Children's tonsils are swollen to the third degree

When we have a cold and go to the hospital to get medicine, the doctor will ask us to open our mouths wide and then use a flashlight to look at the condition of our throats. He may say that the situation is okay and that it is not yet inflamed, or he may say that we need anti-inflammatory drugs because our tonsils are already inflamed. It can be seen that tonsils grow in our throat, and swollen tonsils is a disease of our throat. So what does it mean when a child’s tonsils are swollen to the third degree?

Adenoids is a condition in which the pharyngeal tonsils are abnormally enlarged. The pharyngeal tonsils are physiological tissues that grow in the back part of the human throat (the tube that connects the oral cavity, nasal cavity, esophagus and throat). This physiological tissue is called adenoid tissue. Tonsils are collections of lymphoid tissue in the pharynx. The "tonsils" generally referred to are the palatine tonsils, which are the largest of the lymphoid tissues gathered in the pharynx. Lymphatic tissue has the same function as lymph nodes; it filters bacteria and other microorganisms from lymph fluid. The lymphatic tissue in infants is relatively small, but it will gradually develop fully between the ages of three and five, and will shrink and disappear during puberty.

Grading

Clinically, tonsil enlargement is divided into three degrees:

Grade I: Tonsillar enlargement does not extend beyond the palatine arch

II degree: beyond the pharyngeal palatine arch

Grade III: Swelling reaches the midline of the posterior pharyngeal wall.

Clinical manifestations

1. Ear symptoms: Due to the hypertrophy of tonsils and the accumulation of inflammatory secretions in the nasopharynx, the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube is blocked, which may be complicated by non-suppurative or suppurative otitis media, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear stuffiness.

2. Nasal symptoms: Enlarged tonsils are often complicated by rhinitis and sinusitis. The children have symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, mouth breathing, drooling, occlusive nasal sounds when speaking, and snoring during sleep.

3. Symptoms of respiratory tract infection: Due to the inflammation, secretions irritate the respiratory mucosa, often causing inflammation of the throat, trachea and bronchitis. Therefore, patients may experience symptoms such as throat discomfort, voice changes, coughing and spitting, asthma, low fever, etc.

4. “Adenoid facies”:

Due to long-term mouth breathing, the child's facial bone development is affected, the maxilla is long and narrow, and the hard palate is high and narrow. Protruding teeth, irregular dentition, poor bite, drooping mandible, thick lips, upturned upper lip, hanging lower lip, drooping outer canthus, and shallow nasolabial groove. If there is mental depression and dull and stupid facial expressions, it becomes the so-called "adenoid facies".

symptom

Symptoms of swollen tonsils. Sometimes the lymphatic tissue will enlarge (due to chronic inflammation or allergic reactions), and then swollen tonsils will appear. When tonsils are swollen, they will block the respiratory tract, causing sinusitis, otitis media, or causing stubborn coughs. People with swollen tonsils often have to breathe only through their mouths.

The onset of tonsillitis is very direct and can be confirmed by visual inspection of the condition of the tonsils. Ask the child to open his mouth wide and observe the changes in the tonsils and oropharynx to determine whether he has tonsillitis. However, in addition to diagnosing whether it is tonsillitis, another important task for doctors is to distinguish whether it is a bacterial infection or a viral infection, whether there is a systemic infection, and whether there will be other complications. Usually bacterial diseases may require antibiotics for treatment, while viral diseases do not require antibiotics. If necessary, blood tests can be done to help with diagnosis.

How to treat it?

1. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment

Swollen tonsils are generally caused by congestion in the tonsil area due to repeated inflammation of the tonsils. Adopt the theory of traditional Chinese medicine of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Transdermal administration, long-lasting effect. The purpose is to gradually reduce the congestion and thus achieve the purpose of shrinking the tonsils. Currently proven Chinese medicine external patches, such as the most popular tonsil patch, are generally applied to the affected area for 15-24 hours.

2. Treat as soon as possible

Swollen tonsils should be treated as early as possible. In the early stages of the disease, when you first begin to experience the above symptoms (see the second-level heading "Symptoms" in the first-level heading of this entry "What are Enlarged Tonsils"), you should go to a relevant hospital for examination as soon as possible. Many patients with swollen tonsils do not understand the condition, so they do not receive timely treatment for their swollen tonsils in the early stages of symptoms, which causes the condition to worsen.

3. Surgery or not

Tonsillectomy may be necessary if there are frequent episodes of tonsillitis, or if the tonsil disease affects the child's overall health or causes the child to interrupt his or her education, or affects hearing or breathing. However, sometimes tonsillectomy is unnecessary and other problems should be considered if the diagnosis is in doubt.