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1. Tonsillitis

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Abdiphitah Libain Nor
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15 views17 pages

1. Tonsillitis

Uploaded by

Abdiphitah Libain Nor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis, sometimes referred to as


pharyngitis, is inflammation of the
pharyngeal tonsils that may also extend
to the adenoids.
The condition can be acute, recurrent,
or chronic.
The uncomplicated acute form, which
often follows an upper respiratory
infection, usually lasts 4 to 6 days and
affects children between ages 5 and 10.
Chronic tonsillitis is persistent
infection of the tonsils.
CAUSES
Tonsillitis generally results from
infection with beta-hemolytic
streptococci but can also result from
other bacteria or viruses.
ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
The patient with acute tonsillitis may
complain of mild to severe sore throat.
In a child who is too young to complain
about throat pain, the parents may
report that the child has stopped
eating.
The patient or parents also may report
muscle and joint pain, chills, malaise,
headache, and pain that is frequently
referred to the ears.
Because of excess secretions, the
patient may complain of a constant
urge to swallow and a constricted
feeling in the back of the throat.
Such discomfort usually subsides after
72 hours.
Fever of 37.8 C or higher may be
present, and palpation may reveal
swollen, tender lymph nodes in the
submandibular area.
Inspection of the throat may reveal
generalized inflammation of the
pharyngeal wall, with swollen tonsils
that project from between the pillars of
the fauces and exude white or yellow
follicles.
Tonsillitis
Purulent drainage becomes apparent
when pressure is applied to the
tonsillar pillars.
The uvula may also be edematous and
inflamed.
Patients with chronic tonsillitis may
report recurrent sore throats and
attacks of acute tonsillitis.
They may present with purulent
drainage in the tonsillar crypts, foul
breath, and persistently tender cervical
nodes.
COMPLICATIONS
Chronic tonsillitis may result in chronic upper airway
obstruction, causing sleep apnea or sleep disturbances,
cor pulmonale, failure to thrive, eating or swallowing
disorders, and speech abnormalities.
Febrile seizures, otitis media,
cardiac valvular disease, abscesses,
glomerulonephritis, subacute
bacterial endocarditis, and
abscessed cervical lymph nodes
may also be noted.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Throat culture may reveal the infecting
organism and indicate appropriate
antibiotic therapy.
A complete blood count usually
reveals leukocytosis.
TREATMENT
Management of acute tonsillitis
stresses symptom relief and requires
rest, adequate fluid intake, aspirin or
acetaminophen and, for bacterial
infection, an antibiotic.
For infection with group A beta-
hemolytic Streptococcus, penicillin is
the drug of choice.
Erythromycin or another broad-
spectrum antibiotic may be given if the
patient is allergic to penicillin.
To prevent complications, antibiotic
therapy should continue for 10 days.
Patients with chronic tonsillitis or
complications may require
tonsillectomy but only after they are
free of tonsillar or respiratory tract
infections for 3 to 4 weeks.

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