Tonsillitis
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
| Tonsillitis Classification and external resources | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Tonsils showing tonsillitis | |
| ICD-10 | J03., J35.0 |
| ICD-9 | 463 |
| DiseasesDB | 13165 |
| eMedicine | ent/314 |
| MeSH | D014069 |
|
WikiDoc Resources for Tonsillitis | |
|
Articles | |
|---|---|
|
Most recent articles on Tonsillitis Most cited articles on Tonsillitis | |
|
Media | |
|
Powerpoint slides on Tonsillitis | |
|
Evidence Based Medicine | |
|
Clinical Trials | |
|
Ongoing Trials on Tonsillitis at Clinical Trials.gov Clinical Trials on Tonsillitis at Google
| |
|
Guidelines / Policies / Govt | |
|
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Tonsillitis
| |
|
Books | |
|
News | |
|
Commentary | |
|
Definitions | |
|
Patient Resources / Community | |
|
Patient resources on Tonsillitis Discussion groups on Tonsillitis Patient Handouts on Tonsillitis Directions to Hospitals Treating Tonsillitis Risk calculators and risk factors for Tonsillitis
| |
|
Healthcare Provider Resources | |
|
Causes & Risk Factors for Tonsillitis | |
|
Continuing Medical Education (CME) | |
|
International | |
|
| |
|
Businness | |
|
Experimental / Informatics | |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils and will often, but not necessarily, cause a sore throat and fever.
Types
There are 3 main types of tonsillitis: acute, subacute and chronic. Acute tonsillitis can either be bacterial or viral in origin. Subacute tonsillitis (which can last between 3 weeks and 3 months) is caused by the bacterium Actinomyces. Chronic tonsillitis, which can last for long periods if not treated, is almost always bacterial.
Symptoms
Tonsillitis is characterized by red, swollen tonsils. White patches may or may not appear on the tonsils. Other signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include a severe sore throat, painful/difficult swallowing, headache, fever and chills, enlarged and tender lymph nodes, pain in the tonsil area, and loss of voice.
Causes
Bacterial tonsillitis may be caused by Group A streptococcal bacteria,[1] resulting in strep throat.[1] Viral tonsillitis may be caused by numerous viruses[1] such as the Epstein-Barr virus[1] (the cause of infectious mononucleosis)[1] or the Adenovirus.[1]
Sometimes, tonsillitis is caused by a superinfection of spirochaeta and treponema, in this case called Vincent's angina or Plaut-Vincent angina.[1]
Treatment
Treatments of tonsillitis consist of pain management medications[1] and lozenges.[1] If the tonsillitis is caused by bacteria,[1] then antibiotics are prescribed.[1] Penicillin is the most commonly used antibiotic.[1]
In many cases of tonsillitis, the pain caused by the inflamed tonsils warrants the prescription of topical anesthetics for temporary relief. Viscous lidocaine solutions are often prescribed for this purpose.
Ibuprofen or other analgesic can help to decrease the edema and inflammation which will ease the pain and allow the patient to swallow liquids sooner.[1]
When tonsillitis is caused by a virus, the length of illness depends on which virus is involved. Usually, a complete recovery is made within one week, however some rare infections may last for up to two weeks.
Chronic cases may indicate tonsillectomy (surgical removal of tonsils) as a choice for treatment.[1]
Also using warm water and salt solution, and gargling may help kill the infection, though it's not a strong treatment.[1]
Complications
An abscess may develop lateral to the tonsil during an infection, typically several days after the onset of tonsillitis. This is termed a peritonsillar abscess (or quinsy). Rarely, the infection may spread beyond the tonsil resulting in inflammation and infection of the internal jugular vein giving rise to a spreading septicaemia infection (Lemierre's syndrome).
In chronic/recurrent cases (generally defined as seven episodes of tonsillitis in the preceding year, five episodes in each of the preceding two years or three episodes in each of the preceding three years),[1][1][1] or in acute cases where the palatine tonsils become so swollen that swallowing is impaired, a tonsillectomy can be performed to remove the tonsils. Patients whose tonsils have been removed are certainly still protected from infection by the rest of their immune system.
