Phlegmonous tonsillitis is a process of inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsils. In medical practice, there is a special designation for this disease - acute paratonsillitis.
The main cause of the disease is an external bacterial infection. It is also likely that the infection is transmitted with the blood stream from a source of chronic infection in the body (otitis media, sinusitis, arthritis, nephritis and other diseases). Once in the space of tonsil cells, infectious agents quickly begin to multiply, creating a strong inflammatory process and general poisoning of the body with toxins that are released during their life. As a rule, one tonsil is involved in the process of pathology, in rare cases - two. Phlegmonous tonsillitis most often occurs in people aged 22-44 years.
Causes of disease
Contribute to the appearance of the disease:
- Weakening of the immune system after past illnesses (hepatitis, influenza, scarlet fever, intestinal or adenovirus infection, otitis media, diphtheria, mumps, etc.).
- The presence of purulent diseases in the body, especially in the mouth area (cyst ortooth decay).
- Blood diseases (leukemia, anemia).
- Severe hypothermia.
- Excessive consumption of very cold drinks or food.
- Chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, frontal sinusitis, sinusitis.
Symptoms of the disease
Phlegmonous tonsillitis develops in a very acute form for several hours after infection of the tonsils. Patients note the appearance of pain in the throat both during a conversation and during swallowing saliva, liquids and food. The feeling of pain does not leave people even at rest, they are forced to take various postures (tip their heads back or tilt them to one side) in order to at least slightly alleviate their condition.
The voice of these people is hoarse and deaf, sometimes they cannot speak at all. Patients are so focused on pain that they practically do not open their mouths, their cheekbones are constantly compressed, people refuse to eat, and cannot fall asleep. There is often increased salivation and bad breath.
Together with the symptoms of tonsil disease, there is a pronounced poisoning of the body with toxins. The temperature rises to 38-41 degrees, sweating increases excessively, the person feels lethargic and weakened. Aches in the joints and muscles, pain in the head, dizziness, vomiting, nausea are likely. Lymph nodes in the ears and jaw area are painful on palpation and enlarged.
In a few daysvisually, you can observe a strong increase, swelling of the tonsils, redness in this area. All these signs indicate that chronic phlegmonous tonsillitis begins. The photo of the throat (see below) shows blurry areas filled with pus. Also, this stage of the disease is characterized by the appearance and increase in phlegmon, which do not have a clear shape and are located throughout the region of the tonsils.
When this focus is opened, patients begin to feel relief. Pain decreases, temperature decreases, activity returns, appetite begins to appear.
When the abscess opens itself, then a fistulous opening is formed in this place, pus comes out through it. If phlegmonous tonsillitis has such signs, treatment in this case occurs surgically and involves an incision in the fiber to remove pathological exudate from the tonsils.
Disease diagnosis
This ailment has some distinctive clinical symptoms that make it easier to diagnose:
- History of beriberi, blood diseases, immunodeficiency states.
- There is a sharp increase in temperature to high levels. Pronounced intoxication of the body.
- An abscess on the tonsils is formed against the background of a long-lasting sore throat or other inflammation processes in the oral cavity, after diphtheria or scarlet fever.
- When diagnosed with "phlegmonous tonsillitis", the photo shows the rapid spread of infiltration on the tonsils, which ends with the appearance of purulentabscess.
- Strong swelling of the tonsils, atypical for other types of tonsillitis.
The diagnosis of this disease is based on the examination of the person and the study of the anamnesis.
Laboratory diagnosis includes the collection of general urine and blood tests to determine the degree of inflammation. To determine the infection that caused the disease, examinations are used for the presence of antibodies to an infectious agent in the blood of a person, throat swabs. To determine if an antibiotic treats phlegmonous sore throat, a sensitivity test is performed. For this, a diagnostic puncture is performed - a puncture is made in the region of the tonsils with the collection of pathological contents. All of these methods make it possible to detect the presence of certain bacteria. As a rule, the disease is caused by the ingestion of a staphylococcal or streptococcal virus.
Possible Complications
Phlegmonous tonsillitis without timely and proper treatment leads to spontaneous opening of a focus of pus that impregnates the parenchyma of the tonsils. Parenchymal tonsillitis requires immediate surgical treatment and is sometimes complicated by sepsis.
Abscess of the neck is a consequence that most often occurs in a disease such as phlegmonous tonsillitis. Reviews about the treatment of this pathology among doctors are very disappointing due to the proximity to the surface of the skin in the neck of blood vessels and nerve endings, which are often pinched. If the purulent fluid compresses the capillaries in the tonsils,then their mechanical deformation, accompanied by bleeding, is likely.
Conservative and surgical treatment
Taking into account the course of the disease and the likely complications that are associated with it, conservative treatment or surgical intervention is performed:
- Conservative treatment. With the diagnosis of "phlegmonous tonsillitis" treatment occurs with the help of various antibiotics, the time of this therapy is usually 1-2 weeks. Locally prescribed mouthwash with antiseptic drugs, irrigation of the larynx with anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic properties, or treatment of the tonsils with iodine-based drugs.
- Surgical intervention. As a rule, antibiotic therapy alone is not enough to treat this disease, very often it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention.
Needle aspiration
This procedure makes it possible to remove pus from the abscess. Needle aspiration is performed using a special needle. During the procedure, the patient will most likely be given an injection of a sedative to help them relax, or a local anesthetic to numb the site of the future puncture so that pain is not felt. After aspiration, the removed pus is sent for examination to determine the type of infection that caused the inflammation and its reaction to antibiotics.
Drainage and incision
Sometimes to remove fluid from an abscessperform an incision in the inflamed area. It is also done under the influence of sedatives and relaxing agents, anesthesia or anesthetics, so that the patient does not experience pain during the procedure.
Tonsillectomy
This is a surgical procedure to remove tonsils. This operation is advised in especially severe cases or chronic inflammation of the larynx.
Due to the complexity of the disease, the patient may need to spend 3-5 days in the hospital. During this time, medications are administered using a dropper. After discharge, bed rest will be required at home for a week.
Disease prevention
Prophylactic measures for the disease include:
- Prophylactic excision of the tonsils in case of constantly occurring relapses of inflammatory processes.
- Timely visit to the doctor at the time of suspicion of any kind of sore throat, as well as during other inflammatory diseases of the nasal and oral cavity.
- He althy lifestyle, hardening, vitamin intake, proper nutrition.
- Avoid hypothermia, strengthen immunity.
However, the best way to prevent the disease is to exclude contact with people who suffer from bacterial or viral pathologies. For example, do not use a cup, a plate of a person who suffers from tonsillitis. Observe personal hygiene, constantly wash your palms with hot water. Smoking also increases the risk of phlegmonous angina.
The article details thatis phlegmonous angina. Symptoms, treatment of the disease have become known to you. To avoid such a serious illness, follow the rules of hygiene and take preventive measures. Take care!
