Tonsillitis Explained - Causes And Tonsillitis Treatment
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils in the mouth and will often, but not necessarily, cause a sore throat and fever. Symptoms may also include pain in the tonsil area and inability to swallow (dysphagia) and/or painful swallowing (odynophagia). White spots may also appear on the tonsils. These white spots may be raised and they cannot be scraped off. Years ago, many young children had their tonsils removed. In fact, surgery was once the standard treatment for recurrent tonsillitis — inflammation of the tonsils caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
What are the symptoms?
* swollen, red tonsils (often coated with a yellow, gray, or white membrane)
* Ear pain
* Fever, chills
* Headache
* Sore throat - lasts longer than 48 hours and may be severe
* pain with swallowing
*loss of appetite
* Voice changes, loss of voice
Additional symptoms of tonsillitis in children include:
* nausea
* vomiting
* abdominal pain
The symptoms of tonsillitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
What is the cause of the disease?
The herpes simplex virus, Streptococcus pyogenes (GABHS) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and the measles virus cause most cases of acute pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis. Bacteria cause 15-30 percent of pharyngotonsillitis cases; GABHS is the cause for most bacterial tonsillitis. Whether due to viruses or bacteria, the infection is spread from person to person by airborne droplets, hand contact or kissing.
There are many different individual viruses and bacteria that can potentially cause tonsillitis. For example the Epstein-Barr virus, which is the cause of glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), is a common cause. It is typically seen in young people, particularly in situations such as university halls of residence when person-to-person spread is made easier by numerous close contacts.
How is Tonsillitis diagnosed?
Tonsillitis can be diagnosed by performing a rapid strep test, also called a throat culture. To perform the throat culture, the doctor will use a long cotton swab to swipe off some of the stuff on the surface of the back of your throat. The doctor will then test the "stuff" on the cotton swab. This test will determine whether you have tonsillitis and whether it is caused by a bacteria or a virus.
Treatment
If your tonsillitis is viral, you can take medication to relieve the symptoms, but only time will make the virus go away.
If your tonisillitis is bacterial, your doctor may treat you with antibiotics.
Preventing Tonsillitis
To prevent tonsillitis, avoid letting your child near anyone who already has tonsillitis or a sore throat. Make sure to practice good hand-washing habits, and teach your child to do the same. If you are concerned that your child has the symptoms of tonsillitis, or has been exposed to someone who has been infected, talk with your child's doctor.
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Natural Health Remedies For Sore Throat Relief
By JD Sanders
Sore throat - the most common contagious viral or bacterial infection... a tickling sensation that becomes sore, frustrating and eventually severely painful. Antibiotics can cure only bacterial sore throats but for viral based infections, antibiotics are of no use. However, natural remedies for sore throat can really do wonders with viral based infections. You will get pain relief usually within an hour or two by using these natural health remedies for sore throats, but sometimes it may take a little more time.
Most natural health remedies boost our body's natural resistance power to combat infections and to support our immune system. To lessen the symptoms of an irritated sore throat and speed the healing, these natural health remedies for sore throat can be easily and effectively used at home.
1. First of all, increase your liquid intake as it helps to hydrate dry mucous membranes and keeps your throat coated with moisture. Mild, warm and soothing drinks like ginger n honey tea, holly basil n clove tea, decaffeinated coffee, and warm water with lemon and honey are some of the best natural health remedies for sore throats.
2. Use a humidifier in your room as dry air irritates sore throat. Humidifier reduces the irritation by adding moisture to the air.
3. One of the best known natural health remedies for sore throat is gargling. Gargling with a mild mixture of salt or 4-6 drops of grapefruit seed extract and warm water, sage or raspberry leaf tea or other herbal teas, several times a day, will ease sore throat pain, reduce the inflammation and hydrate dry tissues.
4. Some aroma oils like tea tree, geranium, lemon, cypress or bergamot essential oils can be taken as gargles with warm water and to moisten the irritated throat with a spoonful of honey.
5. Vitamin C is also a natural health remedy for sore throat. and is very helpful in speeding up the healing process for sore throat and it is recommended by doctors. Vitamin C enriched fruits like pineapple, oranges, lemons and limes contain natural anti-inflammatory agents and are also natural health remedies for sore throat.
6. Take two or more cloves crushed and two teaspoons of fresh holly basil leaves, then pour boiling water over them and steep for ten minutes. Strain the tea, add some honey and drink it. You can repeat it for a maximum of two to three days.
7. Natural health remedies for sore throat also include using the throat reflex points on your feet and both hands to heal sore throat by applying acupressure acupuncture or reiki techniques.
8. Steam inhalation for some minutes will help you breathe easier if you are feeling difficulty in taking a breath. Put 3 drops of tea tree oil, eucalyptus, rosemary or lavender oils in a bowl of boiling water and inhale deeply for 3-5 minutes.
9. Some of the herbs such as slippery elm, licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), cider vinegar, cedar, scallion, cayenne pepper, sage, honeysuckle flower and marshmallow root are also used as natural health remedies for sore throat.
10. Another natural health remedy for sore throat is a soothing hot cup of barrage tea, anise mint tea, fenugreek seed’s tea or a concoction of tea leaves, cinnamon or turmeric powder two or three times a day will also sooth, coat and protect the throat.
Luckily, most of these amazing herbs and natural ingredients are easily available in your home,at local markets or natural health food stores and make natural health remedies for sore throat convenient, easy and affordable.
This article is intended to provide assistance and information to people who are interested in learning more about natural remedies. It should not be used as a basis for any form of diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition. Always seek professional medical advice.
J. D. Sanders is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Natural Health Remedies. Where you can find even more information on treating various conditions the natural way for you to research at your leisure.
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