What are tonsils needed for? Tonsils and tonsils - what is the difference? Adenoids, tonsils, tonsils. Treatment methods for tonsils

However, not everyone knows where the tonsils are and why they are needed. This is an important organ of the immune system that first responds to infections of the throat and sinuses. It is necessary to understand in more detail the anatomy and functions of this organ in order to be able to recognize diseases of the tonsils in time.

You can only see the palatine tonsils in the mirror

The tonsils, or tonsils, are an important organ of the immune system. They are a collection of lymphoid tissue in the upper part of the nasopharynx. Many are sure that there are only two of them, but this is not so. A person has as many as six tonsils:

• pair of palatines;
• one nasopharyngeal;
• a pair of pipes

These organs got their name because of their external resemblance to almonds. The tonsils are elongated oval growths of lymphoid tissue. A person can only see the palatine tonsils on their own, however, they are the ones that most often become a target for viruses and bacteria that cause tonsillitis or tonsillitis.

Note! People often confuse adenoids and tonsils, or believe that they are the same thing. This is partly true - an enlarged nasopharyngeal tonsil is called adenoids.

Tonsils play an important role in the body. They are a component of the lymphoepithelial barrier in which lymphocytes are formed and mature. Antibodies are also produced here, which the immune system opposes to various diseases. In other words, tonsils perform a protective function in the body, along with regional lymph nodes, ensuring the functioning of humoral immunity.

In addition, the tonsils represent the body's first line of defense against pathogens that enter the body through the air. It is the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharynx that “filters” the air, preventing bacteria and viruses from penetrating vital organs. This also explains why, when immunity deteriorates, the tonsils are the first to suffer, for example, as a result of ARVI.

The mechanism of tonsil development is interesting. A person is born with these lymphoid formations, which in the first years of life rapidly increase in size and actively perform a protective function. Most often, children encounter diseases of this organ, since the tonsils take on any infectious load. But starting from adolescence, their size gradually decreases; in adults, lymphoid tissue is gradually replaced by connective tissue. That is why sore throat in children occurs quite often, and then the person “outgrows” this disease.

Where are the tonsils located?

The next question that needs to be addressed is where the tonsils are located. The exact location depends on the organ in question. It’s quite clear what the tonsils look like in the photo. You can only examine the palatal pair yourself. Interestingly, not all tonsils are paired. There are two pairs of formations and two single organs.

In childhood, the palatine tonsils are susceptible to inflammation more often than in adults

The palatine tonsils are the largest and are easy to examine independently. To understand what the tonsils look like, just open your mouth wide and examine the visible part of the pharynx in the mirror.

A characteristic feature and difference between this pair and the others is the presence of indentations or lacunae. They cause the greatest discomfort during tonsillitis, since purulent contents accumulate in them and plugs form.

This couple is most susceptible to various diseases. Pathologies of the palatine tonsils are most often diagnosed in children. A child’s tonsils look larger than those of an adult and are more actively involved in the functioning of the immune system. During inflammation, either one or both tonsils can be affected.

Tubal tonsils

Another paired organ is the tubal tonsils. They are located on the lateral walls of the nasopharynx. These are small formations of lymphoid tissue, “hidden” in the pharyngeal recesses on the right and left.

Tubal tonsils can become enlarged and inflamed in response to infection. Swelling of this organ leads to breathing problems and can cause otitis and sinusitis.

Nasopharyngeal tonsil

This organ is located in the center of the upper nasopharynx. It can become inflamed and swollen, leading to breathing problems and wheezing. Pathological enlargement of this organ causes otitis media and sinusitis. Most often the problem occurs in young children. Enlargement of this tonsil is called adenoids. Starting from adolescence, the organ decreases in size.

Lingual tonsil

Perhaps this is the most “problem-free” amygdala. It is located at the root of the tongue. It has a lumpy structure and looks like a small tubercle. Diseases of this organ are very rare and are accompanied by pain when chewing and talking.

What healthy tonsils look like

This is what the tonsils of a healthy person look like

The palatine tonsils are commonly called tonsils. Interestingly, this term is not used in official medicine and is considered a colloquial name for tonsils.

You should understand what healthy tonsils look like in order to be able to suspect the onset of the disease in time.

To examine the organ, just take a cosmetic mirror (preferably with magnification), open your mouth wide, press your tongue with a spoon and examine the upper part of the nasopharynx. A photo will help you better understand what healthy tonsils look like.

Normally, these are small almond-shaped formations, pink in color and slightly lumpy in structure. They do not extend beyond the arches of the pharynx.

Note! In some people, the tonsils may be slightly enlarged from birth - this is completely normal and is an individual feature.

A healthy organ has no signs of inflammation - swelling, redness, severe lumpiness. Moreover, the mucous membrane around the immune system organ is also evenly colored and not inflamed. Normal tonsils look healthy - they have no visible grooves, spots, or plaque.

A person’s tonsils are located at the beginning of the nasopharynx, so they can become irritated with a severe runny nose, due to the fact that the discharge flows down the back wall of the throat. Thus, in some people they can react with inflammation even to a severe runny nose.

Having figured out where the tonsils are located in the neck and what they should look like in a healthy person, you should know in what cases the tonsils in the throat can become inflamed and how to recognize the disease.

Enlarged tonsils: causes and symptoms

The tonsils are located in such a place that they act as a barrier to any bacteria entering the body with air - this becomes clear if you see where they are in the photo. The organ traps pathogens and is therefore susceptible to various diseases. All pathologies of the tonsils are accompanied by their enlargement and swelling.

Enlarged tonsils may be a consequence of infection of the organ with bacteria, or an individual feature. There is also a disorder known as hypertrophy of the glands, a pathology in which the volume of lymphoid tissue in the organ increases. This increases the incidence of inflammatory diseases of the tonsils, as the organ becomes more vulnerable to infections.

Causes of enlargement and inflammation of the tonsils:

• infectious diseases;
• fungal infection of the oral and nasopharyngeal mucosa;
• sinusitis, otitis;
• decreased immunity.

Knowing where the tonsils are located, everyone will be able to detect the onset of the disease in a timely manner. Finding tonsils in the neck is very easy, and a change in their color or contours is the first symptom of the disease.

When the disease occurs, the tonsils become covered with a white coating.

Sore throat, or tonsillitis, is the most common disease of the tonsils. It occurs in two forms - acute and chronic. In the vast majority of cases, the disease is associated with infection of the tonsils by pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria due to decreased immunity. Children suffer from this disease more often than adults.

Typical symptoms (for acute form):

• sore throat when swallowing;
• temperature increase;
• general malaise;
• redness, enlargement and swelling of the tonsils;
• light plaque on the tonsils.

Having figured out what healthy tonsils look like and knowing that children are susceptible to tonsillitis, every parent will be able to promptly detect the disease in their child.

The chronic form of tonsillitis has more mild symptoms. Plaque and plugs in the lacunae can be observed constantly, but acute pain appears when immunity decreases.

The problem with tonsillitis is that it quickly becomes chronic, which is difficult to treat. Sometimes you have to take radical measures - surgical removal of the tonsils.

Pharyngitis

The tonsils are located in such a place that they can be “under attack” by an infection that affects the organs that are nearby. One example is pharyngitis. This disease is an inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa. The disease begins with a strong sore throat and a feeling of dryness. Quite often, the inflammation spreads to the tonsils, and then they swell and increase in size, so pain when swallowing joins the symptoms. Pharyngitis may be accompanied by high fever.

Unlike “childhood” tonsillitis, pharyngitis most often affects not a child, but an adult. The cause of this disease is irritation of the larynx when inhaling cold or hot air, as well as smoking and a local decrease in immunity caused by the action of tar and other harmful substances released when a cigarette burns.

