tonsillitis
- Overview
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Complications
- Homoeopathic Treatment
- Do's and Don'ts
- Diet and Nutrition
What is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is the inflammation of tonsils caused by viral or bacterial infection and is one of the commonest diseases seen all over the world.
About 11.76% of general population is currently suffering from tonsillitis. Click to read on Causes of Tonsillitis.
Quick treatment for this condition is recommended since the tonsils form an important part of the defense mechanism of the body.
What Happens In Tonsillitis?
- Pain and soreness in throat
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Fever sometimes accompanied by chills
- Red, swollen tonsils
- General sense of being unwell
What Can Tonsillitis Lead To?
If not treated, Tonsillitis can complicate into:
- Quinsy (Infection of the area around the tonsils)
- Otitis media (Inflammation of the middle ear)
- Snoring
- Stones in the tonsils
How Well Homeopathy Works In Treatment of Tonsillitis
- Homeopathic treatment for tonsillitis has more than 100 preventive and curative medicines for Tonsillitis that work very well for persons of all ages.
- Every remedy is carefully prescribed on the basis of the patient's history and the correct homeopathic medicine can even prevent spread of infection.
Few of our amazing remedies for Tonsillitis include:
- Belladonna: Indicated in dry, congested red throat with tonsil enlarged, throat feels constricted; difficult deglutition; worse, liquids. Desire for cold water.
- Kali muriaticum: In cases of acute and chronic tonsillitis when the throat appears white or gray. Tonsils so enlarged, they touch each other called 'kissing tonsils'.
- Lachesis: Suited for left side throat pain with much hawking, aggravation by touch and hot drinks.
Tonsils play a vital role in protecting the body against harmful bacteria and viruses. However, when the immunity reduces, the tonsils fall prey to these infective organisms thereby resulting in swelling (inflammation) of the tonsils
Tonsillitis is much more than just a simple sore throat. It can be a source of danger for growing kids.
Homeopathic philosophy has always supported the fact that tonsils are an integral part of the body's immune system and should be saved from the surgeon's knife as far as possible.
Homeopathic medicines like Baryta Carbonica, Belladonna , Phytolacaa are very safe and effective in treating tonsil affections in children.
Symptoms of Tonsillitis of Acute type
- Pain in throat
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Fever, usually high, and may be accompanied by chills
- Pain in ears occasionally
- Other constitutional symptoms include malaise, headache, body ache
Signs
- Tonsils red and swollen with yellowish spots of purulent matter
- Oedema of uvula and soft palate
- Enlargement of lymph nodes
- Bad breath (halitosis)
Symptoms Of Tonsillitis of Chronic type
- Recurrent attacks of pain in throat
- Chronic irritation in throat with cough
- Hoarseness of voice with difficulty in swallowing and difficulty in breathing (choking spells)
- Bad breath
We are constantly exposed to different types of germs present in our homes, workplaces and other environmental settings. It is when our immunity falters that these germs begin to take effect in the body and cause diseases.
Most episodes of acute Tonsillitis are caused by viruses such as
- Herpes Simplex virus
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Cytomegalovirus
- Adenovirus
Bacterial infection of tonsils is mainly caused by Group A - Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus known as 'Strep Throat'.
Less common bacteria include Mycoplasma Pneumoniae and Corynebacterium Diphtheriae are also causes of tonsillitis.
Common complications of tonsillitis include:
- Acute Otitis Media sometimes fluid in the middle ear gets infected leading to pain.
- Quinsy (peri-tonsillar abscess) Infection may spread to adjacent tissues leading to abscess in throat.
- Sleep Apnoea- If the child has recurrent Tonsillitis, it may cause difficulty in breathing known as obstructive sleep apnoea.
- Tonsilolith (tonsils stone)- Sometimes, trapped bacteria, mucus and pus may get calcified and harden to form stones within the tonsils.
Certain other complications of tonsillitis occur when some underlying infection is left untreated. These include:
- Acute Rheumatic Fever- This is a disease affecting multiple organs including heart, joints, muscles as well as skin. This disease follows after throat infection with Streptococcus.
- Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis- This is a bacterial infection of the inner layer of the heart wall.
- Glomerulonephritis Infection in the kidney causing vomiting and loss of appetite.
Tonsils assist the body in its defense against incoming bacteria and viruses by forming antibodies, and so it is essential to healthily conserve them especially in the first 5 years of life. Today, tonsillitis is one of the commonest conditions seen and treated by homeopathic physicians today. Children especially get exposed to a number of factors such as sudden change of weather, cold food and drinks, polluted environment, overcrowding and poor personal hygiene because their immunity is still developing.
Homoeopathic treatment for Tonsillitis utilizes minute doses of well-researched remedies to enhance the body's natural healing process. It treats the patient as a whole through promotion of inner balance at mind, emotional and spiritual level by raising the quality of immunity.
There are more than 300 remedies in homeopathic treatment for tonsillitis of both, acute and chronic variety, as well as its various stages. The sooner homeopathic treatment for tonsillitis is begun, the better are the outcomes.
Have a glance at the variety of remedies in homeopathic treatment for tonsillitis.
TONSILLITIS, Chronic, recurrent: 2Alumn, 3Bar-c, 2Bar-m, 1Brom, 1Bry, 1Calc-f, 1Calc-p, 1Carc, 1Diph, 1Dys-co, 1Fuc, 1Graph, 1Guai, 2Hep, 1Kali-i, 1Lach, 1Lyc, 1Mez, 1Morg, 1Morg-g, 1Nat-m, 1Phyt,3Psor, 2Sang, 1Sep, 2Sil, 1Sul-i, 1Sulph, 1Syc-co, 1Syph, 1Thuj, 3Tub
TONSILLITIS, Cold, weather, every spell of: 1Bell, 1Calc, 2Dulc, 1Hep
TONSILLITIS, Extending, to: Nose: 3Nit-ac
- The remedy abbreviations with
- 4 marks- most effective,
- 3 marks- quite effective,
- 2 marks- less effective,
- 1 mark- least effective.
Do’s
- Salt water gargling is advisable as it relieves soreness of throat.
- Have plenty of fluids every day.
Don’ts
- Avoid oily, sour and cold foods and drinks.
- Avoid tonsillectomy as far as possible, until the condition is severe and recurrent.
- Under any circumstances, do not self-medicate.
Usually kids suffering from Tonsillitis avoid eating and drinking because of the pain.
- Eating soft foods like plain pasta, rice, yogurt and puddings are easy to swallow and provide relief too.
- Certain foods like citrus fruits, chilled or sour fruits and snacks should be avoided.
- Fluids like lukewarm water, lemon and honey juice will help to a greater extent.
- Multi-vitamins, especially the ones that contain vitamins C and E, selenium and zinc, are excellent choices.