When acute tonsillitis recurs, the illness is known as chronic tonsillitis. However, there are usually symptom-free or mildly symptomatic intervals between attacks.
Therefore, the phrase relapsing (acute) tonsillitis is more accurate. Frequently, the only effective treatment for such patients is tonsillectomy.
Here you will find all the information regarding recurrent or chronic tonsillitis.
What is Recurrent or Chronic Tonsillitis?
Some persons get tonsillitis more frequently, with more or more minor brief intervals without or with few symptoms. The resulting diagnosis would be chronic tonsillitis.
According to the recommendations, It is uncertain how many instances of tonsillitis a patient needs to have before being diagnosed.
According to the current standards, the term “chronic tonsillitis” should no longer be used because the tonsils are constantly inflamed.
Their role is to prevent infections from penetrating the mouth and throat mucous membranes and entering the body.
In addition, tonsil tissue becomes enraged upon contact with these microorganisms due to an immunological response.
It is therefore usual for the tonsils to remain in a constant state of inflammation. This is only pathological if the local inflammation worsens.
Further symptoms accompany it, such as trouble swallowing and (systemic) inflammatory symptoms affecting the entire body (e.g., fever).
The guideline-compliant diagnosis is relapsing (acute) tonsillitis (RAT). If this tonsillitis repeatedly recurs over a specified length of time.
However, some physicians continue to refer to tonsillitis as chronic if the inflammation persists for more than three months and the patient never completely recovers.
Cause of Recurrent Chronic Tonsillitis
An acute bacterial infection often causes recurrent tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis brought induced by certain streptococci (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci).
Naturally, the immune system removes all germs in the tonsils in response to an acute infection. Or, antibiotic treatment helps to control bacterial tonsillitis.
However, it is also possible for individual germs to linger in the deep crevices (crypts) or encapsulated foci in the tonsils, leading to reinfection. These may repeatedly cause acute tonsillitis.
In all other cases, the inflammation is maintained by dead bacteria. On this soil, the tonsils are more “susceptible”; new pathogens have an easier time spreading.
Tonsillitis can become “chronic” in this fashion, i.e., it can recur (i.e., return = relapse) due to the presence of either recognized or unknown bacteria. In between, impacted individuals have little or no symptoms.
Symptoms of Recurrent Chronic Tonsillitis
Recurrent tonsillitis may be present if tonsillitis occurs more frequently. Those affected typically exhibit fluctuating and mostly mild symptoms, such as a sore throat.
In addition, the following symptoms may accompany “chronic” tonsillitis:
- Offensive foul breath
- Odd flavor in the mouth
- Chronic lymph node enlargement in the neck
- Mild difficulty swallowing Variable intensity sore throat
Repeated occurrences of severe acute inflammatory symptoms may indicate recurrent (chronic) tonsillitis.
Recurrent Chronic Tonsillitis: Diagnosis
Suppose a patient reports recurrent tonsillitis and exhibits the symptoms mentioned earlier. The clinician typically considers the likelihood of recurrent (chronic) tonsillitis.
He will also ask additional questions, including:
- How often do you experience tonsillitis?
- When was your last bout with tonsillitis?
- How many during the past year?
- Do you experience symptomless periods?
- How was the prior treatment administered?
- Have you ever undergone a tonsillectomy?
Throat exams usually confirm the suspicion. Recurrent tonsillitis is characterized by throat reddening.
Furthermore, the surface of the palatine tonsil seems highly fissured, with scars indicating recurrent inflammatory activity.
This scarring makes moving the tonsils with a spatula difficult, a vital sign of recurrent tonsillitis. When the doctor presses the tonsils with the spatula, a mushy discharge (debris) or pus usually emerges.
In recurrent tonsillitis, the tonsils may be tiny, atrophied, or more enormous. Therefore, tonsil size does not aid in the diagnosis.
Blood tests (e.g., a measurement of inflammatory values) or a throat swab can be beneficial in certain situations (to detect the pathogen).
Effects of Recurrent Chronic Tonsillitis
Recurrent tonsillitis, like acute tonsillitis, can cause inflammation in other body parts. Possible effects are, for example:
Rheumatic Disease
- The heart’s inner lining Inflammation ( endocarditis )
- Inflammation of the pericardial sac (pericarditis)
- Corpuscles of the kidneys Inflammation (glomerulonephritis)
- Inflammation of the heart (myocarditis)
- Arthritic inflammation (articular rheumatism)
It May Also Interest You To Read: Tonsillitis (Food and Naturopathy Remedy)
Therapy for Recurrent Chronic Tonsillitis
In recurring tonsillitis cases, clinicians frequently recommend a tonsillectomy.
A tonsillectomy may be considered if a patient has had three to five instances of purulent tonsillitis in the last 12 months and has been treated with antibiotics.
If additional outbreaks (up to six) occur within the next six months, it may be prudent to remove the tonsils. When there are more than six incidents per year, tonsillectomy is a viable treatment option.
Before removing the tonsils, The doctor must determine that the symptoms are caused by bacterial tonsillitis and not a viral illness.
Doctors typically propose tonsillectomy if recurring tonsillitis (chronic) results in problems or secondary disorders.
It May Also Interest You To Read: Tonsillitis (Food and Naturopathy Remedy)
Important Notice:
This article is solely for educational and informational needs. And For any reason, it should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. You can not use it as a means to avoid visiting your doctor.