Other diseases

The main disease of the tonsils is tonsillitis. However, the tonsils can become swollen and inflamed due to other pathologies, including:

• sinusitis;
• otitis;
• stomatitis;
• caries;
• staphylococcal infection.

In the case of sinusitis, the tonsils become inflamed due to the entry of infected sinus contents into the throat. Otitis media in general is a consequence of adenoids, but can lead to inflammation of both the tonsils and sinuses.

Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral mucosa. If the disease remains untreated for a long time, the infection can spread to the tonsils.

Advanced caries is a common cause of inflammation of the oral cavity and tonsils. This is due to a general decrease in immunity against the background of a chronic focus of infection, and the subsequent spread of bacteria throughout the nasopharynx.

How to help yourself: first aid

Brewed chamomile flowers are good for relieving sore throats due to inflammation.

Having figured out where the tonsils are located and comparing photos of healthy tonsils with your own, it is easy to determine the beginning of the pathological process affecting this paired organ. In addition, any disease of the tonsils begins with difficulty swallowing and sore throat. To make an accurate diagnosis, you should consult a doctor. However, before visiting a specialist, you can try to reduce symptoms with rinses and antiseptic sprays.

For gargling use:

• Chlorophyllipt;
• Chlorhexidine;
• soda;
• salt;
• chamomile decoction;
• calendula decoction;
• Furacilin.

You can reduce discomfort with special lozenges for the treatment of throat diseases - these are the drugs Strepsils, Hexoral, Septefril, etc. Various sprays are widely used, for example, Givalex and analogues.

Professional treatment

The doctor will conduct an examination and take a swab from the throat to determine the nature of the disease. Then the patient is prescribed antiseptics and symptomatic treatment - immunostimulants, antipyretics, etc. In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed.

In the chronic form of the disease, as well as the formation of plugs in the lacunae, sanitation of the tonsils is prescribed - washing the recesses in which plaque accumulates. The procedure can be carried out with a special device or a curved syringe.

In the chronic form of the disease, physiotherapy is also indicated - UV irradiation, warm compresses and mud applications, UHF therapy. Washing and physiotherapy are prescribed in a course lasting at least 5 procedures. As a rule, the standard course of treatment consists of 10 procedures.

In severe cases, when conservative treatment is ineffective and tonsillitis regularly worsens, the patient may be advised to remove the tonsils.

Indications for removal of tonsils:

• frequent episodes of sore throat - more than 8 times a year;
• the presence of stones in the lacunae;
• tonsil abscess;
• breathing problems due to pathological enlargement of the tonsils.

The operation is also recommended for patients who often experience sore throat and are allergic to antibiotics, which makes treatment ineffective. At the same time, in most cases, regular washing of the lacunae and strengthening the immune system is enough to get rid of the disease over time.

Hardening the body is the best way to prevent future diseases

To keep your tonsils healthy, you need to pay attention to maintaining your immune system. Preventive measures are as follows:

• balanced diet;
• protection against hypothermia;
• avoiding cold drinks;
• timely detection and treatment of infectious diseases;
• regular sanitation of the oral cavity;
• rejection of bad habits.

Many people do not pay attention to dental health and hygiene, but caries and gum disease are one of the factors that increase the risk of developing tonsillitis and other diseases. In addition, it is important to remember that acute tonsillitis is not as dangerous as chronic, of course, subject to timely treatment. Therefore, at the first signs of inflammation, you should consult a doctor and strictly follow the treatment recommendations.

Inflammation of the tonsils is a very common situation that requires proper treatment.

Since in the absence of adequate therapy it tends to become chronic and it will be extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to cope with it completely.

In this case, inflammation of the tonsils is especially common in children, since they are more defenseless against numerous viral and bacterial attacks than adults with developed immunity. This requires an immediate response, because the risk of complications in children is much higher.

Functions, structure and purpose of tonsils in humans

By their nature, they represent lymphoid tissue, which is a source of lymphocytes - blood cells that fight various infectious agents. These organs have a loose structure, which favors the retention of microbes in them.

There are several types:

Palatine, which are often called tonsils. They are located between the palatine arches in special tonsillar niches.

Tubular, localized in the pharynx. It is impossible to see them during a normal visual examination, but the inflammatory process affects them quite rarely.

Pharyngeal, located at the vault of the pharynx and called adenoids. Accordingly, when inflammation affects these tonsils, adenoiditis is diagnosed.

This pathology is mainly diagnosed in preschool children, but it often becomes chronic, so sometimes the fight against it continues until adolescence.

Lingual, located at the root of the tongue. Its defeat, as a rule, is observed exclusively in adults and then extremely rarely.

Tonsils are inflamed: causes

The main causes of tonsil inflammation lie in infectious diseases caused by viruses or bacteria.

These microorganisms enter the nasopharynx or oral cavity through the most common airborne route and can linger on the surface of the mucous membrane, affecting it.

The most common reasons why these organs become inflamed are:

• staphylococci;
• streptococci;
• adenoviruses;
• herpes virus;
• hemophilus influenzae;
• mycoplasma, etc.

And although representatives of pathogenic microflora are always present in the surrounding air in greater or lesser quantities, a person may not always get sick.

This is facilitated by a combination of circumstances, such as contact with an infectious agent and a decrease in natural defenses, which may be due to:

• severe hypothermia;
• recent illness or exacerbation of chronic pathology;
• low quality nutrition, which can hardly be called balanced and sufficiently covers the need for vitamins and minerals;
• damage to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
• stress.

Sore throat - an acute inflammatory process in the tonsils, which can occur with varying degrees of intensity. Therefore, catarrhal, follicular and lacunae tonsillitis are distinguished.

For the first, only slight tissue swelling, low temperature and mild pain are typical. In the second case, the signs are clearly expressed, and on the surface of the mucous membrane of the organs

With lacunar angina, there is an accumulation of pus in special physiological recesses of the tonsils - lacunae, which is accompanied by the appearance of bad breath.

Chronic tonsillitis is a disease usually resulting from the lack of timely and complete treatment of sore throat. It is characterized by alternating periods of remission and exacerbations, which are accompanied by the formation of white plugs in the lacunae of the tonsils and mildly manifested symptoms.

Adenoiditis is inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil. The pathology is characterized by snoring, discomfort in the throat, mucus running down the back wall of the nasopharynx and a long, persistent course, with regular exacerbations.

Symptoms of inflammation of the tonsils. Where does it hurt?

The nature of the clinical picture directly depends on what causes the tonsils to become inflamed and which of them is affected. However, people almost always suffer from the fact that it hurts to swallow.

• fever, and indicators can vary from 37 to 40 ° C;
• swelling and redness of the mucous membrane of the affected organs;
• cough;
• runny nose (absolutely not typical for a sore throat);
• weakness and fatigue.

With herpes infection, patients complain of fever, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. And upon examination, on the surface of the mucous membrane of the tonsils and the back wall of the pharynx, you can notice numerous ones filled with liquid contents, which can subsequently rot or become crusted.

Damage to the lingual tonsil is characterized by:

• swelling of the tongue and discomfort when moving it;
• difficulty chewing food and swallowing;
• change in speech.

If the tonsils are inflamed, but the throat does not hurt or is not very disturbing, this may be a manifestation of chronic tonsillitis. This pathology often occurs without fever, since the body stops fighting the chronic source of infection.

Palatine tonsils: inflammation

It is the tonsils that are most often exposed to inflammatory processes. In such cases, either one of the forms of tonsillitis or chronic tonsillitis is diagnosed.

