When a Child complains of sore throat and there is severe pain on swallowing .There is a heavily furred tongue and enlarged cervical glands. The temperature is 101-104 F with mild rigors. The condition is that of ACUTE TONSILLITIS.

Tonsillitis is often a fore runner of a number of severe constitutional disease such as scarlet fever, measles, rheumatic fever, acute nephritis., septicaemia or acute mastoiditis. The tonsils appear red, swollen and inflamed. Symptoms are same in both the cases. Strepcoccus haemolyticus is the most common pathogenic organism, although streptococcus aures or streptococcus viridance may also be the exicting causes.

SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS

Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between preschool ages and the midteenage years. Common signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include:

• Red, swollen tonsils
• White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils
• Sore throat
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Fever
• Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
• A scratchy, muffled or throaty voice
• Bad breath
• Stomachache
• Neck pain or stiff neck
• Headache

In young children who are unable to describe how they feel, signs of tonsillitis may include:

• Drooling due to difficult or painful swallowing
• Refusal to eat
• Unusual fussiness

CAUSES OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS

Tonsillitis is most often caused by common viruses, but bacterial infections also can be the cause.

The most common bacterium causing tonsillitis is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), the bacterium that causes strep throat. Other strains of strep and other bacteria also may cause tonsillitis.

RISK FACTORS OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS

Risk factors for tonsillitis include:

• Young age. .
• Frequent exposure to germs.

COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS

Inflammation or swelling of the tonsils from frequent or ongoing (chronic) tonsillitis can cause complications such as:

• Disrupted breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea)
• Infection that spreads deep into surrounding tissue (tonsillar cellulitis)
• Infection that results in a collection of pus behind a tonsil (peritonsillar abscess)

Strep infection

If tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus or another strain of streptococcal bacteria is not treated or if antibiotic treatment is incomplete,child has an increased risk of rare disorders such as:

• Rheumatic fever, a serious inflammatory condition that can affect the heart, joints, nervous system and skin
• Complications of scarlet fever, a streptococcal infection characterized by a prominent rash
• Inflammation of the kidney (poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis)
• Poststreptococcal reactive arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the joints

PREVENTION OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS

• Wash his or her hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet and before eating
• Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses, water bottles or utensils
• Replace his or her toothbrush after being diagnosed with tonsillitis

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS

The patient must be advised to rest in bed and can be given a liberal diet as in the case of febrile condition . The diet should be such that swallowing should be comfortable for the patient. A throat swab should be taken to determine the infection. Given Echinacea angustifolia tincture. A few drops in warm water to gargle. As the palliative, dissolve an asprin in warm water to gargle. It will reduce the pain in the throat, smoking should be avoided. Select an appropriate homoeopathic remedy for cure.

Belladonna :- Useful when there is an energy looking, dry and glazed look of the tonsils.Useful mostly when right sided tonsil is affected.There is throbbing and congestive pain with difficult Swallowing.There is sensation of constriction in the throat.

Mercurius bin iodatus or mercurius iodatus rubrum -Usefull for left tonsil and left tonsilar infection. 

Hepar sulphuris :- Useful when there is splinter like pains in the throat on swallowing. There is impending suppuration.Useful for hoarseness with loss of voice.

Phytolacca decandra :- Usefull for dark, bluish red tonsils with pains at the root of the tongue. There is sensation of lump in the throat. Given when throat feels rough, narrow and hot with swollen tonsils.Useful for pain shoots up to the ears on swallowing.Indicated when patient cannot swallow anything hot.

Lachesis mutus :- Usefull for livid and purple coloured sore throat which is worse on the left side. Useful when there is pain on swallowing liquids which extends up to the ears.There is choking sensation at the neck; needs to loosen collar or neck band .

Lac caninum :- Usefull for  throat affection which is sensitive to touch and these symptoms keep on changing side that is the symptoms go from left to right and vice versa.There is Shining, glaged or porcelain white surface of the tonsils. Useful when symptoms appear at the begining of menses and end with menses.

Lycopodium clavatum :- Usefull when the beginning of the sore  throat is on the right side .Also usefull for ulceration of tonsils; worse by cold drinks.

Silicea terra :- Very usefull for Pricking sensation as of pin in the tonsils,There is enlargement of paritids glands. Tonsils are suppurating and swollen, develop very slowly.

Baryta carbonica :- Usefull for swollen submaxillary glands and tonsils.Useful for those who have tendency to take cold easily. There is Stitching and smarting pains. Tonsils suppurate on taking cold every time.

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