It doesn't just happen to children: tonsils can become inflamed at any age. Tonsils we actually have different types, different according to their position ( palatine - the tonsil for antonomasia - lingual, placed on the base of the tongue and pharyngeal, which occupies the retronasal cord) but all arranged between the mouth and the throat, to form the so-called " Waldeyer ring ".
They are the most important sentinels, who first defend the throat from external attacks and, when the attack begins, they act like this: they become swollen, red, painful .
Let's look at the causes and remedies for inflamed tonsils.
The inflamed tonsils: causes
Sometimes the tonsils themselves become infected and inflamed, a condition known as tonsillitis . The inflamed tonsils are very common in children , and inflammation can be occasional or recurrent, with high frequency and, in extreme cases of severe recurrent inflammation, the doctor may even decide for their surgical removal .
The most common causes of inflamed tonsils are viral or bacterial infections : bacterial infections as the cause of inflamed tonsils, these are bacteria: Haemophilus influentiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia.
Viral infections as the (most common) cause of inflamed tonsils, these are the viruses: Adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, Epstein-Barr virus, Enterovirus, Herpes simplex virus, Coxsackievirus.
The inflammation of the tonsils causes fever, pain, breathing difficulties and, in case of Coxsackievirus infection, there are blisters and lesions. In children there may also be nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
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The inflamed tonsils: remedies
Treatments for inflamed tonsils depend closely on the causes, to determine which physicians require a test with throat swab and cell culture . In the case of a negative test for bacteria, a viral infection is supposed to occur.
If the causes are bacterial, the classic remedy is antibiotics . The pharmacological path is more difficult in case of viral infection.
Natural remedies can in any case accelerate healing and alleviate the most annoying symptoms . Let's see the main ones:
- Gargle with hot water and salt : half a tablespoon of salt in a glass of water. Allow the salt to dissolve. Gargle several times a day.
- Drink water often , lukewarm drinks . Frequently consume soups.
- The use of echinacea can be very useful to stimulate the immune system, prevent and reduce infection.
- Homeopathic remedies for inflamed tonsils: Hepar Sulfuricum for "pin" pain; Mercurius solubilis in case of fever; Baryta carbonica in case of excessive swelling of the tonsils, which in some cases seem almost to touch.
- Eliminate white sugar from the diet: it is related to the decrease in the absorption of minerals and vitamins, in addition to the reduction of the organism's immune response capacity .
- No to sugary drinks, green light for fruit and vegetable centrifuges.