Since these pathologies are considered quite serious, they must be treated by a specialist. And in order for it to be as effective as possible, we recommend that you take a throat swab for bacteriological examination before your first visit.

This analysis will accurately determine the causative agent of the disease and help the doctor select the most effective therapy.

The tonsil is inflamed on one side

Sometimes only one of the tonsils becomes inflamed. A one-sided lesion indicates that the body is actively fighting the infection and has managed to suppress its spread.

However, in rare cases, this is a sign of neuritis of the facial nerve, inflammation of the lymph node or other pathologies,

Regardless of whether the tonsil is inflamed on the right or left side, treatment is carried out in accordance with the cause of the development of the pathological process.

Inflammation of the tonsils in a child

Inflamed tonsils in a child are not uncommon. In most cases, children are diagnosed with viral infections or sore throats.

In the first case, the baby remains cheerful and cheerful, despite the fever and discomfort in the throat, and his condition improves significantly already on the 3rd day. In the second, the symptoms of the disease are more pronounced and include:

• severe fever (up to 40 ° C);
• intense pain in the throat, making the act of swallowing very painful;
• severe weakness, tearfulness;
• heaviness of breathing;
• the appearance of white plaque on the tonsils.

With ARVI, parents can try to cope with the infection on their own. But a sore throat requires immediate contact with a pediatrician and strict compliance with all his instructions.

Somewhat less frequently, but still often, children suffer from adenoiditis. With it, the pharyngeal tonsil enlarges, which is accompanied by:

• snoring;
• discharge of green or yellow snot;
• headaches;
• worsening sleep;
• cough;
• nasal voice.

Adenoiditis is always treated under the supervision of a pediatric otolaryngologist.

When to see a doctor. Which specialist treats?

Treatment of such inflammatory processes is the prerogative of (ENT). It is recommended to contact this specialist when the first signs of disturbances appear, however, in the conditions of modern life this is almost impossible.

Therefore, a mandatory consultation with a doctor will be required if at least one of the following conditions is present:

• maintaining body temperature above 38 °C for longer than 3 days;
• a sharp deterioration in the patient's condition;
• the onset of improvement, suddenly replaced by deterioration;
• childhood;
• formation of purulent foci.

Tonsil inflammation treatment in adults

In most situations, treatment is carried out at home, with the exception of damage to the lingual accumulation of lymphoid tissue.

Self-medication is only permissible if you are absolutely sure of the viral nature of the inflammatory process, since with a bacterial infection such attempts can be not only ineffective, but also very dangerous.

Treatment is usually comprehensive and includes a number of medications aimed at eliminating the causes and symptoms of the infection.

But against the background of self-medication in the absence of improvement, prolonged persistence of high temperature and other above-mentioned conditions

To increase the effectiveness of therapy, patients are recommended to:

• drink as much warm drinks as possible, for example, herbal and traditional teas, broth, compotes, fruit drinks and water;
• maintain bed rest at least during the acute period of illness;
• eat as your appetite arises.

In severe cases, in the presence of large purulent formations, patients may be recommended to wash the tonsils in an ENT office.

If conservative therapy fails for a long time and the tonsils are seriously damaged, their removal is prescribed.

In most cases, the operation is performed for adenoiditis and chronic tonsillitis.

However, it is prescribed only as a last resort, when the inflammatory process threatens the patient with serious complications.

Drug treatment

The nature of treatment depends on the causes and localization of the pathological process. For viral infections, symptomatic therapy is sufficient, that is, helping to relieve the main manifestations of the malaise.

Medicines in the form of lozenges or sprays for sore throat (Strepsils, Orasept, Ingalipt, Decatylene, Givalex, Tantum-Verde, Gorlospas, Septolete, Lizak, Faringosept, Lysobakt, etc.).

Medicines of this kind help eliminate pain, and some additionally have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Gargling solutions(Givalex, Angilex, Furacilin or Streptocide solution, etc.). These medications are indispensable for the formation of plaque on the surface of the mucous membrane, since they contribute to the mechanical leaching of pus and dead cells.

Antipyretics(Panadol, Imet, Rapimig, Nurofen, Nise, Nimesil, Nimegesik, Efferalgan) are taken at elevated body temperatures.

For bacterial infections, antibiotics are required to quickly cure the disease and eliminate the risk of complications.

A specific medicine should be selected exclusively by a doctor based on the severity of the situation and the characteristics of the person contacting him.

Initially, the patient is prescribed drugs for topical use (Isofra, Polydexa, Rinil). If their effectiveness is low, systemic antibiotics of the penicillin group are recommended:

• Augmentin;
• Flemoxin;
• Ospamox;
• Amoxiclav;
• Amoxicillin;
• Wilprafen et al.

If there is no effect after 3-4 days of treatment, they are replaced by representatives of the tetracycline group (Tetracycline, Doxy-M, Doxycycline, Unidox Solutab, etc.) or macrolides (Sumamed, Hemomycin, Azithromycin, Azivok, Azitral, etc.).

In difficult situations, when antibiotics do not give the expected results, a bacteriological examination of a throat smear is carried out to accurately determine the causative agent of the disease and its sensitivity to various drugs.
For bacterial infections, the above-mentioned means of symptomatic therapy and gargling are also necessarily used.

In this case, you can add a few drops of iodine and soda, which will increase its antibacterial properties.

How to treat at home? Folk remedies

Treatment with folk remedies can be perceived exclusively. The most effective way to eliminate discomfort in the throat is gargling.

Here are a few recipes for the best way to gargle:

Sea salt solution. Take a teaspoon of salt for 200 ml of warm boiled water and thoroughly dissolve it. It is recommended to repeat the procedure up to 5 times a day.

Infusions of medicinal herbs(chamomile flowers, calendula, string grass). A tablespoon of the selected plant material or mixture is brewed in a mug of boiling water. It is advisable to cover the container with a lid. After the infusion has cooled to room temperature, gargle thoroughly several times a day.

Lemon juice solution. Squeeze 3 tablespoons of lemon juice into 200 g of warm water. The procedure is performed 2–3 times a day.

How to treat inflamed tonsils in children?

The nature of therapy is determined based on the reasons that caused inflammation of the tonsils in the child’s throat.

1. For ARVI remedies for sore throat, antipyretics and gargling solutions are prescribed.
2. For bacterial infections treatment is selected by a pediatrician. Only a doctor can say exactly what to do in this situation and prescribe the appropriate medications. Usually, in addition to medications that relieve symptoms, it includes antibiotic therapy.
3. For adenoiditis therapy is longer and more complex. It usually includes drugs from the corticosteroid group (Nasonex, Flixonase, etc.), vasoconstrictor drops and sprays (Rinazolin, Nazivin, Xylometazoline, Rinazoline), as well as antimicrobial agents (Protargol, Collargol, Deflu-Silver, etc.).

In order not to make a mistake with the diagnosis, parents should know what to look for if discomfort in the child’s throat occurs. For cases requiring mandatory consultation with a doctor, the presence is typical.

Tonsils begin to develop in a baby as soon as he is born and stop developing when he reaches the age of seven. Thanks to them, antibodies are produced and lymphocytes mature. As soon as puberty begins to appear in a child, organ atrophy occurs: the tonsils significantly decrease in size and reverse development occurs. The process may take several years to continue. Over time, lymphoid tissue is replaced by connective tissue.

Almond-shaped formations are organs related to human immunity that protect the body from the effects of microbes that provoke inflammatory disease. An important function also includes the supply of lymphocytes and control of cell content. Lymphoid cells perform a hematopoietic role.

