Chronic tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils that lasts a long time, about 2 weeks or more. Chronic tonsillitis sufferers can often experience recurrence of symptoms. Therefore, medical treatment is needed to treat it. One of them is by surgical removal of tonsils.
Tonsillitis occurs when a virus or bacteria causes infection and inflammation in the tonsils. If inflammation of the tonsils that you experience lasts more than 2 weeks and occurs repeatedly, it can be said that you suffer from chronic tonsillitis.
Causes and symptoms of chronic tonsillitis
In chronic tonsillitis, infection or inflammation lasts longer and can recur or recur. Over time, inflammation will cause the formation of tonsil stones that contain bacteria and smell bad.
These recurrent infections are generally caused by a number of factors, including:
- Smoking habit.
- Weather factor.
- Treatment of acute tonsillitis that is not complete.
- Poor oral hygiene.
- Weak immune system.
- Radiation exposure.
This infection or inflammation will cause the tonsils to enlarge and cause symptoms such as:
- Long-lasting sore throat.
- Bad breath.
- Sleep snoring due to enlarged tonsils, which are glands located in the back wall between the nasal cavity and throat.
- Sore throat that spreads to the ears and neck.
Management of Chronic Tonsillitis
Management of chronic tonsillitis is done by ENT doctors. Just like acute tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis can also be treated with medication. If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, then treatment can be given by antibiotics.
To relieve pain due to chronic tonsillitis, your doctor may give painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. But for some conditions, the doctor will advise you to undergo tonsillectomy or tonsillectomy. These conditions include:
- Symptoms that appear more severe and often recur more than 7 times a year or more than 5 times in two years.
- Daily activities become disturbed, such as difficulty in swallowing, talking, and sleeping.
- Medications are no longer effective in treating inflammation of the tonsils.
- Tonsillitis has caused complications, such as sleep apnea, suppurating tonsils, and the spread of infection to other surrounding organs.
Chronic tonsillitis sufferers who have difficulty breathing need to be treated immediately and undergoing hospitalization. If needed, the doctor will perform surgery to overcome the symptoms of chronic tonsillitis.
There are several methods in tonsillectomy procedures, ranging from the use of laser beams, sound waves, to conventional operations with a scalpel. The doctor will determine the method to be used based on the severity of the tonsillitis experienced and the patient's overall health condition.
Preparation of Tonsillectomy Surgery
The length of time the surgery depends on the method of surgery performed, but usually the operation lasts about 30 to 60 minutes. Patients are usually allowed to go home the same day or one day after surgery.
Before the doctor performs the tonsillar removal procedure, the patient will be given anesthesia or general anesthesia. That is, the patient will fall asleep and feel nothing during the operation.
To reduce the risk of vomiting due to side effects of anesthesia, patients will be advised to fast before undergoing surgery. The doctor or nurse will give information when to fast and some other instructions that may and may not be done before the operation.
Don't forget to tell your doctor about the medicines or supplements you are taking. Usually, you will be asked to stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin and warfarin, at least 1-2 weeks before surgery.
Postoperative Care for Tonsillectomy
After surgery, you will feel pain in the throat area. Sometimes, pain also appears in the ears or neck, but usually will improve within 1-2 weeks by taking pain medication given by a doctor.
In addition to taking medicine, here are some ways you can do to relieve pain while speeding up the healing process after surgery:
- Consume foods that are soft-textured and easily swallowed. Avoid spicy, sour and hard foods that can cause pain and bleeding.
- Expand the consumption of fluids to prevent dehydration. It is recommended to consume cold drinks, but avoid drinks that contain acids, such as orange juice, so that the pain that appears is not getting worse.
- Rest at home for two weeks and do not do activities outside the home, for example playing or going to school.
To determine the right treatment steps, chronic tonsillitis needs to be seen by a doctor. After undergoing the examination, the doctor will determine how severe the chronic tonsillitis is and suggest appropriate treatment steps.