Bacteria feeding on mucus which accumulates in pits (referred to as 'crypts') in the tonsils, produce whitish-yellow deposits known as tonsilloliths. These "tonsil stones" emit a very pungent odour due to the presence of volatile sulphur compounds.
Tonsilloliths which occur in the crypts of the tonsils can only be completely cured by tonsillectomy or by resurfacing the tonsil by laser, but practicing good oral hygiene and use of a water pick may help lessen the symptoms.
Hypertrophy of the tonsils can result in snoring, mouth breathing, disturbed sleep, and obstructive sleep apnea, during which the patient stops breathing and experiences a drop in the oxygen content in the bloodstream. A tonsillectomy can be curative.
In very rare cases, diseases like rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis can occur. These complications are extremely rare in developed nations but remain a significant problem in poorer nations.
References
External links
- Tonsillitis at NetDoctor.co.uk
- Tonsillitis
- Laser surgery for tonsil problems
- Tonsillitis at DrGreene.com
WikiDoc Research Resources for Tonsillitis | |
|---|---|
| Articles on Tonsillitis | Most recent articles on Tonsillitis • Most cited articles on Tonsillitis • Review articles on Tonsillitis • Articles on Tonsillitis in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ |
| Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Tonsillitis | Powerpoint slides on Tonsillitis • Images of Tonsillitis • Photos of Tonsillitis • Podcasts & MP3s on Tonsillitis • Videos on Tonsillitis |
| Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Tonsillitis | Cochrane Collaboration on Tonsillitis • Bandolier on Tonsillitis • TRIP on Tonsillitis |
| Cost Effectiveness of Tonsillitis | Cost Effectiveness of Tonsillitis |
| Clinical Trials Involving Tonsillitis | Ongoing Trials on Tonsillitis at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Tonsillitis • Clinical Trials on Tonsillitis at Google |
| Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Tonsillitis | US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Tonsillitis • NICE Guidance on Tonsillitis • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Tonsillitis • CDC on Tonsillitis |
| Textbook Information on Tonsillitis | Books and Textbook Information on Tonsillitis |
| Pharmacology Resources on Tonsillitis | Dosing of Tonsillitis • Drug interactions with Tonsillitis • Side effects of Tonsillitis • Allergic reactions to Tonsillitis • Overdose information on Tonsillitis • Carcinogenicity information on Tonsillitis • Tonsillitis in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Tonsillitis • |
| Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Tonsillitis | Genetics of Tonsillitis • Pharmacogenomics of Tonsillitis • Proteomics of Tonsillitis |
| Newstories on Tonsillitis | Tonsillitis in the news • Be alerted to news on Tonsillitis • News trends on Tonsillitis |
| Commentary on Tonsillitis | Blogs on Tonsillitis |
| Patient Resources on Tonsillitis | Patient resources on Tonsillitis • Discussion groups on Tonsillitis • Patient Handouts on Tonsillitis • Directions to Hospitals Treating Tonsillitis • Risk calculators and risk factors for Tonsillitis |
| Healthcare Provider Resources on Tonsillitis | Symptoms of Tonsillitis • Causes & Risk Factors for Tonsillitis • Diagnostic studies for Tonsillitis • Treatment of Tonsillitis |
| Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Tonsillitis | CME Programs on Tonsillitis |
| International Resources on Tonsillitis | Tonsillitis en Espanol • Tonsillitis en Francais |
| Business Resources on Tonsillitis | Tonsillitis in the Marketplace • Patents on Tonsillitis |
| Informatics Resources on Tonsillitis | List of terms related to Tonsillitis |
ar:التهاب اللوزتين
cs:Angína
da:Halsbetændelse
de:Tonsillitiseo:Tonsilito
fr:Amygdalite
hr:Tonzilitis
it:Tonsillite
nl:Tonsillitisqu:Amuqlli unquysv:Halsfluss
uk:Ангіна
| ||||
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