There are six tonsils in the body:

1. Pipe. Location – nasal cavity, where the mouth of the Eustachian tube is located. The normal condition is small in size, but as soon as hypertrophy occurs, the nasal ligament with the middle ear overlaps, which causes otitis media and causes poor hearing.
2. Palatal. More than others on the list. Placement - tonsillar niches located on the right and left of the throat. To examine the tonsils, you need to look into the mirror surface with your mouth wide open. Lymphoid formations, the plane of which can be seen at the entrance to the throat, are covered with multilayer tissue. Each formation contains a crypt, or fissure. On the other hand, the organ and the surface of the throat grow together with the help of a connecting membrane.
3. Lingual. The location of the organ is in the same place as the root of the tongue. Lymphoid tissue covers a rough plane with tubercles. Inflammation causes pain when the tonsils are tense or when eating.
4. Pharyngeal. Upon independent examination, a person will not be able to see the organ. It is located in the nasopharynx area, but at the back, so detection is possible with significant enlargement of the tonsils.

Important! An inflamed pharyngeal tonsil is called enlarged adenoids. The disease poses a danger to a small child due to subsequent disturbances in breathing processes, hearing impairment and the development of otitis media. If the result of drug treatment is poor, the tonsils are removed.

Every person with a cold experienced pain in the throat. As soon as unpleasant symptoms appear, patients try to eliminate them at home, independently diagnosing the causes of the manifestation. Tonsils in a normal state are often mistaken for a pathology, which provokes the initiation of drug treatment without seeking advice from a doctor.

Medicines can negatively affect the condition of the organ, as well as the entire body, creating additional obstacles to recovery. To avoid such cases, you need to imagine what a healthy throat looks like.

The tonsils in the throat are often small in size and are often located within folds of the mucous membrane called the palatine arches. Certain people have enlarged tonsils, which is a normal condition for their body, which is why this characteristic is not absolute.

For better visualization, it is better to look at the photo of the tonsils in the throat:

1. The palatine arches and tonsils have no connection.
2. The surface of the organs has small tubercles.
3. The color of the tonsils is close to a pale pink shade without redness or plaque.
4. When pressing with a spatula, there is no release of liquid pus or caseous plugs.
5. There is no swelling of the mucous membrane.
6. There are no obvious follicles or vascular pattern.
7. Other areas of the throat in the case of healthy tonsils are not affected by inflammation.

There is no significant difference between the tonsils and tonsils. The palatine tonsils are called tonsils. The names are different to make it more convenient for doctors.

What are tonsils needed for?

The main function of the tonsils is hematopoiesis. Thanks to these organs, lymphocytes are controlled and cells are produced in the required quantity for the body. For a child, protection is also an important function. The tonsils play the role of a barrier when pathogenic microorganisms enter the baby’s body by airborne droplets and trap microbes that provoke inflammation and disease.

Inflammation of the tonsils in the throat: signs

When the tonsils become inflamed, the patient develops tonsillitis.

The onset of symptoms occurs some time after the infection enters the body. In the case of a weakened immune system and severe illness, the onset may occur after a couple of hours.

Signs of the disease:

1. A feeling of soreness in the throat, as well as discomfort with every sip.
2. There is an increase in temperature, aching joints, and headaches.
3. The tonsils increase in size and redness appears.
4. Hoarseness occurs as soon as the infection touches the vocal cords.
5. Performance decreases, apathy occurs,
6. The patient has difficulty speaking, which worsens with prolonged silence.
7. If a small child gets sick, he becomes more capricious, often begins to hysteria, and suffers from loss of appetite.

Tonsillitis occurs differently depending on the type. With a red throat and the appearance of tumors on the tonsils, the catarrhal form is often diagnosed, which is not as dangerous as other types of the inflammatory process.

In case of catarrhal tonsillitis, the patient suffers from high fever. With timely treatment, the disease will resolve without complications.

Important! If you refuse treatment for catarrhal tonsillitis, tonsillitis occurs as a complicated form of the disease. The result is an increase in temperature and the appearance of white spots on the organs. The inflammatory process must be treated immediately after manifestation in order to prevent the infection from penetrating into the blood and, accordingly, to other organs.

The chronic form of the disease occurs when inflammation is poorly treated. A type of tonsillitis can be treated for several months, while a simple form is usually cured within a week. With chronic tonsillitis, the disease can often worsen, so it is necessary to attend to treatment at an early stage.

There are several basic rules for examining your throat:

1. Lighting. When choosing the right lighting, you can see inflammation that has affected the distant parts of the larynx. Often a flashlight is needed rather than just sunlight for diagnosis. In this case, the device should not emit blue light, which will be the root cause of incorrect perception.
2. Putty knife, You can also use a teaspoon. To check the condition of the throat, use a spatula. It is possible to replace the device using a small spoon. To avoid inducing vomiting and to diagnose the disease, it is necessary to press on the tongue towards the end. Often the symptoms are pronounced, and the use of a spatula can be dispensed with, in which case the patient needs to lower the tip of the tongue to promote a good view.

Reference. To avoid vomiting, you need to breathe deeply through your mouth.

Diseases that are caused by dysfunction of the tonsils

1. The occurrence of sore throat. The patient's temperature rises and the lymph nodes become enlarged. The disease is accompanied by apathy, difficulty swallowing, headaches and pain in the throat. If herpetic sore throat occurs, purulent blisters appear, which after a while turn into ulcers.
2. The appearance of pharyngitis. The inflammatory process affects the mucous membrane of the throat, causing swelling of the palatine irises, as well as the back of the throat. There are often no changes in the palatine tonsils.
3. The occurrence of hypertrophy. Occurs due to enlarged tonsils. Children often get sick; in adults, the disease is diagnosed in isolated cases.
4. The appearance of neoplasms and tumors. The appearance of cysts, cancer. Diseases of this kind require general diagnosis and prompt therapy. Adults over the age of fifty suffer from an increased risk of tonsil cancer. Therefore, there is a need for a thorough examination of the tonsil area.

Enlargement of the tonsils occurs due to streptostaphylococci and viral infections. Pathology is provoked due to:

1. Transition from the usual stage of the inflammatory process to the chronic one.
2. A reduced immune system when the body has experienced hypothermia or was exposed to frequent stressful situations.
3. Chemicals or other objects, as well as allergens that cause irritation and poisoning.

First aid

If you have difficulty swallowing, fever, redness of the larynx, or pustular rashes, you should call a doctor at home. Until the specialist arrives, the patient does not need to self-prescribe medication, nor take antipyretics unless absolutely necessary. An increase in temperature is a normal reaction of the body to infection.

There are several ways to help alleviate the condition:

1. You need to drink a lot of water.
2. You can gargle using salt water, or make a decoction of chamomile, sage or calendula.
3. You can suck on lozenges, which soothe the throat and have pain-relieving effects.
4. Bed rest is necessary.

In case of chronic inflammation of a sluggish nature, which harms the body and serves to cause an inflammatory process in the lymph nodes, the tonsils are removed. The operation will be justified when the patient develops tonsillitis in the chronic stage, which cannot be cured with conservative therapy.

As soon as the tonsils grow pathologically, the patient has difficulty swallowing food, and each swallow is accompanied by pain. In this case, it is impossible to avoid deletion.

Reference. Early age has an undesirable effect on removal due to the protective function of the tonsils, which reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Many children suffered from diseases such as dysbiosis after surgery.

If there are no purulent plugs on the tonsils, as well as an inflammatory process when cold symptoms occur and there is no discomfort in the lymph nodes, there is no need to remove the tonsils. When the tonsils are in normal condition, the body is protected.

