Chronic tonsillitis (chronic tonsillitis) usually develops after an acute infection with streptococcus bacteria. Unlike acute tonsillitis, it does not completely disappear and may resurface, cause or worsen other conditions. Mostly, the only useful therapy is to remove the tonsils. Here you read everything important about the chronic tonsillitis.
Chronic tonsillitis: cause
In acute tonsillitis caused by streptococci, the immune system succeeds in most cases, the bacteria completely eliminate. However, if individual germs remain in the deep clefts or encapsulated herds in the palatine tonsils, an tonsillitis may become chronic. The body is thus exposed to a constant inflammatory process in the neck. In addition, individual bacteria sometimes spread through the bloodstream in the body and can cause a chronic inflammatory disease in another location.
Chronic tonsillitis: symptoms and diagnosis
If tonsillitis occurs more frequently, chronic tonsillitis may be present. In addition, persistent halitosis and permanently enlarged lymph nodes on the neck may indicate chronic tonsillitis. In most cases, chronic tonsillitis is accompanied by a reddened throat. Scars on the palatine tonsils indicate frequent inflammatory processes. The surface of the palatine tonsil seems to be very jagged and is often covered with a purulent secretion.
Even in the blood, chronic tonsillitis leaves a clue – the anti-streptolysin titer. It is an antibody which the immune cells produce against streptococci. This value decreases after an acute tonsillitis after some time again. However, if some bacteria survive the acute tonsillitis, the value may remain permanently elevated. In addition, one can detect elevated levels of inflammation in the blood.
In case of uncertain diagnosis, the doctor can use a cotton swab to remove a throat swab and have it examined in the laboratory. In the case of chronic tonsillitis, the streptococci typical of the disease are detected. However, abnormal values in the blood or throat swab may also occur in healthy people and have no further significance. Only if typical symptoms appear in addition to abnormal values, chronic tonsillitis could be present.
Chronic tonsillitis: differentiation to other diseases
However, there are other diseases that can cause similar symptoms to chronic tonsillitis. Thus, inflammation of the tooth roots, paranasal sinuses, middle ear, renal pelvis and bronchial tubes may also be chronic germplasm.
Chronic tonsillitis: episodes
Chronic tonsillitis can aggravate or trigger other chronic conditions. These diseases include:
- Hives (urticaria)
- bronchial asthma
- Psoriasis (Psoriasis vulgaris)
- Renal cell inflammation (glomerulonephritis)
- Myocarditis (myocarditis)
- Inflammation of the endocardium (endocarditis)
- Eye inflammation (iritis, chorioretinitis)
Chronic tonsillitis: therapy
A chronic tonsillitis can be treated only by an almond removal (tonsillectomy) meaningful. It must first be ruled out that the symptoms are really caused by chronic tonsillitis and not perhaps by another disease.
Surgical removal of tonsils is especially recommended when persistent tonsillitis causes or causes further diseases such as bronchial asthma and autoimmune diseases. These can also arise for other reasons and then disappear even after a tonsillectomy.
Most patients benefit from tonsillectomy. Nevertheless, the anti-streptolysin level remains elevated in approximately every second operated patient and therefore can not indicate the success of therapy.
Before an organ transplant should be a chronic tonsillitis be treated necessarily.