Pain in the tonsils and throat? this is the cause

Tonsillitis is a condition of tonsils or tonsils that are swollen due to inflammation due to disease germs. Despite the discomfort, tonsillitis is rarely a serious disease. This condition can occur in patients of any age, but is mostly found in young children to adolescents.

What causes swollen tonsils?

Almost anyone has experienced this sore throat. But keep in mind, that the function of the tonsils is to support the body's immune system by protecting the body from infection that will enter the body through the mouth. Now when the tonsils or tonsils themselves are infected, they become inflamed which causes swollen tonsils.

Symptoms that are usually shown when the tonsils are inflamed include fever, the onset of sore throat and pain when swallowing, and a reddish color.

These swollen tonsils can occur due to several things, such as viruses and bacteria. The viruses that cause inflammation of the tonsils are the same viruses that cause coughs and flu. Meanwhile, the bacteria that cause tonsillitis are generally streptococcus bacteria.

There are several other things that cause this condition to occur, namely:

1. Acid reflux disease (GERD)

The food you eat, from your throat to your stomach, has to pass through a long, connecting tube known as the esophagus. This muscle in the form of a valve in the esophagus prevents the backflow of food from the stomach back into the throat.

However, when the valve in the esophageal muscle doesn't work properly, by blocking the way so food doesn't return to the throat, your stomach acid flows into the esophagus, then irritates the esophageal wall. This condition became known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

A study conducted by the American Academy of Otolaryngology revealed that acid reflux disease (GERD) can trigger swollen tonsils. The study was supported by Doctor Michael Friedman, who said that this condition could occur because stomach acid has the same effect as other disease causes on the tonsils.

2. Smoking habits

A study conducted in Colorado showed that there was an association between smoking behavior and enlargement of the tonsils. This condition is predicted to occur as a reaction from the tonsils to the chemical reactions contained in cigarettes.

How is strep throat different from sore tonsils?

Sometimes, a sore throat and pain when swallowing food are often considered symptoms of tonsillitis. Likewise, the symptoms of swollen tonsils are also often taken lightly as a sore throat. However, did you know that the two are different?

Yes, indeed a sore throat, in this case sore throat, is closely related to the condition of swollen tonsils. Although at first glance the two of them have almost the same symptoms, strep throat is a different disease. What is the difference?

What is laryngitis?

Sore throat, the medical term is called pharyngitis. Sore throats that are caused are often caused by infection with various viruses or infection with Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. Usually, people who experience sore throat will experience pain in the throat area, to be precise in the larynx, pharynx and tonsil glands.

This condition for the people of Indonesia is often referred to as internal heat. Sore throat will make you feel uncomfortable because your throat is sore or hot, making it difficult for you to swallow food.

What is tonsillitis?

Inflammation of the tonsils is inflammation that occurs in the tonsil glands, which is one of the glands that functions as the body's defense system to catch and kill germs in the respiratory tract. The common cause is a viral infection and the rest is caused by bacteria.

Some viral infections that often cause swollen tonsils include influenza, coronavirus, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus. However, make no mistake, this condition can also be caused by bacteria from group A Streptococcus, which also causes sore throat.

How do you distinguish between sore throat and tonsillitis pain?

Although these two diseases are both painful and uncomfortable in the throat, there are several symptoms that can differentiate between sore throat and tonsils. People who experience sore throat generally feel:

• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Muscle ache
• Itching in the throat
• Pain and difficulty swallowing
• Red throat

Meanwhile, people who experience inflammation of the tonsils generally feel:

• Fever
• White or yellow discoloration in or around the tonsils
• Redness and swelling of the tonsils
• Pain and difficulty swallowing

Treatment for sore throat and tonsillitis

The best way to distinguish and treat these two types of inflammation is to see a doctor right away. Knowing the cause of a sore throat will really help you to cure the disease. After seeing the doctor, you can also do the following things.

Sore throat

There are several ways you can reduce the symptoms of a sore throat, including:

• Gargle while looking up (in order to hit the throat) with warm salt water to relieve swelling in the throat. However, don't swallow the water.
• Drink lots of water, especially if you have a fever. Adequate water intake can increase your body's resistance to fighting fever.
• Do not smoke and avoid smoky environments.
• Do not consume drinks or foods that are too hot and hard-textured.

A sore throat usually clears up on its own in less than a week. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen.

However, if your condition does not improve for more than 7 days and is accompanied by a fever above 38 ° C, consult a doctor immediately so that it does not get worse.

Tonsillitis

Although most of these conditions are not classified as serious, you are still advised to see a doctor if you experience symptoms that last more than 4 days and do not show signs of recovery, or if the symptoms are getting worse.

If this condition is caused by bacteria, doctors will usually give antibiotics to eliminate the infection. But if it is caused by a virus, then try to drink lots of water, eat soft foods, and be given drugs to reduce symptoms such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.

In some cases that are classified as severe, frequent recurrences, or cannot be treated with medication, doctors are usually forced to perform tonsillectomy to overcome this.

What should be done tonsillectomy?

Tonsil surgery is becoming a common practice among children, although some adults also do it. Surgery to remove swollen tonsils is also safe and commonly performed. However, nowadays, many doctors prefer to wait and use tonsillectomy only in certain cases.

Tonsil surgery, also known as a tonsillectomy, is a surgical procedure that aims to treat tonsillitis or chronic inflammation of the tonsils.

