Synonyms
Tonsillitis, Angina tonsillaris
Introduction
The term “tonsillitis” refers to the development of inflammatory processes in the area of the palatine tonsils (technical term: tonsils). It is one of the 20 most common reasons for visiting a doctor. In most cases tonsillitis is a very painful disease.
If you look at the palate and throat of the affected patient with the mouth open, you can see the palatine tonsils on the right and left side of the throat. Inflammatory processes in the area of the palatine tonsils are usually manifested by a conspicuous swelling. Tonsilitis is usually transmitted by droplet infection, i.e. by coughing, sneezing or kissing.
Triggers for this disease are both viruses and bacteria. Mixed infections (so-called superinfections) are also possible. This means that a viral infection is present at the beginning of tonsillitis, followed by a bacterial infection in the course of the disease.
In most cases, the causative bacteria are group A streptococci, which can be detected within a very short time with the help of a throat swab (strep test). The typical symptoms of tonsillitis include severe sore throat and difficulty swallowing. In addition, most of the affected patients show pronounced general symptoms with high fever and fatigue.
In cases in which the tonsils are severely swollen, there may also be a blockage in the proper ventilation of the ears. As a result, patients experience severe ear pain, which increases in intensity during swallowing. Bacterial infections, which lead to the development of tonsillitis, also manifest themselves through conspicuous pus deposits in the area of the throat (so-called pustule).
The treatment of tonsillitis depends primarily on the causative pathogen. If the strep test is negative, the primary assumption is that the infection is viral. In such cases the treatment is purely symptomatic.
Above all, pain-relieving, antipyretic drugs such as paracetamol or ibuprofen are suitable for treating the typical symptoms of tonsillitis. Bacterial tonsillitis is treated with the help of an antibiotic. Medicine of first choice in the treatment of a pronounced, purulent tonsillitis is above all the purulent tonsillitis is a highly infectious disease.
Affected patients should protect their surroundings from possible transmission even one day after starting antibiotic therapy. A promptly diagnosed tonsillitis that is treated correctly usually heals completely within one to two weeks. Nevertheless, this clinical picture should not be underestimated.
If an appropriate therapy is not provided, tonsillitis can lead to serious complications. A chronification of the symptoms is also possible if treatment is inadequate. Tonsillitis is an infection that is mainly caused by viral and/or bacterial pathogens.
It must therefore be assumed that only those people who are exposed to the causative germs fall ill with tonsillitis. Nevertheless, there are some factors that increase the risk of developing various infections in general and tonsillitis in particular. Smoking in particular is considered a serious risk factor for the development of diseases of the mouth, nose and throat.
The exact reasons for this are many and varied. On the one hand, smoking exerts a straining influence on the immune defence of the organism. It has been proven that the blood of people who smoke regularly contains significantly fewer immunoglobulins (proteins that serve to defend the immune system against foreign substances).
People who smoke are therefore much more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections than non-smokers. On the other hand, the development of inflammatory processes, which are also present in tonsillitis, is significantly promoted by smoking. The blood vessels in the nasopharyngeal area are also demonstrably affected by smoking.
The regular consumption of tobacco products leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels and thus to a reduction in tissue blood flow. As a result, significantly fewer immune cells can be transported via the bloodstream to the inflamed tonsils.Another risk factor for the development of inflammatory changes within the oral cavity is the consumption of alcohol. It is assumed that the immune system is almost completely deactivated after an evening of alcohol and nicotine consumption for a period of about 24 hours.
People who do not want to give up smoking should consider strengthening their immune system in another way. Above all, a balanced, vitamin-rich diet and plenty of exercise should be taken into account. Both regular smoking and the occasional consumption of tobacco products can have a strong influence on the mucous membranes within the oral cavity and in the area of the throat.
In most cases, smoking causes a restructuring of the architecture of the individual mucous membrane cells. As a result, the normal function of the mucous membranes cannot be maintained. In addition, the permeability of the mucosal cells is also significantly increased.
