Allergic tonsillitis has another name - allergic tonsillitis. This is a form 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.
With allergic tonsillitis, a sharp and significant increase in tonsils occurs. In this case, a person will have difficulty swallowing, breathing. The reason for this phenomenon is due to the fact that microbial infection is activated in the thickness of the tonsils.
The causative agents of tonsillitis can be a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. In an allergic form, the cause of inflammation is the exposure of the body to allergens. In a normal state, they are taken by the immune system and do not cause negative consequences.
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 the disease
The main factor affecting the appearance of allergic tonsillitis is associated with an improper hypersensitivity reaction of the body. Palatine tonsils perform a protective function. They are a kind of barrier against harmful microorganisms that penetrate the throat along with food, liquid, air. With a decrease in immunity, these bacteria lead to tonsillitis. Allergic tonsillitis appears with frequent tonsillitis.
Only in some cases is it considered a primary disease. As a rule, angina precedes its appearance.
The allergic form appears when the body is hypersensitive. Serious immune disorders, as a result of which a person has suffered measles or scarlet fever, can also cause tonsillitis. Violation of the formation of acquired immunity is the main cause of the disease.
If a person often suffers from acute respiratory viral infections, it can be assumed that the cells to one or another pathogen of infection in him are poorly formed. Such patients often suffer the same infection.
Caries or sinusitis can also be a provoking factor. Polyposis of the nasal cavity, adenoids, curvature of the nasal 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 breathing difficulties are noted. In this situation, the throat begins to perform the main respiratory function. But in the mouth, filtering of pathogens is impossible. This role is played by the nose and its mucosa.
Tonsils cannot cope with the increased load on them and do not fulfill their functions. As a result, the inflammatory infection process is activated.
Manifestations of allergic tonsillitis
Angina or the so-called tonsillitis is known to many. Most often, people get it in the fall, winter, spring, when the wind blows and the street is too damp.
At the beginning of the development of the disease, a sore throat will be felt. Sometimes it seems that something foreign has stuck to the sky, which interferes with normal breathing. In fact, the foreign bodies in this case are swollen and painful tonsils.
They increase in size, overlap the lumen 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 are accompanied by pain. A person may feel a lack of air.
There is an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. The surface of the tonsils becomes loose, palatine arches swell and acquire a reddish tint. Purulent-white or grayish-yellow masses with an unpleasant odor gather in the gaps of the tonsils.
In addition to these symptoms of allergic tonsillitis, a noticeable increase in cervical lymph nodes is possible. With their palpation, pain occurs. Against the background of the inflammatory process, the temperature rises. It’s hard to bring down. The elevated temperature will hold until the inflammatory process stops.
In young children, the temperature can be critical, which requires immediate hospitalization. The signs and symptomatic manifestation of tonsillitis are similar to infectious tonsillitis.
In severe situations, a diagnosis of chronic toxic-allergic tonsillitis can be made. The form of the disease requires 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 the duration of the disease. Tonsils no longer act as a barrier to infections. On the contrary, they accumulate harmful organisms. Microbes begin to appear, the vital products of which are preserved.
Tonsil infection spreads throughout the body, leading to intoxication.
With an allergic form of tonsillitis, pronounced changes in internal organs occur, the course of existing diseases worsens.
Common complications are possible:
- cardiovascular disease;
- tonsilogenic sepsis;
- heart disease;
- disease of an allergic or infectious etiology.
Symptoms of allergic tonsillitis especially negatively affect the children's body. For example, a disease can affect the development of the reproductive system in girls.
The degree of toxic-allergic tonsillitis
Two degrees of the development of the disease are distinguished. The main symptoms of the 1st degree of toxic-allergic tonsillitis are as follows:
- Headache.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Pain in the muscles and joints.
- Weakness, fast fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
- General feeling unwell.
- The cervical lymph nodes are enlarged, and when they are palpated, painful sensations arise.
- In the period of 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.
- In laboratory blood tests and immunology, small changes (leukocytosis, increased ESR and others) can be observed. With remission, these indicators normalize.
