For many parents, chronic tonsillitis in their children can be a cause for concern. Recurrent infections are frequently involved, which can be uncomfortable and detrimental to a child’s general health. It’s critical to understand how to handle and treat this problem if you want to keep your child healthy.
Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky has provided insightful advice on managing chronic tonsillitis. His hands-on methodology emphasizes treatment as well as prevention, assisting parents in determining the most effective ways to assist their kids.
In this piece, we’ll examine Dr. Komarovsky’s recommendations for diagnosing the condition, comprehending its causes, and successfully treating children’s chronic tonsillitis.
| Topic | Details |
| What is chronic tonsillitis? | Chronic tonsillitis is a long-term inflammation of the tonsils. It can cause recurring sore throats, difficulty swallowing, and swollen glands. |
| Dr. Komarovsky’s view | Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes the importance of proper treatment, focusing on improving immunity and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics unless absolutely needed. |
| Common causes | Chronic tonsillitis is often triggered by untreated infections, frequent colds, or a weakened immune system. |
| Treatment options | Treatment can include regular gargling, staying hydrated, and, in some cases, surgery to remove the tonsils if other methods don’t help. |
| Prevention tips | Dr. Komarovsky suggests boosting the child’s immune system with a balanced diet, outdoor activities, and good hygiene practices. |
According to Dr. Komarovsky, recurrent throat infections in children are frequently the cause of chronic tonsillitis, which results in ongoing tonsillitis inflammation. He stresses the significance of prompt diagnosis and suitable treatment, which may involve medication or, in certain situations, surgery. Effective management of the condition requires bolstering a child’s immune system and practicing good oral hygiene to avoid future flare-ups.
What is it?
Even though tonsillitis is the official medical term for angina, angina is not the same as chronic tonsillitis. While chronic tonsillitis arises from a long-term inflammatory process in the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, angina always has an acute course. This illness may result from a history of sore throat, measles, diphtheria, or scarlet fever. There are situations when acute tonsillitis precedes the development of chronic tonsillitis.
The illness may present as straightforward or complex.
We have ourselves a basic form if a child frequently complains of a scratchy or sore throat and has trouble swallowing. We can discuss a complex form of sore throat that is toxic-allergic if it is accompanied by frequent concurrent enlargement of the lymph nodes on the neck and under the jaw, fever, and pathologies of some internal organs, such as the heart, ear, or nasal sinuses.
The disease can be caused by a variety of pathogens:
- bacteria (pneumococci, moraxella, streptococci, staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae);
- viruses (adenoviruses, Coxsackie virus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes virus);
- fungi, chlamydia, mycoplasma.
A child who has an ongoing source of infection in their body, such as chronic oral cavity inflammation, dental caries, nasal sinus inflammation, or frequent labored breathing, is more likely to develop the disease. Children who are exposed to alcohol, chemicals, or strong allergens frequently develop chronic tonsillitis. Inhaling air that is contaminated and dusty raises the risk of contracting the illness.
Another factor is the immune system’s condition; if it is robust, there is a decreased chance of developing chronic tonsillitis. The likelihood of the illness increases if the infant frequently contracts respiratory viral illnesses. In addition, the child is once more at risk of hypothermia if he sits on cold surfaces.
Evgeny Komarovsky states that weakened local immunity, a viral infection in the child, and compromised mucous membrane protection are the causes of exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis. Saliva’s protective properties are also compromised if it is insufficient or has a thick consistency, allowing viruses and harmful bacteria to quietly carry out their "dirty work."
Symptoms
Physicians and parents can suspect chronic tonsillitis in children based on recognizable symptoms as well as the frequency of sore throat complaints. For a diagnosis of this kind to be recorded in the child’s medical file, two or three symptoms from the following list are typically sufficient:
- the palatine arches increase in size and thicken. In this state, they can be not only in the acute stage, when the throat really hurts, but also in a state of remission;
- adhesions appear between the tonsils and the palatine arches. This can be easily noticed by any pediatrician who looks into the child"s throat;
- the tonsils themselves can have a loose appearance. The second option is scars on the tonsils;
- caseous purulent plugs can form in the tonsil area, which look like white or yellowish-gray round spots, often filled with liquid pus;
- lymph nodes under the jaw and on the neck, which are responsible for draining lymph from the site of inflammation, are enlarged and painful with slight pressure.
