillitis can be diagnosed. The form of the disease requires the mandatory removal of the tonsils. Moreover, against the background of the development of this pathology, dysfunction of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems can be observed.
Complications
Allergic tonsillitis is dangerous for its complications and duration of the disease. Tonsils cease to act as a barrier to infections. On the contrary, harmful organisms accumulate in them. Microbes begin to appear, the waste products of which are preserved.
Infection spreads from the tonsils throughout the body, leading to intoxication.
In the allergic form of tonsillitis, pronounced changes in internal organs occur, the course of existing diseases worsens.
Possible general complications:
- cardiovascular disease;
- tonsilogenic sepsis;
- arthritis infection;
- a disease of allergic or infectious etiology.
Symptoms of allergic tonsillitis have a particularly negative impact on the child's body. For example, the disease can affect the development of the reproductive system in girls.
Degrees of toxic-allergic tonsillitis
There are two degrees of development of the disease. The main symptoms of the 1st degree of toxic-allergic tonsillitis are as follows:
- Headaches.
- Increased body temperature.
- Pain in muscles and joints.
- Weakness, fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
- General feeling unwell.
- Cervical lymph nodes are enlarged and painful when palpated.
- During the exacerbation of the disease appears tachycardia, arrhythmia. At the same time, there are no physiological changes in the heart, and at the stage of remission, these symptoms of allergic tonsillitis in adults disappear.
- Small changes (leukocytosis, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and others) may be observed in laboratory blood tests and immunology. During remission, these indicators are normalized.
With allergic tonsillitis of the 1st degree of severity, a person can get a sore throat up to 3 times a year. Recovery periods after illness will be long.
Second degree
With toxic-allergic tonsillitis of the 2nd degree of severity, the symptoms will be the same. But in this case, local and general diseases will appear, which can not only harm he alth, but also threaten the life of the patient. The disease is also characterized by disorders of cardiac activity. The following symptoms also occur:
- Pain in the joints of varying intensity. They will not stop even in remission.
- Arrhythmia, heart pain.
- Prolonged low-grade fever.
- Functional disorders of the kidneys, liver and other organs.
It is with this form that removal is often recommendedtonsils, since this organ becomes not a gate from infections, but their active focus.
Associated diseases
There are over 100 of them.
Local diseases:
- Phlegmonous tonsillitis or paratonsillar abscess. Suppuration develops in the tissues near the tonsils. The organ itself greatly increases in size, unilateral swelling of the soft palate is possible. The voice becomes nasal. The head is often tilted towards the inflammatory process. Pain is high.
- Parapharyngitis. The inflammatory process develops in the peripharyngeal tissues. The disease can be a complication after phlegmonous tonsillitis. Sharp pains can be present both in the throat and radiate to the teeth or ear. With sudden movements, unbearable pain occurs.
Common diseases:
- Rheumatism, dermatomyositis, polyarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels: heart defects, endocarditis, myocarditis.
- Kidney diseases: inflammation of the glomeruli, kidney failure, nephritonephrosis.
- Skin diseases: psoriasis.
- Chronic pneumonia.
- Diseases of the visual system: myopia, Behçet's disease.
- Diseases of the reproductive system: endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomatosis.
Diagnosis
Any sore throat requires qualified medical care. It will not be possible to independently determine the cause of the disease and identify the pathogen.
It will be necessary to take a blood test,urine, smear, undergo a medical examination. Skin testing may be required to determine the allergen.
For toxic-allergic tonsillitis, it is recommended to visit a cardiologist, nephrologist or pulmonologist.
Treatment
With allergic sore throat, the main task is to eliminate the allergen and extinguish the reaction caused by it. After that, it is necessary to remove the inflammatory process.
Assign washing of tonsils with antiseptic preparations, taking immunostimulants, inhalations, sanitation of the nasopharynx and oral cavity. In exacerbations, antibiotics may also be prescribed. Antihistamines are used as mandatory therapy.
If the described treatment of allergic chronic tonsillitis did not give the desired result, then we can talk about the removal of the tonsils.
Topical treatment is also prescribed: the use of antiseptics for rinsing the throat, the treatment of tonsils with sodium tetraboron during an exacerbation of the disease.
Folk methods in this situation can not only not be beneficial, but also harm, aggravating the general condition of the patient.
You can not replace the use of complex treatment prescribed by a specialist with folk remedies. All must be agreed with the attending physician.
Affordable preparations such as iodine, s alt, soda have proven themselves to be excellent. They are used for rinsing. To prepare the solution, it is enough to take 200 ml of boiled warm water, a few drops of iodine, 1 tsp. soda and 0.5 tbsp. l. s alt. Mix everything, dissolve and rinse with the prepared liquid several times a day. It is important tothe solution fell on the back wall of the pharynx. A fresh solution should be prepared each time.
When is the best time to remove tonsils?
To answer this question, it is necessary to consider the development of allergic tonsillitis in the context of a violation of the immune system. The palatine tonsils are not the only lymphoid formations in the pharynx. They form part of the Pirogov-Waldeyer lymphadenoid pharyngeal ring.
This is the most powerful barrier that prevents the penetration of infections transmitted by airborne droplets.
With tonsillitis, lymphoid tissue becomes inflamed, hypertrophied. Perhaps its scarring. The disease will proceed with a variety of complications. At the same time, hypertrophied tonsils will not be the main cause of frequent illnesses.
Moreover, the proliferation of lymphoid tissue acts as a compensatory mechanism. This indicates that the glands are functioning.
With the loss of the tonsils, the infection will be able to calmly move lower, so a person is increasingly sick with tracheitis, bronchitis. It should be understood that in some situations, radical surgery is mandatory.
The main stages of the treatment of allergic tonsillitis:
- Allergen detection.
- Using antihistamines to suppress an allergic reaction.
- Use of inhalation, lubrication of the throat and tonsils to relieve inflammation.
- Take co-infection remedies.
- Acceptvitamin complexes. Pay special attention to vitamin C.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is sometimes prescribed, which can give good results:
- Ultrasound therapy.
- UV irradiation.
- Ultra-high frequency inductothermy.
- Microwave therapy.
Such methods are contraindicated for suspected oncological pathologies and for oncological diseases.
Prevention
Allergic tonsillitis, the symptoms and treatment of which are described in the article, is a common disease. With a tendency to this form of the disease, preventive measures must be taken:
- Pay more attention to immunity.
- Prevent cold wind damage to tonsils.
- Do not eat too coarse or dry food.
- Protect yourself from contact with sick people.
- Wear protective masks during epidemics.
- Temper the body.
- Following a hypoallergenic diet.
Allergic tonsillitis is a very unpleasant disease that requires timely treatment. Preventive measures will help strengthen the immune system and avoid possible complications.
