Definition
They are located on each side in the rear part of the oral cavity. According to their name they look almond-shaped. Since the oral cavity is in constant contact with the outside world and possible pathogens, the almonds form a kind of “first defense barrier”.
In the case of a possible danger of the body, they activate the defense system and swell thereby. They are also called “guardians of the defense system”. However, they do not have to fulfill this task alone.
There are other tonsils in the mouth and throat area. The unpaired pharyngeal tonsils, which are also called “polyps“, are located on the roof of the throat. The paired tubular tonsils can be seen as a lateral continuation of the pharyngeal tonsil.
Some also equate them with the “lateral strands”. There is also a lingual almond. All together belong to the so-called Waldeyer pharyngeal ring.
They are part of a relatively independent defense system and can swell as needed. However, in contrast to the lymph nodes, they only have so-called efferent connections leading out. They are in close contact with the neck lymph nodes.
Causes
The causes of swollen tonsils are manifold. The tonsillitis is usually initially caused by viruses. In the course of time, a bacterial inflammation can also occur.
But it is also possible that bacteria alone can cause tonsillitis. In many cases, the viruses and bacteria reach the mouth and throat via the air we breathe. Acute viral tonsillitis is often caused by so-called adenoviruses.
Other acute and chronic tonsillitis are often caused by a specific group of bacteria called streptococci. But other bacteria can also cause tonsillitis: Staphylococci, pneumococci, Haemophilus influenza, Moraxella catharrhalis and Neisseria gonorrhae, among others. Most of these bacteria occur in the mouth in healthy people and are harmless.
Only under certain circumstances can they cause inflammation. Since the swollen tonsils often subjectively cause a feeling of tightness in the throat, it is also called “angina“, which literally means “tightness”. Depending on the causative pathogen, tonsillitis is named differently. Also allergic processes and stress can lead to swollen tonsils. Often a weak, endogenous defense system favors the development of tonsillitis.