Treatment of tonsils of the throat

Local therapy

Inflammation goes away faster with frequent gargling. At home, it is possible to use Furacilin, as well as boric acid to get rid of the inflammatory process. One tablet of the medicine is dissolved in a glass of water at the desired temperature.

Boric acid also needs to be dissolved in a glass of water, taking about one spoon of the substance. For rinsing, it is possible to use peroxide in the same proportion or an alcohol solution. It is necessary to rinse every couple of hours.

Reference. Inflamed tonsils in the throat: how to treat to relieve symptoms? Antiseptic tablets are used in case of pain when swallowing, but no plaque. Then the lollipops are dissolved every three to four hours. For details, please refer to the instructions for the individual medications.

It is necessary to take tablets after consulting a specialist and reading the instructions. The preparations consist of an antiseptic, as well as plant extracts, which serve to reduce pain in the throat, eliminate the sensation of tickling and discomfort. If inflammation occurs in a baby, consultation with a pediatrician is strictly necessary.

Bacterial inflammation causes the use of antibacterial drugs. Often the doctor prescribes drugs related to the penicillin series. If the patient does not tolerate these medications, therapy includes the use of fluoroquinolones and macrolides.

The use of antiseptic topical sprays is also prescribed.

Preparations in the form of an aerosol help relieve the inflammatory process and also combat pathogens. When using the spray, the patient feels better and also gets rid of pain. It is necessary to treat the tonsils every two hours.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine is also used in the case of inflamed tonsils. It is possible to cure the disease at home using home remedies. How to treat tonsils in the throat in an adult:

1. Using baking soda to gargle. A teaspoon is dissolved in a glass of water at the optimal temperature. To enhance the antiseptic properties, you can add iodized salt, as well as sea salt.
2. A solution of medicinal herbs. The medicine has an antiseptic effect on the body. To prepare the solution, you need to mix the medicinal herbs one to one, after which the resulting mixture is poured with boiling water. How much to wait? The solution should be used after it has cooled.
3. Application of garlic. To eliminate pain, you can use a garlic solution. To prepare it, you need to grind a few grams of the product and pour boiling water over it. The solution must infuse for 24 hours.

One of the main preventive actions is to enhance the body's immune system. The inflammation will go away if the patient’s health returns to normal and improves. It is necessary to give preference to a healthy lifestyle, stop smoking and drinking alcohol, and also include vitamins in the menu. Controlling sleep and eating patterns is also one of the methods for increasing immunity.

To maintain normal tonsils, you need:

1. Avoid drinking cold drinks.
2. Avoid hypothermia.
3. Immediately respond to the occurrence of infection, promptly treat emerging diseases.
4. Do not neglect to contact a specialist if your tonsils are inflamed.

Tonsils are an important part of the immune system, which protects the adult body from adverse environmental conditions. The organ is a barrier to pathogens and an obstacle to infection. But to perform functions you need to maintain them normally.

Accumulations of lymphoepithelial tissue that are located in the oral cavity and nasopharynx are called tonsils, colloquially - tonsils. It is difficult to meet a person who has not encountered inflammation at least once. Let's take a closer look at what tonsils are and why a person needs them.

• Paired: palatal, tubal.
• Unpaired: lingual, pharyngeal.

Location of tonsils

In addition to this classification, in medicine it is customary to number the tonsils as follows:

• palatal – 1 and 2;
• pharyngeal (adenoids) – 3;
• lingual – 4;
• pipe – 5 and 6.

In addition, on the back wall of the throat there are small accumulations of lymphoepithelial tissue, they are called follicles. Together, these throat formations are called the Waldeer-Pirogov ring or lymphoid ring.

What are tonsils needed for?

A person is born with tonsils. In the first years of life they reach maximum development. From the moment sex hormones appear (15-16 years), the reverse process occurs, and they gradually atrophy and decrease.

All functions of the tonsils in the human body still remain not fully understood. Their main role is to protect and create local immunity against pathogenic microorganisms that enter the human body through airborne droplets.

In addition, the tonsils perform a hematopoietic function in young children and secrete enzymes that are involved in oral digestion.

Important! The tonsils can give a characteristic tone to speech and timbre of the voice. This point must be taken into account when removing them in patients whose work is related to the vocal apparatus (singers, announcers, etc.). The so-called “French pronunciation” can sometimes be a consequence of enlarged adenoids or hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils.

Appearance and location

Patients are often concerned about the location of the tonsils; many want to examine them in themselves or in their child. Unfortunately, you can only see the palatine tonsils or an excessively enlarged pharyngeal tonsil. Others are only accessible to a specialist using special tools.

To see all the structures with your own eyes, you can undergo a diagnostic examination using endoscopic equipment connected to a computer monitor. In this case, the doctor can easily see all the tonsils and show the patient on the screen where they are and what they look like.

Palatine tonsils

Palatine tonsils

These lymphoid formations are located in the tonsillar niches between the two palatine arches. These are the only tonsils that the patient can see on their own, simply by opening their mouth wide.

The structure of the palatine tonsils is as follows: the free surface faces the pharynx and is covered with multilayered epithelium. Each palatine tonsil has deep slits of about 10-15, which are called lacunae (crypts). Patients may perceive these gaps as a kind of “hole”. Its other surface, with the help of a capsule, is tightly fused with the lateral surface of the pharynx.

Connective tissue bridges extend deep from the capsule. The lacunae branch and form a tree-like network in the thickness of the tissue. The epithelium, microbial waste, is rejected into the lumen of these lacunae, which serves as a substrate for the formation of almond plugs.

Nasopharyngeal or pharyngeal tonsil

It is better known as adenoids or adenoid vegetations (growths). This formation is located on the posterior fornix of the nasopharynx. You won’t be able to see for yourself where they are located and what they look like, unless they grow to such a size that they hang over the tongue.

Location of adenoids

The pharyngeal tonsil is the biggest problem for children and their parents. Enlarged adenoids interfere with normal breathing, contribute to hearing loss and the development of otitis media. They are observed and treated using conservative and surgical methods.

Tubal tonsils

Tubal and pharyngeal tonsils are located almost in the same place

Tubal tonsil steam room. It is very small in size and is located at the mouth of the auditory tube in the nasal cavity. Their schematic representation is presented in the photo.

An enlarged tubal tonsil can cause hearing problems and frequent otitis media, since during hypertrophy it blocks the communication between the nasal cavity and the middle ear.

Lingual tonsil

Location of the lingual tonsil

This formation is located at the root of the tongue. Externally it is lumpy and rough. Inflammation of the lingual tonsil causes sharp pain during conversations and when eating.

Types of inflammation and disease

The function of the tonsils is to protect the body from germs coming from the air. When immunity decreases and their functioning is disrupted, the following diseases may occur:

1. Inflammation of the tonsils (angina). Sore throat usually means inflammation of the tonsils, since this disease is more common than others. If another tonsil becomes inflamed, then the diagnosis will sound like this: tonsillitis of the lingual tonsil or adenoiditis, etc.
2. Hypertrophy (increase in size) of the tonsils. Tissue proliferation in itself is not a disease, but enlarged adenoids impair breathing and hearing, and hypertrophied palatine tonsils can interfere with normal eating and speaking. Whether it is a disease or not depends on the degree of hypertrophy and the presence of associated complications.
3. Chronic tonsillitis. This is a complex autoimmune inflammatory restructuring of the tissues of the palatine tonsil, which can cause the development of diseases of other organs and systems (glomerulonephritis, rheumatism, endocarditis, etc.).
4. Benign and malignant neoplasms.

Questions for the doctor

Are tonsils and tonsils the same thing or are they different concepts?

