Such a small organ as the uvula can in some cases cause a big he alth problem. As a rule, its inflammation does not threaten a critical condition, but sometimes the swelling becomes so intense that it causes significant difficulty in breathing.
Before you begin to understand the causes of problems with the tongue, you should describe its anatomical structure.
Anatomical structure
The palatine uvula itself, the photo of which is presented in this article, is nothing more than a continuation of the soft palate. It is located in the cavity of the pharynx, under the root of the tongue. It is based on smooth muscle cells, and the surface is covered with a mucous membrane.
Blood vessels pass through the area of the soft palate, which explains the occurrence of injuries and inflammatory processes. You can often experience intense swelling and redness.
The soft palate passes into the palatine arches, between which the tonsils are located. This explains the fact that in the presence of tonsillitis or tonsillitis, that is, when the body is damaged by viruses or bacteria, inflammatorythe process extends to the soft palate.
The situation that in acute inflammation of the tonsils gives the impression that a small tongue is swollen is due to their anatomical proximity.
Small tongue function
The uvula has a number of rather important functions. The soft palate, together with a small tongue, participates in the rational separation and direction of air flows and food, prevents foreign bodies and pieces of food from entering the respiratory system, forms a cough and vomiting reflex, warms the inhaled air and participates in the correct formation of sounds when pronouncing words. Inflammation of the tissues of the uvula can lead to a violation of each of the above functions. In medicine, it has received the name "uvulite".
How does uvulitis proceed?
If the palate is not infected, then the person does not feel it, but with the development of certain pathological conditions, the palate and tongue swell and turn red.
Most often, uvulitis occurs in an acute form. The patient may even wake up at night from the feeling that the uvula has become swollen and long. This causes a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the oral cavity and a desire to cough up. Cough in this state of relief does not bring. It usually causes soreness and swelling of the soft palate.
Main causes of disease
The main causes of inflammation of the uvula include:
- infectious processes in the oral cavity caused by viruses or bacteria;
- inflammatory processes of a purulent nature in the areajaws;
- tonsillitis or tonsillitis occurring in a chronic form;
- suppuration of fiber located near the tonsils;
- presence of injuries and burns of the soft palate;
- allergic reaction of the body;
- Tumours of the soft palate, pharynx or pharynx.
- presence of sinusitis or rhinitis;
- peritonsillar abscess;
- diseases of the teeth and jaws, accompanied by suppuration;
- mechanical damage to the tongue;
- exposure to low or high temperature;
- allergic reaction;
- presence of angioedema;
- presence of a tumor in the throat;
- long-term antihypertensive medication;
- taking ACE inhibitors.
There are also causes that are not diseases, but can provoke the occurrence of uvulitis.
Uvulitis symptoms
Signs of a disease such as uvulitis can make themselves felt during meals, after prolonged coughing or sneezing. More prone to uvulitis are people whose small tongue has an elongated shape. Also, the disease develops in the presence of adenoids. If you look into the throat during inflammation, you can see a bright red palatine uvula, which began to hang down to the root of the tongue. Along with this, the soft palate swells and hurts.
Symptoms of uvulitis in the viral nature of the disease
When bacteria and viruses penetrate:
- Pain in the throat.
- Availabilitytickle and cough.
- Stuffy nasal passages.
- Increased body temperature.
- Migraine.
- Pain in the joints and muscles.
- Throat plaque.
Uvulitis therapy
The inflammatory process in the uvula, as a rule, acquires a sudden course. Whether a patient needs specialist help depends on the symptoms caused by the disease.
If the inflammatory process and swelling do not affect the function of breathing and are manifested by a feeling of a lump in the throat, a nasal voice, painful sensations when swallowing food, then, as a rule, the disease goes away by itself, without the intervention of a doctor.
The occurrence of uvulitis makes breathing difficult, causes shortness of breath, salivation and induces vomiting.
Since the swelling of a small tongue in the throat can also be caused by an instant allergy, the above symptoms should be treated with care, and if they develop quickly, consult a doctor immediately.
The relief of puffiness of an allergic nature is possible thanks to three main groups of drugs:
- antihistamines;
- diuretic diuretics;
- glucocorticosteroids.
For example, if the process of the soft palate has increased in size due to the presence of an allergy, then the patient can be recommended to use Claritin from antihistamines, and Furosemide is prescribed as a diuretic. With severe difficulty in breathing, the use of "Hydrocortisone" is indicated. Isolated cases of swelling of the soft palate requireradical assistance, namely, such a manipulation as a tracheostomy.
The most important condition is to determine the cause of the disease. The therapeutic course depends on this.
What to do if the uvula hurts? Usually this condition is provoked by trauma. In this case, no special procedures are required. As a rule, doctors limit themselves to ordinary observation, they recommend observing the rules of hygiene and caring for the oral cavity. We recommend using chamomile rinses. In this case, the swelling subsides after a few days.
In case of penetration of viruses or bacteria, drugs such as Amoxiclav, Azithromycin, Levomycetin, Arbidol are prescribed. The throat is irrigated with sprays that have a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect (Ingalipt, Givalex, Gorlospas).
Angioneurotic edema is very difficult to treat. It appears suddenly and disappears just as quickly.
If ulvit provoked the accumulation of pus, then ordinary sprays will not help. In this case, surgery is indicated. Following such an operation, a long rehabilitation period is required.
Papillomas and viruses do not pose a particular danger to the patient's life, but when they appear, surgery is also indicated, since neoplasms tend to grow. This is a great discomfort for the patient.
It should be noted that the swelling of the tongue can be caused by the use of alcoholic beverages. This is due to dehydration of the mucous membrane of the organ. Treatment of this condition requires plenty of fluid intake. Alcohol and carbonated drinks should be excluded.
The problem with the tongue, the feeling of its increase in size is also caused by the presence of benign tumors in the throat. In appearance, such a neoplasm looks like a growth that forms on the mucous membrane of the process of the soft palate and is more often a polyp or papilloma.
Polyps and papillomas usually do not threaten the he alth and life of a person, but doctors recommend their removal, because if the growth increases in size, the patient begins to cough and feel a foreign body in the throat.
If the build-up and papilloma are subjected to systematic trauma or other irritating factors, then there are risks of their transition to a malignant neoplasm.
The treatment of the palatine uvula, the swelling of which is provoked by angioedema, is distinguished by a high level of complexity. As a preventive measure in this case, hypnosis, reflexology, physiotherapy procedures are used.
With paratonsillar abscess and the presence of abscesses in the jaw, they resort to surgery. At the same time, opening and drainage are carried out.
So, with the rapid development of the disease requires immediate medical attention. More often, the process develops in a short time with allergies. Puffiness of an infectious nature also requires a medical consultation, but does not need an immediate appeal to a laryngologist. Even a small symptomcan cause major he alth problems.
General recommendations
Regardless of the cause of the inflamed uvula, there are a number of certain rules that must be followed during treatment. First of all, you should maintain oral hygiene. You should also pay attention to the diet. Do not eat spicy and s alty foods. Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Conclusion
Based on all of the above, we can conclude: if you have problems with such an organ as the uvula, you should immediately contact a specialist. Doctors will be able to understand the cause of the onset of the disease and prescribe the appropriate therapy, which can stop all manifestations of the disease. The main symptoms include swelling, nausea, pain, feeling of pain.
