Chronic tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils that lasts a long time,about 2 weeks or so. Sufferer chronic tonsillitis may experience frequent recurrence of symptoms. By kthat arena, required medical treatment for treat it. One of them is by surgical removal of the tonsils.
Tonsillitis occurs when a virus or bacteria causes infection and inflammation of the tonsils. If your tonsillitis lasts more than 2 weeks and occurs repeatedly, it can be said that you have chronic tonsillitis.
Causes and Symptoms of Chronic Tonsillitis
In chronic tonsillitis, infection or inflammation lasts a long time and can recur or recur. Over time, the inflammation will cause the formation of tonsil stones that contain bacteria and smell bad.
These recurring infections are generally caused by a number of factors, including:
- Smoking habit.
- weather factor.
- Incomplete treatment of acute tonsillitis.
- Poor oral hygiene.
- Weak immune system.
- Radiation exposure.
This infection or inflammation will cause the tonsils to get bigger and cause symptoms such as:
- Sore throat that lasts a long time.
- Bad breath.
- Snoring is caused by enlarged tonsils, which are glands located on the back wall between the nasal cavity and throat.
- Sore throat that radiates to the ears and neck.
Chronic Tonsillitis Treatment
Chronic tonsillitis is treated by an ENT doctor. Just like acute tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis can also be treated with medication. If the tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, it can be treated with antibiotics.
To relieve pain from chronic tonsillitis, your doctor may prescribe pain medication, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, for some conditions, the doctor will advise you to undergo a tonsillectomy or surgical removal of the tonsils. 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 swallowing, speaking, and sleeping.
- Medications are no longer effective at treating inflammation of the tonsils.
- Tonsillitis has caused complications, such as: sleep apnea, festering tonsils, and the spread of infection to other surrounding organs.
Patients with chronic tonsillitis who have difficulty breathing need to be treated and hospitalized immediately. If needed, the doctor will perform surgery to treat the symptoms of chronic tonsillitis.
There are several methods in the tonsillectomy procedure, ranging from the use of laser beams, sound waves, to conventional surgery 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.
Tonsil Removal Surgery Preparation
The length of the surgery depends on the method of surgery performed, but it usually 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 tonsil removal procedure, the patient will be given general anesthesia or anesthesia. This means that 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 provide information on when to fast and some other instructions that can and cannot be done before surgery.
Don't forget to tell your doctor about any medications or supplements you are taking. Usually, you will be asked to stop taking blood thinning drugs, such as aspirin and warfarin, at least 1-2 weeks before surgery.
Tonsil Removal Postoperative Care
After surgery, you will feel pain in the throat area. Sometimes, pain also appears in the ear or neck, but usually it will improve within 1-2 weeks with taking pain relievers prescribed by a doctor.
In addition to taking medication, here are some ways you can do to relieve pain and speed up the healing process after surgery:
- Eat foods that are soft and easy to swallow. Avoid spicy, acidic, and hard foods that can cause pain and bleeding.
- Increase fluid consumption to prevent dehydration. It is more advisable to consume cold drinks, but avoid drinks that contain acid, such as orange juice, so that the pain does not get worse.
- Rest at home for two weeks and do not do activities outside the home, such as playing or going to school.
To determine the appropriate treatment steps, chronic tonsillitis needs to be checked by a doctor. After undergoing an examination, the doctor will determine how severe the chronic tonsillitis is and suggest appropriate treatment steps.