For this reason, bacterial and viral pathogens can more easily find a way into the organism. For this reason, people who smoke regularly are much more at risk of developing tonsillitis after contact with infected persons. In addition, it can be observed that smoking severely impairs the healing process when tonsillitis is already present.
In most cases, people who smoke develop much more pronounced symptoms than non-smokers. Above all, the sore throat and difficulty swallowing that occur in the course of tonsillitis are intensified by smoking. The course of tonsillitis generally appears to be much more aggressive in smokers.
Smoking causes more severe swelling of the palatine tonsils in most of the affected patients. The formation of purulent secretions and the development of inflammatory processes is also demonstrably increased in patients who smoke. The main reason for this is the pre-damage to the pharyngeal tonsils caused by smoking.
In addition, the negative influence on the immune system caused by smoking has a decisive influence on the severity of the course of the disease. Furthermore, in people who do not stop smoking during the presence of tonsillitis, it takes considerably longer for antibiotic therapy to show initial success. The exact cause of this phenomenon has not yet been clarified.
A further risk of smoking during tonsillitis is the increased probability of developing chronic disease progression. Patients suffering from acute tonsillitis should therefore stop smoking completely for the time being. Already the stay in rooms where smoking is practiced can negatively influence the course of the disease through passive exposure.
The consequences of regular tobacco consumption are particularly noticeable in the area of the immune system and the health of the mouth, nose and throat mucous membranes. Smoking affects the immune system in that the immunoglobulins (proteins that defend against pathogens) in the blood are reduced. Indirectly, the immune system is also impaired by the fact that inhalation of the smoke permanently affects or worsens the blood flow in the mucous membranes, so that the defence cells are less able to reach the site of infection.
In addition, the ingredients of cigarette smoke have been proven to damage the mucous membranes, so that on the one hand, infection with bacteria or viruses is favored, making tonsillitis easier. In the worst case, chronic tobacco consumption and thus also permanent irritation of the mucous membranes can cause the development of a malignant tumor in the mouth and throat area (oropharyngeal carcinoma). These tumors include not only tonsil carcinoma but also carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and the palate.
Since smoking can definitely worsen the symptoms of an already existing tonsillitis and prolong its course or even lead to a chronic progression, tobacco consumption should be stopped and smoking should be discontinued. The aggressive substances that are added with every inhaled cigarette cause additional irritation of the oral mucosa and negatively influence the immune system, so that they counteract a physiological healing process. Thus, if smoking continues during an acute tonsillitis, it is possible that a stronger swelling of the tonsils as well as increased pus formation and pain symptoms may occur.In addition, patients with tonsillitis and continued tobacco use often experience slower response to doctor-prescribed antibiotic therapy.
The reason for this, is however not yet finally clarified. Thus it is to be recommended urgently that with the first signs of an almond inflammation smoking should be stopped or better, as preventive measure, smoking should be given up. Regular smoking is considered one of the major risk factors for the development of tonsillitis.
It has been proven that smoking exerts a significant influence on the immune system, so that smokers on average fall ill and suffer from bacterial or viral infectious diseases more often than non-smokers. The reason for this is that a consequence of smoking is a decrease in the immunoglobulins (antibodies/proteins for defence against pathogens) in the blood, so that bacteria and viruses can be fought less effectively. In addition, tobacco smoke also irritates and even damages the mucous membrane of the mouth, making the mucous membrane of the tonsils more susceptible to colonization by bacteria/viruses.
In addition, the blood vessels in the nasopharynx are also affected by the smoke inhalation, so that the blood circulation of the mucous membranes is much worse than in non-smokers. As a result, less blood and thus also immune cells can reach the site of the event and the immune system is also affected. In summary, on the one hand the development of tonsillitis is favoured by smoking and on the other hand an inflammation that has begun is promoted and downright supported.