When infected, the tonsils will usually become swollen and there is discomfort in the throat. In most cases, this problem can be cured with antibiotics. However, if the condition worsens and becomes chronic, the patient is advised to undergo surgery for the tonsils to be completely removed.

Tonsillectomy can be performed in two methods. However, the more commonly used method is bipolar diathermy dissection, as it reduces the risk of bleeding.

This method is done by using electric forceps to close the blood vessels between the tonsils and the muscles around them. Then, the tonsils will be removed one by one. So this method is used to completely remove the swollen tonsils, to ensure that no tissue is left behind.

Meanwhile, another method is to use the intracapsular method. This method uses an electric probe to break down and destroy the proteins in the tonsil tissue.

The probe contains a salt solution that is heated with an electric current, so that it can destroy the glands in the lining of the tonsils. This method has less risk of damaging the muscles and blood vessels around your tonsils and throat.

Tonsil surgery is performed when you experience the following:

• You have tonsillitis five to seven times a year.
• You begin to have difficulty breathing.
• You often snore when you sleep at a loud volume.
• Your tonsils are bleeding.
• You have difficulty swallowing food, especially meat
• You have cancer in the tonsils, you also have to do tonsillectomy
• Surgery will be performed, if the area around your tonsils becomes infected and forms a pocket of pus, it is called an abscess
• The doctor will recommend surgery if the antibiotic drugs are no longer able to treat the bacteria.
• There is a tumor although this condition is rare.

Before performing surgery, your doctor may ask you to weigh how much this infection will affect the life of you or your child.

For example, some parents choose the way of tonsillectomy when their child starts getting sick continuously, which interferes with school activities.

Or adults who may want to consider surgery because recurring infections will affect their sleep. With consideration and influence on your life, tonsillectomy can be done according to time and purpose on yourself.

Natural tonsil remedies that you can try at home

Here are some tonsil remedies that are easy to find at home to relieve inflammation due to swollen tonsils, including:

1. Salt water

The easiest way to treat tonsils from natural ingredients is by gargling with warm salt water. The warm water has a calming effect on the tonsils, while the salt acts as a natural antiseptic which helps reduce inflammation by killing viruses and bacteria.

You can mix a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Then rinse your mouth with the solution, but make sure you don't swallow it.

2. Lemon juice and honey

The health benefits of lemon are not in doubt. Lemon has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective in treating infections and inflammation. In addition, the vitamin C content in it can increase immunity against infection.

As a tonsil remedy, which is made from natural ingredients, you can use a squeeze of lemon juice (1 piece), a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water. Stir until all mixed, then drink slowly. Do this routine twice a day to speed healing,

3. Garlic

As a tonsil remedy that has been used for thousands of years, garlic is believed to strengthen the immune system because it is rich in antioxidants and antibacterial and antiviral compounds making it effective against viruses caused by colds, flu, and tonsillitis.

One way to use garlic as a natural tonsil remedy is to eat whole garlic. However, if you can't stand the smell and the pungent taste of garlic, you can mix it with herbal teas.

To do this, boil two garlic cloves that have been mashed for 5 minutes (use one cup of water). Then remove and strain the garlic water. To give it a sweet taste, you can add a teaspoon of honey.

4. Cinnamon

Not only as a cooking spice or cake, cinnamon can also be a natural tonsil remedy. This is because cinnamon is rich in anti-microbial properties so that it can inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that are attached to the tonsils. That way, cinnamon helps reduce swelling, pain and inflammation.

To get the benefits, add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to a glass of hot water. After that, mix in two teaspoons of honey. As long as the drink is hot, inhale the moisture, and once the water has warmed you can drink it. You can drink this natural herb 2-3 times a day for a week.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is a type of spice that is useful as a powerful anti-inflammatory and natural antiseptic. So do not be surprised, if turmeric is able to help fight infection and can relieve the symptoms of tonsillitis which is very disturbing your swallowing activities.

If you are one of those people who likes to consume milk, you can add a glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a sip of black pepper. Drink this turmeric concoction at night for 2-3 days in a row. This method is believed to be effective as a natural tonsil remedy.

Apart from using the several types of tonsillitis described above, you should also pay attention to your food intake if you are experiencing tonsillitis. Avoid oily foods such as fried foods and coconut milk. Then get plenty of rest and make sure if you are well hydrated so as not to exacerbate inflammation so that it can speed up the healing process.

Also do the following when you have tonsillitis

1. Take a break

When the body, especially the tonsils and throat are inflamed, you should first rest at home. The reason is, resting can speed up the healing process. An infected body needs a lot of energy to fight bacteria.

Therefore, try not to do excessive activities such as work, school, or sports until you recover.

2. Eat soft foods

This condition generally makes you lazy to eat because it is difficult to swallow. To work around this, choose foods that are soft, soup, and easy to swallow. Foods such as porridge, soup, steamed rice, or mashed potatoes (mashed potato) can be your choice.

Avoid fried or spicy foods first, because these foods can irritate the organs in your throat even more.

3. Take pain relievers

If the pain in the throat is unbearable, you can take pain relievers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. For children under five years, first consult with your pediatrician about what pain relievers are safe for consumption.

4. Drink a lot

Keep your throat moist. Dry tonsils will feel even more sore. So, make sure you drink lots of water to maintain hydration. You can drink warm water to calm your throat. However, cold water is also good for pain relief. You can choose for yourself which one is most comfortable for your throat.