Contents:
- Medical Video: Kelly's Tonsil Stone Bonus - Courtesy of the John Gilmore Fan Page
- Complications of untreated tonsillitis
- 1. Peritonsillary abscess
- 2. Sleep apnea
- 3. Acute glomerulonephritis
- 4. Rheumatic fever
- How to prevent this complication?
Medical Video: Kelly's Tonsil Stone Bonus - Courtesy of the John Gilmore Fan Page
Although most cases of tonsillitis can recover on their own, but you are still advised to see a doctor if you experience symptoms lasting more than 4 days and show no signs of recovery, or even worse. If it continues to be left, it is not impossible that you can experience a series of complications below
Complications of untreated tonsillitis
1. Peritonsillary abscess
Peritonsillary abscess is a bacterial infection continued from inflammation of the throat or tonsillitis that is not cured. Peritonsillary abscess is usually a pus-filled lump that grows near your tonsillar lump. Other accompanying symptoms include fever or chills, swelling around the neck and face, headaches, ear pain in the inflamed side of the tonsils, and bindeng sounds.
This abscess lump also makes it difficult for you to open your mouth completely, swallow food or water, and cause bad breath.
This disease is generally treated with antibiotics or by draining the contents of pus in a lump with a needle at an ENT doctor.
2. Sleep apnea
Swelling that occurs due to infection of the tonsils can clog the respiratory tract and disrupt normal breathing. If left unchecked it will cause sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing can stop in a short time or the breath becomes shallow during sleep.
Treatment of sleep apnea due to tonsillectomy is usually performed by tonsillectomy, which is surgical removal of the tonsils.
3. Acute glomerulonephritis
Inflammation of the tonsils caused by streptococcal bacterial infections can cause inflammation of the kidneys, a condition known as acute glomerulonephritis.
If the bacteria that infect tonsils enter the bloodstream, bacteria can attack the glomeruli. Glomeruli are small screening screens in the kidneys that are responsible for removing impurities from the filtered blood.
When this happens, the body's immune system responds by causing inflammation and formation of scar tissue. The presence of scar tissue in the kidneys disrupts the glomeruli's ability to filter blood.
Symptoms that arise from this disease is a reduction in the amount of urine, the color of urine changes very brown or even bleed, the lungs are wet, to an increase in blood pressure (hypertension). Usually doctors will give corticosteroid drugs that are useful for reducing inflammation
4. Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever occurs in children who experience tonsillitis due to bacterial infection. Not only fever, but also causes rashes, inflammation of the joints, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
Rheumatic fever can be cured by giving antibiotics to fight bacteria and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the symptoms of joint pain. Children are also advised to take more rest to speed up the body to recover. In severe cases, rheumatic fever can cause inflammation in the heart valve. This needs medical help as soon as possible.
How to prevent this complication?
To prevent tonsillitis complications, inflammation must be treated appropriately. Doctors usually prescribe antibiotics to overcome them. Spend antibiotics according to the dosage and duration of treatment recommended by the doctor.