Tonsil and tonsil are the same concept, these words have different origins: the word tonsil means “gland”, and the word tonsil comes from the ancient Greek “almond”. In medicine, the first term is more often used, although “tonsils” is also correct.

What is the amygdala and where is it located?

The amygdala, or amygdala, is a collection of nerve cells in the temporal lobe of the brain. It contains the center of fear and pleasure. It has nothing to do with the usual tonsils located in the oropharynx, except for a similar name.

Why does a person need such a complex throat structure?

The main function of the tonsils is to protect against infection; in addition, they play a role in the development of immunity and hematopoiesis. This structure allows them to perform their role well and protect the body.

I discovered holes in my tonsils. Is it a disease or are they needed for something?

The so-called “holes” are lacunae of the tonsils; in some people they are more pronounced, in others they are less pronounced. Pathological contents (plugs) may accumulate in the lacunae; in these cases, it is removed by washing.

Hypertrophy (enlargement) can affect other organs: cause otitis media, reduce hearing, or cause inflammation. In these cases, it is recommended to get rid of the tonsils.

If we feel a sore throat, we turn to specialists. After examining, the doctor makes a diagnosis, prescribes treatment and says that the tonsils are inflamed. Every person has had them become inflamed at least once. Tonsils are popularly called tonsils. What are tonsils, why are they needed?

The tonsils protect against germs and bacteria, but they themselves can be affected by them.

What are tonsils?

Every baby is born with a concentration of lymphoid tissue in the larynx. This tissue is called tonsils. They called it that for a reason, because of its external design. It looks a lot like an almond. There are 6 pairs of tonsils in the pharynx, but the palatine ones are called tonsils.

Are the tonsils and tonsils the same thing? Yes, it was the doctors who gave a separate name to a pair of tonsils, for their convenience. Translated from Latin, tonsil is a small acorn. The tonsils and tonsils play an important role.

Main functions

Tonsils act as guards in the human body and do not allow harmful bacteria to pass through. As part of the immune system, they are responsible for two tasks:

1. Hematopoietic. They participate in the formation of lymphocytes, which remove microbes from the body.
2. Protective. Connective tissue is capable of absorbing and making bacteria into their own kind.

Description of the location of the tonsils

Lymphocyte tissue is located in the recesses of the soft palate, on the root of the tongue, on the wall of the nasopharynx and on the mucous membrane of the larynx. You can get to the palatine tonsil on your own; the rest are visually accessible only to a specialist using special tools. Upon examination, the upper layer of tissue (epithelium) is distinguished. The organs themselves are covered with several mucous layers that protect them from damage.

If the patient wants to see the organs with his own eyes, it is worth undergoing an examination. Using an endoscope, the doctor will give a complete description, describe the structure and display an image of the organs.

Kinds

There are several types of tonsils. They are distinguished by anatomy, location, and the presence of a pair. Paired tissue clusters:

1. palatine (two tonsils 1 and 2), located between the soft palate and the tongue in small pits;
2. tubal (5 and 6), located near the canal connecting the throat and middle ear.

Unpaired clusters:

1. pharyngeal (3), located near the wall of the pharynx;
2. lingual (4), located under the back of the tongue.

Palatal

The structure of the organ is porous. A distinctive feature is the presence of depressions on the tonsils. The entire surface of the organ is covered with lacunae. They are the first to encounter an uninvited infection, catching germs and viruses. There are about 40 such recesses.

During the chronic process, pathogenic microbes hide in the gaps.

In addition to the depressions, the lymphoid tissue is saturated with follicles. In a healthy state, follicles are assigned the function of providing leukocytes and plasma cells to resist infection. During illness, they fight viruses, and in acute conditions they are part of purulent accumulations.

Nasopharyngeal

Accumulation of tissue in the nasopharynx - adenoids. The location of the pharyngeal tonsils is the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. The nasopharyngeal tonsil is a transverse fold of the mucous membrane. You won't be able to see them, they are not visible. Adenoids consist of mucous membrane, which is covered by ciliated epithelium.

Adenoids are the biggest problem for children. Excessive growth blocks the nasal passages, making breathing difficult and provoking inflammatory processes.

Pipe

A small collection of lymphoid tissue is located in the cavity between the nose and the auditory tube. Despite their small size, the tubal tonsils are responsible for protecting the hearing organs from infections. An enlarged organ blocks the free passage between the nose and ear and can cause inflammation of the middle ear.

lingual

At the base of the tongue there is a lingual growth. The outside is covered with smooth epithelium, but there is roughness and tubercles, it is divided in the middle by a septum, and salivary canals are hidden in the recesses.

Birth defects and tonsil damage

In accumulations of lymphoid tissues there are damage, congenital abnormalities, and neoplasms. Any disease of the organ leads to a deterioration in the general condition. An additional palatine gland is a congenital defect. This deviation is considered safe and no treatment is used.

Damage includes burns and various injuries. Injuries may be local in nature, or may be associated with injuries to neighboring organs. Damage can be caused by foreign objects. The cause of the damage and its elimination are dealt with by the doctor.

Tonsil diseases

The response to the attack of viruses from the lymphoid organs is divided into primary (damage to lymphoid tissue) and secondary (inflammation affects the mouth, nose, throat).

Common diseases include:

• angina;
• tonsillitis:
• adenoids;
• hypertrophy of the glands.

Sore throat is an acute inflammation of the tonsils. The course of the disease is accompanied by high fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. The anatomy of the organ promotes the accumulation of microorganisms in the lacunae. At the site of accumulations, pustules form. The three types of most common sore throats are:

1. Catarrhal. Mild degree, with timely assistance, it goes away quickly.
2. Follicular. Serious degree of inflammation. If left untreated, complications may occur.
3. Lacunarnaya. It is not advisable to treat a sore throat on your own.

Improper treatment leads to a chronic form and can last a long time. Tonsillitis is inflammation that has become chronic. Two forms are observed:

1. recurring inflammation (3-4 times a year);
2. constant inflammation (low-grade inflammatory process).

A sign of chronic tonsillitis is the presence of plugs in the mouth (on the tonsils). A plug is an accumulation of pus, bacteria, microbes. It is dangerous to remove them on your own; you should consult a specialist for treatment.

Proliferation of the nasopharyngeal tonsil

Adenoiditis is a consequence of an inflammatory process or long-term chronic inflammation. The anatomy of the location of the tonsils leads to blockage of the passage, making it difficult for a person to breathe through the nose. Inhaling air through the mouth leads to recurring colds. Blockage of the ear canal leads to hearing impairment.

Enlarged palatine tonsils

Enlarged tonsils without inflammation - hypertrophy of the tonsils. A deviation from the norm occurs after illness, due to weakened immunity. Symptoms: snoring, difficulty breathing, swallowing. With a slight change in rinsing, the tonsils will return to their previous size. A larger increase means serious therapy is required, sometimes surgery has to be used. There are three stages of organ hypertrophy; the choice of therapy depends on the degree of organ enlargement.

Tumors

There are more serious deviations in the functioning of lymphoid tissues. Divided into two types:

• Benign neoplasms. These include papillomas, fibromas, and cysts. Most often they affect the soft palate and vertical folds of the mucous membrane (arches).
• Papillomas appear singly, in groups, on a stalk or a broad base. They have a pink color and a lumpy structure.
• Fibroids affect the upper parts of organs. They have a stalk and grow to the size of a plum and even larger. Smooth and soft to the touch.
• A cyst is a hollow formation containing mucus or fluid. Located on the organ or inside the tonsils.

