Anatomy:

The palatine tonsils are the submucosally situated aggregates of lymphoid tissue. They are located in the posterior one third of the tongue.

Tonsillitis:

It simply refers to the inflammation of the tonsils due to any cause. It can be

• Acute or
• Chronic

Acute tonsillitis:

It is one of the most common complaint with which a patient presents to the e.n.t out patient.

Causes:

• Age: most common in the age group of under 15, no age is an exempt.
• Sex: there is no sex predisposition, males and females are equally affected.
• Predisposing factors:

1. Preexisting infections of the upper respiratory tract.

2. Preexisting chronic tonsillitis.

3. Post nasal discharge due to chronic tonsillitis.

4. General lowering of resistance.

5. Ingestion of cold drinks.

6. The infection can be contracted from other individuals who have the infection.

Causative organisms:

Streptococcus, staphylococcus, diphtheroids are the most common causative organisms.

Symptoms:

• Raw sensation in the throat.
• Pain in the throat which is aggravated by swallowing.
• Refusal to eat: this is because the child has difficulty in swallowing (odynophagia).
• Voice may become thick and muffled due to thick secretions and impeded movements of the palate.
• Fever may accompany an attack of acute tonsillitis.
• The attack usually lasts for about 6-7 days.

Complications:

• Peritonsillar abcess (quinsy) may develop.
• Laryngeal oedema can occur in young individuals.
• It may act as a focus of infection and aggravate conditions such as sub acute bacterial endocarditis, acute nephritis etc.

Treatment:

• Bed rest and soft diet.
• Antibiotics, analgesics to control the fever and pain respectively.
• Warm saline gargles are soothing to the patient.
• Lozenges with local anaesthetic action may be comforting.