Chronic tonsillitis is the "cause" of over a hundred distinct diseases that are known to medicine. Each of these concurrent illnesses has distinct symptoms that are unique to them. Nephropathy, hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, eczema, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatism are among the "gifts" of an active tonsillectomy.
Treatment
Although it is rare, chronic tonsillitis can be cured. The primary guidelines are that treatment needs to be systemic, dependable, and long-lasting.
For a child, conservative treatment is usually recommended. This involves giving the tonsils a few different rinses. Antibiotics may be recommended for the child if a bacterium is the cause of their tonsillitis. This must, however, only take place after the bacterial culture tests for sore throats are completed. The doctor will not be able to choose an antibacterial medication that will target this specific pathogen until they have determined which microbe is "guilty" of the illness.
Treatment courses are recommended for the child twice a year, preferably in the spring and fall. He may need up to four rounds of treatment in a year if he has complex chronic tonsillitis.
When recommending antiseptics, physicians frequently suggest Lugol’s solution. Like the majority of other antiseptics, this medication is ineffective for treating chronic tonsillitis, so Evgeny Komarovsky advises parents to refuse its use. Furthermore, Lugol’s solution poses a serious risk to the health of the child because the high concentration of iodine in it can disrupt the thyroid gland’s normal functioning.
According to Evgeny Komarovsky, none of the antiseptics that may be suggested for the treatment of tonsils have a discernible impact on the healing process. Antibiotics must be used in the event that the bacterial cause of the inflammation is identified. If viruses are the cause, then special medication treatment is not necessary.
For a child suffering from chronic tonsillitis, parents’ saliva is the best medicine, so they should focus all of their efforts on boosting local immunity. In order to keep saliva from desiccating, Komarovsky suggests:
- to sanitize the oral cavity, by visiting a dentist;
- monitor the drinking regimen – a child with such an ailment should drink a lot and often warm drinks;
- put the microclimate in the apartment in order. Local immunity will work as it should, and saliva will not dry out if the baby does not breathe dry air and sleep in a room with three heaters and a tightly closed window. The best conditions are air temperature – 18-20 degrees, relative air humidity – 50-70%;
- walk more often in the fresh air, remove from the house all things that can accumulate dust and pollute the air – soft toys, carpets, books that are not stored behind tightly closed cabinet doors;
- do not use household chemicals containing chlorine.
Thankfully, children are only occasionally given surgical treatment. Surgery may be necessary to remove the palatine tonsils if there is a significant proliferation. Tonsillotomy or tonsillectomy is the term used for this procedure. The tonsils that are infected are removed either entirely or partially by the surgeon during the procedure.
There aren’t many reasons why surgery is necessary: severe internal organ complications, total loss of tonsil protection. The recovery period is fairly short, and the operation is not categorized as complex. Following it, the prognosis is typically favorable.
In the next video, Dr. Komarovsky will go into further detail regarding the removal of tonsils in children who have tonsillitis as well as the illness itself.
Although chronic tonsillitis in children can be difficult to treat, it is treatable with the correct support and care. To boost the immune system and lessen flare-ups, Dr. Komarovsky stresses the value of maintaining good hygiene, a balanced diet, and a healthy lifestyle.
It’s important to see a doctor if your symptoms don’t go away so you can discuss your options for treatment, which may include medication or, in extreme situations, surgery. Frequent examinations can aid in keeping an eye on the illness and avert complications.
In the end, even with chronic tonsillitis, a child can lead a healthier and more comfortable life if parents are composed and supportive and follow medical advice.
