Understanding Your Tonsils

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Introduction

Tonsils are two stacks of tissue located at the back of the throat, whose main role is to trap harmful foreign materials that enter through the mouth and the nose from entering in the respiratory system (Burton 36). Tonsils are of different sizes from one person to another, and their performance is affected by their size. According to Hareyan (1), tonsils are highly susceptible to most throat infections as a result attack by viruses and bacteria. One of the major infections of tonsils is tonsillitis which is caused by ‘Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci’. It is important to note that, tonsil infections are more prevalent in children and young teens. When tonsil infections are not treated in time, they lead to sore throat complications which may make it hard for individuals to concentrate on their normal activities.

Common Tonsil Infections

1) Tonsillitis

One of the most popular tonsil infections is ‘tonsillitis’ which is caused by both bacterial and viral pathogens. According to Simon (81), the inflammation of tonsils by streptococci bacteria causes swellings and reddening of the tonsils. Since this infection is mostly associated with young teens and children, it has been a major cause of school absenteeism among school-aged children since the throat becomes hypersensitive to any solid materials. Quite importantly, swallowing of materials from the mouth becomes a major problem among the victims of ‘tonsillitis’ (Burton 39). Notably, tonsillitis has been revealed to reoccur in most cases, necessitating surgical operations to remove them. However, great care should be taken while removing the tonsils since in cases of poor operations; severe complications are usually experienced by the victims of the infection...

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A tonsillectomy was once a common procedure to treat infection and inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis). Today, a tonsillectomy is usually performed when tonsillitis occurs frequently or doesn't respond to other treatments. The procedure is usually performed as an outpatient surgery. That means the patient should be able to go home the day of the surgery. A complete recovery usually takes seven to 10 days.

Works Cited

Burton, Jackson. Transillectomy. London: Routledge Publishers, 2009.

Hareyan, Armen. Understanding Tonsils and Strep. Aug 20, 2007. June 25, 2011.

Simon, Berger. “Bacterial and Viral Infections of the Upper Respiratory Tract.” In Dale, David. ACP Medicine, 79-91. New York: Professional Publishing, 2006.

Wetmore, Richard. “Tonsils and Adenoids”. Journal of Pediatrics. 23.7, (2007): 321-338.

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