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 that can not only harm health, but also threaten the patient's life. The disease is also characterized by cardiac abnormalities. The following symptoms also occur:
- Joint pains of different intensity. They will not stop even in remission.
- Arrhythmia, heart pain.
- Prolonged subfebrile condition.
- Functional disorders of the kidneys, liver and other organs.
It is with this form that the removal of tonsils is often recommended, since this organ becomes not the gateway to infections, but their active focus.
Associated diseases
There are over 100 of them.
Local diseases:
- Phlegmonous tonsillitis or paratonsillar abscess. In the tissues near the tonsils, suppuration develops. In itself, the organ 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. The pain syndrome is high.
- Parapharyngitis. The inflammatory process develops in the near-pharyngeal tissues. The disease can be a complication after phlegmonous tonsillitis. Sharp pains can be present both in the throat and can be heard in 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 disease: inflammation of the renal glomeruli, renal failure, nephritonephrosis.
- Skin Disease: Psoriasis.
- Chronic pneumonia
- Diseases of the visual system: myopia, Behcet's disease.
- Reproductive system diseases: endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomatosis.
Diagnostics
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 pass a blood test, urine, smear, undergo a medical examination. To determine the allergen, it may be necessary to take skin tests.
With toxic-allergic tonsillitis, it is recommended to visit a cardiologist, nephrologist or pulmonologist.
Treatment
With allergic tonsillitis, the main task is to eliminate the allergen and extinguish the reaction caused by it. After this, it is necessary to remove the inflammatory process.
Prescribe washing with antiseptic preparations of the tonsils, taking immunostimulants, inhalations, sanitation of the nasopharynx and oral cavity. With exacerbations, antibiotics can also be prescribed. Antihistamines are used as mandatory therapy.
If the described treatment of allergic chronic tonsillitis did not give the necessary result, then we can talk about the removal of tonsils.
Local treatment is also prescribed: the use of antiseptics to rinse the pharynx, treatment of tonsils with sodium tetraboord during the period of exacerbation of the disease.
Alternative methods in this situation can not only not be beneficial, but also harm, exacerbating 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 your doctor.
Well-available drugs such as iodine, salt, soda have proven themselves perfectly. 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 salt. Mix, dissolve and rinse everything with the prepared liquid several times a day. It is important that the solution enters the back of the throat. Each time a fresh solution should be prepared.
When is it better to remove tonsils?
To answer this question, it is necessary to consider the development of allergic tonsillitis in the context of a malfunction of the immune system. Palatine tonsils are not the only lymphoid formations in the pharynx. They form part of the Pirogov-Waldeyer lymphadenopathic pharyngeal ring.
This is the same powerful barrier that prevents the penetration of airborne infections.
With tonsillitis, the lymphoid tissue becomes inflamed, hypertrophied. Perhaps her scarring. The disease will proceed with a variety of complications. At the same time, hypertrophied tonsils will not be the main cause of frequent diseases.
Moreover, the proliferation of lymphoid tissue acts as a compensatory mechanism. This indicates that the glands are functioning.
With the loss of tonsils, the infection will be able to calmly move lower, so a person is increasingly sick with tracheitis, bronchitis. It is worthwhile to understand that in some situations radical surgery is necessary.
The main stages of the treatment of allergic tonsillitis:
- Allergen detection.
- The use of antihistamines to suppress an allergic reaction.
- The use of inhalation, lubrication of the throat and tonsils to relieve inflammation.
- Take remedies for concomitant infection.
- Take vitamin complexes. Special attention should be paid to vitamin C.
Physiotherapy
Sometimes prescribed physiotherapy, which can give good results:
- Ultrasound Therapy
- UV exposure.
- Ultrahigh-frequency inductothermy.
- Microwave therapy.
Similar methods are contraindicated in cases of suspected cancer pathology and cancer.
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, it is necessary to take preventive measures:
- Pay more attention to immunity.
- Avoid damage to the tonsils with a cold wind.
- Do not eat too coarse or dry food.
- Protect yourself from contact with sick people.
- Wear protective masks during epidemics.
- Temper the body.
- Compliance with 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.