Benign neoplasms grow slowly. In the initial stages they are invisible and not accompanied by symptoms. With a significant increase, nasal sound, unpleasant odor, and difficulty swallowing and breathing occur. Detecting and identifying a tumor is not difficult. Surgery is the best option for treating tumors.

Malignant formations. The onset of the disease is imperceptible; the first symptoms are the spread of malignant cells to the lower lymph nodes.

Schminke's tumor, lymphosarcoma, cytoblastoma are classified as types of malignant tumors. They mainly affect the pharyngeal and palatal tissues and quickly increase in size. Often, metastases develop faster than the tumor body itself, which is mistakenly perceived as a separate disease. Tumors are difficult to diagnose, especially in the initial stages. A biopsy and research help to make a correct diagnosis. Successful treatment and a positive prognosis for the disease lies in early diagnosis.

Therapy

Inflamed tonsils must be treated, otherwise the chronic inflamed condition will lead to frequent colds and possibly complications. The treatment regimen is drawn up by a specialist, depending on the diagnosis. This can be conservative treatment, laser treatment, projection, lavage, microwave on the projection of organs, or in more complex situations - surgery.

Prevention

• The main rule of prevention is cleanliness. It is necessary to keep in order, not only the premises, but also monitor the condition of the oral cavity. Humidified air will help the mucous membranes work properly.
• Nutrition. Its resistance to infections depends on how much vitamins and microelements the body receives.
• Hardening is a true enemy of disease. Useful procedures will make your immune system stronger.

Constant implementation of procedures is enough to maintain the immune system normal. It has been proven that inflammatory processes occur due to weak immunity.

People usually find out what tonsils are when they become inflamed. True, the second question immediately arises: “Why are tonsils needed?”

To get an accurate and competent answer, you need to find out for yourself the following: where the tonsils are located; structure of the tonsils; functions of the tonsils.

How to see and where they are

Glands are small specific formations of lymphoid tissue. There are 6 of them in total: two paired and two unpaired. Together they form the pharyngeal ring. The tonsils are located in the place where the nasopharynx passes into the pharynx. In terms of size, they can be compared to an average walnut. By the way, they received the name “tonsils” due to their external resemblance to it. Only their color is pink. Note that saying “tonsils and tonsils” is incorrect. It is the same. If inflammation occurs, they change their appearance. Why are tonsils needed? Mainly to protect the body.

When the lymph nodes in the neck become inflamed, they are often confused with the tonsils. To clearly understand what exactly bothers a person, you need to know where the tonsils are located.

To examine the tonsils in both the throat and mouth, a person is examined with endoscopic equipment that is connected to a computer monitor. Using a special apparatus, the doctor can easily examine each tonsil. He can even show the image to the patient, simultaneously explaining where they are located and what their appearance says.

What are there

It is customary to classify tonsils according to the location where they may be located. So they are:

• palatal (paired);
• pharyngeal or nasopharyngeal (unpaired);
• pipe (pair);
• lingual (unpaired).

Let's take a closer look:

Tonsil device

All tonsils, both the structure and structure of which are almost the same, still have a number of features:

Each tonsil, both in the throat and in the mouth, has follicles throughout its entire surface, as well as inside. When the tonsils are healthy, the required number of plasma cells, macrophages and lymphocytes are actively produced in them and in the lacunae.

These cells fight infections affecting the upper respiratory tract. If a person gets a sore throat, then they, together with foreign microorganisms, are part of the pus contained in the lacunae and follicles.

What are tonsils needed for?

All people are born with a full set of 6 tonsils. The tonsils reach their peak development in the first years of a child’s life. But when sex hormones begin to appear (at about 15-16 years of age), their regression is observed - gradual atrophy and reduction in size of the tonsils occurs.

To this day, the tonsils and their functions in the human body have not been fully studied. However, their main role is defined. It consists of protecting and creating local immunity, which resists pathogenic microbes that enter the body through airborne droplets.

Nature has assigned several functions to the tonsils, which they, being healthy, successfully cope with:

We emphasize that the tonsils perform all of the above functions in full only when they are in order. When their tissues are affected by inflammation, the entire body suffers. His ability to defend himself is significantly reduced. Because of this, the risk of developing various complications increases, which can adversely affect any organs and even their systems.

Interestingly, the tonsils sometimes give a certain tone to speech in general and voice timbre in particular. This nuance must be taken into account if their removal is indicated in patients working with voice (TV announcers, pop performers, teachers, and so on).

By the way, “French pronunciation” in some cases may be the result of enlarged adenoids or enlarged palatine tonsils.

Is removal necessary?

On the topic “Why do people need tonsils at all?” have been debated for many decades. Today, most doctors have concluded that the removal of tonsils should be resorted to only when their chronic, low-grade inflammation causes significant harm to the body and because of them, the lymph nodes in the neck periodically become inflamed. In addition, such an operation is justified if the patient is diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis that is not amenable to conservative treatment methods. With pathological growth of tonsil tissue in a person, it becomes difficult for a person to move food, and it becomes difficult for him to swallow. In this case, of course, there is no other way out.

It is also undesirable to have tonsils removed at an early age because they appear to prevent food allergies from developing. According to statistics, 70% of children who have had their tonsils removed suffer from dysbiosis and food allergies.

If purulent plugs do not form on the tonsils, if they do not become inflamed at the first symptoms of a cold, and if they do not cause discomfort, and the lymph nodes in the neck are in order, there is no need for removal. If the tonsils are in perfect order, they bring only one benefit to the body.

Let's summarize

Tonsils are an important part of the immune system. Their presence allows you to fully protect the body from the adverse effects of external factors. After all, it is the tonsils that take the first blow from pathogens. This is a kind of outpost of immunity.

In order for the tonsils to perform their functions efficiently, everything must be done to maintain their health. Unfortunately, many people don’t even think about why our body needs them and what their role is. That’s why they so easily agree to have it removed, despite the fact that the operation is absolutely unjustified. It is very important to try to preserve the tonsils. They can be removed only as a last resort.

Are tonsils and tonsils the same thing, or are they different organs? How many are there in total, where are the tonsils located and why do people need them? Many people actually cannot answer these questions clearly and think about them for the first time only when they hear a sad diagnosis from a doctor - tonsils in the throat need to be removed. Whereas if the patient had clearly understood from the very beginning why the tonsils were needed and how important this organ was, this situation could have been avoided.

Tonsils or tonsils are lymphoid formations in the human nasopharynx that play an important role in the functioning of the immune system. The significance of the tonsils is very great: anatomically they are located so that they are the first to take the blow when coming into contact with cold or polluted air, bacteria and viruses. The main functions of the tonsils are to filter air, water and food that enter the human body through the mouth and nose. They are also actively involved in the process of hematopoiesis and the production of lymphocytes when there is a threat of infection by bacteria or viruses.

What are tonsils needed for?

The tonsils are an important part of the human immune system. They are the first barrier to microbes entering the body from the external environment. The initial study of pathogens and the production of antibodies occurs in these organs.

The role of the tonsils in the body's defense system

Discussions about the significance of the palatine tonsils have continued among scientists over the last century. Their main functions, according to currently available research data, are barrier and immunological.

• Barrier function. Toxins and bacteria, penetrating through the epithelium into the glands, are neutralized by the reticuloendothelial system. In the process of suppressing pathogens, local antibodies are produced, which contributes to the gradual immunization of the body. Barriers to infections are the mucous membranes, organ capsule, walls of lymphatic and venous vessels and internal lymph nodes.
• Immunological role. Bacteria linger in the gaps, multiply and grow there. At the same time, the antigens they produce are able to pass through epithelial cells, affect white blood cells (B- and T-lymphocytes) and lead to the production of antibodies, i.e. in fact, “produce vaccines” naturally.

