TONSILITIS

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the

back of the throat.

Predisposing factors
AGE:
- Is common in preschool but rarely occurs younger than the age of 2
- Middle age group, in which tonsilitis are caused by bacteria and common on
children between 5-15
- Rare cases for adults

ENVIRONMENT
- 15% to 30% of the time, Bacterial infection is the cause of tonsilitis
- Transmission of streptococcus pyogenes (bacterial that causes tonsilitis) via
respiratory droplets and hand contact with nasal discharge
- Children are always closed contact with their peers resulting to frequent
exposure to viruses or bacteria that can cause tonsilitis.

Modifiable Non-Modifiable
EVIRONMENT AGE

Portal s of entry:
The tonsils are the immune system's first line of defense
against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth. This
function may make the tonsils particularly vulnerable to
infection and inflammation. Over time as we grow, the
immune system function of the tonsils decreases making it
more prone to bacteria resulting to inflammation and
infection.

Clinical manifestation:
The symptoms of tonsilitis include sore throat, fever, snoring, and difficulty of swallowing.
Enlarge of adenoids may cause mouth-breathing, ear ache, draining ears, frequent head colds,
bronchitis, foul smelling breath, voice impairment, and noisy respiration.

Disease Process:

inflammatory infection of the tonsils caused by invasion of the mucous membrane

by microorganisms, usually hemolytic streptococci or viruses. The symptoms are
sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, fever, malaise, and enlarged lymph nodes on
both sides of the neck. The infection lasts about five days.
 Diagnostic test:

- Testing is indicated when GABHS infection is suspected.

- Throat cultures are the criterion standard for detecting GABHS.
- For patients in whom acute tonsillitis is suspected to have spread
to deep neck structures radiologic imaging using plain films of the
lateral neck or computed tomography (CT) scanning with contrast is
warranted.
- In cases of PTA, CT scanning with contrast is indicated.

Confirmation-

Viral Tonsilitis –
is usually due to a virus that also causes a cold, but it may also be due to
other viruses, including the flu virus.

Bacterial Tonsilitis-
is caused by group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus bacteria.
Streptococcal tonsillitis is sometimes called ‘strep throat’.

REFERRENCE:
Smertzer, S. Et al, Handbook for Brunner & Suddarth’s, Textbook of Medical-Surgical
Nursing,10th ed, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004.

Banerjee Anil, 2020, Tonsilitis, retrieved from

https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/childrens

Lotha, Gloria, et al, 2020, tonsilitis, Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/tonsillitis

Shah, Udayan et al, 2020, tonsilitis anf peritonsillar abscess, retrieved from
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/871977-overview#a1

NCH Healthcare System, 2015, Tonsilitis, retrieved from

https://www.nchmd.org/education/mayo-health-library/details/CON-20023538