The full nature of the effect of tonsils on the formation of human immunity has not yet been studied.

Features of the structure of the tonsils

The palatine tonsils are paired formations consisting of lymphoid tissue and located in the tonsillar niches between the root of the tongue and the palatine arches.

A distinctive feature of the structure of the palatine tonsils is that their internal surface, facing the pharynx, is covered with blind canals-lacunae (crypts), which penetrate the thickness of the gland and emerge on the free surface in the form of holes of various shapes with a diameter of 1 to 4 mm. There are usually from 10 to 20 such branched and winding gaps.

The inner side of the organs is covered with squamous epithelial cells, and the outer side (facing the pharynx) is covered with dense connective tissue called a capsule or pseudocapsule. The size of the glands depends on the age of the person; in an adult, the length reaches 25-30 mm with a weight of 1.5 g. They can be free (protruding into the pharynx) or hidden in the palatine arches. Their blood supply comes from the carotid artery system, and their innervation comes from different nerves (glossopharyngeal, trigeminal, vagus).

This disease is characterized by enlargement of the glands in the absence of any inflammatory processes in them. Most often found in preschool children, as a rule, it is “paired” with adenoiditis.

It has been proven that there is a relationship between hypertrophy and frequent colds in children.

The causes of the disease are not fully understood. According to various researchers, they may be:

• unformed or defective functioning of the child’s immune system;
• chronic tonsillitis;
• regular colds that negatively affect the functioning of lymphoid tissues;
• chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract and nasopharynx (adenoiditis, sinusitis);
• chemical or thermal effects on the tonsils;
• endocrine diseases and metabolic disorders.

There are three degrees of enlargement of the tonsils depending on how much of the space between the anterior edge of the palatine arch and the midline of the pharynx they occupy:

• first degree - 1/3 of the specified space;
• second degree - 2/3;
• third degree - completely block the space, practically touching each other.

Hypertrophied organs make it difficult for the child to breathe and also prevent the normal movement of food. With severe growth of 2 or 3 degrees, especially with the addition of adenoiditis, speech suffers.

Symptoms of the disease:

• tonsils are swollen, soft in consistency, with an uneven surface, pale pink or yellowish in color;
• plugs in lacunae are rarely formed;
• with severe hypertrophy, breathing disturbances, snoring are observed, and sleep apnea may occur;
• changes in the voice, which becomes rough or nasal;
• discomfort in the nasopharynx, sensation of a foreign body there.

With a small degree of hypertrophy and no signs of inflammation of the glands and arches of the palate, no specific treatment is carried out. For prevention, it is enough to regularly gargle with solutions of baking soda or furatsilin. Using high-quality toothpaste when brushing your teeth due to the presence of anti-inflammatory substances in it also helps maintain a healthy condition in the mouth and throat.

Parents should closely monitor the child's correct breathing. Children compensate for difficulty in nasal breathing with oral breathing, which leads to drying out of the tonsils, their hypothermia and contamination with microbes.

This often causes the development of tonsillitis. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly eliminate the causes that prevent full nasal breathing.

With a more significant magnification, it is advisable to see an otolaryngologist. Often in such cases, the doctor, in addition to antiseptic rinses, recommends lubricating the surface of the organs with cauterizing or astringent agents, which is carried out in 2-3 week courses. The following solutions are most often used for this: collargol (3%), lapis (2%), iodine-glycerin (0.5%), tannin-glycerin (5%), hydrogen peroxide. Carotene protects and nourishes the mucous membrane well, which can be applied to the surface of the glands before bed to prevent them from drying out.

With grades 2 and 3 hypertrophy, conservative treatment may not give the desired result. Difficulty breathing and speaking, difficulty swallowing food, frequent colds with swelling of the mucous membranes require more effective measures. In such cases, surgical intervention is required.

Traffic jams in the tonsils

Plugs most often form in lacunae, but in some cases they may appear under the epithelial layer or directly in the lymphoid tissues. Plugs are rotting dead cells of the immune system, glandular tissue and food debris. The reasons for their appearance are acute and chronic tonsillitis, infections of the nasopharynx, and food getting stuck in deformed lacunae.

Manifestations of the disease:

• plugs are usually clearly visible upon inspection and look like yellowish-gray spots with a diameter of 1 to 5 mm;
• sensation of plaque and discomfort in the throat;
• unpleasant (putrid) odor from the mouth.

For bacterial causes of tonsillitis, antibiotics must be used. Local therapy consists of irrigation or rinsing with antiseptics (chlorhexidine, Miramistin) and antibacterial drugs (Bioparox). In an outpatient clinic, removal of plugs is carried out by rinsing with a syringe, at home - with a cotton swab or a finger wrapped in a bandage. After removing plaque, you should gargle with an antiseptic.

In the case of regular appearance of plugs, laser lacunotomy has recently been increasingly proposed, which is laser excision of individual affected crypts, after which they stop clogging due to an increase in the diameter of the hole. Moreover, unlike tonsillectomy, the organ itself continues to function fully.

Tonsillectomy: pros and cons

Operations on the tonsils have been known to mankind for more than 3 thousand years. As a rule, they are uncomplicated, have a low risk of postoperative complications and are performed under general or local anesthesia using special instruments.

Indications for surgery:

• ineffectiveness of conservative treatment;
• tonsillitis with frequent relapses (at least 5-7 exacerbations per year);
• chronic tonsillitis in a decompensated form or with toxic effects that increase the risk of developing renal or cardiovascular complications;
• difficulty swallowing or breathing, sleep apnea syndrome;
• signs of brain hypoxia due to lack of oxygen (pallor, hyperactivity, poor sleep);
• complications with the formation of pus.

There are a number of contraindications for surgical intervention, either permanent or temporary. The permanent ones include:

• blood diseases (hemorrhagic diathesis, leukemia);
• mental illness;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• diabetes;
• ailments of the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart in the acute stage;
• pharynx abnormalities.

Contraindications such as infectious diseases, caries, menstruation, dermatitis, and influenza are temporary. The operation is carried out after they are eliminated.

There are two main types of such operations:

• tonsillotomy (a more gentle procedure) - cutting off part of an enlarged organ using a special loop or tonsillotome. It is often performed in conjunction with the removal of overgrown adenoids (adenectomy).
• tonsillectomy - complete excision of organ tissue along with the capsule. Modern medicine offers a wide selection of instruments for intervention: scissors, wire loop, ultrasonic scalpel, high-frequency electric current, radio waves, carbon and infrared lasers.

Removing the tonsils is a serious measure, since this paired organ is an integral part of the body's local immune system.

In the postoperative period, the cleaned niches are covered with a white coating, which disappears by the end of the first week; on days 10-12, the tonsillar niches are completely cleared, and three weeks after the manipulation they are covered with epithelium. Complications occur quite rarely, as a rule, these are bleeding, less often infectious and inflammatory processes.

Tonsillectomy can lead to weakened immunity in the nasopharynx, resulting in regular upper respiratory tract infections. Therefore, the decision to surgically remove the glands is made only after applying all possible conservative methods of therapy.

• After each meal, gargle to remove stuck pieces of food with plain water or sea salt solution;
• lubricate the tonsils with the juice of aloe leaves (can be mixed with honey in a ratio of 1:3) or oils (sea buckthorn, apricot, peach) half an hour after eating;
• gargle 2-3 times a day with warm mineral water without gas, a decoction of oak bark, walnut leaves or chamomile;
• Give older children a pea-sized piece of propolis to chew.

Sources: medscape.com,