WHAT ARE TONSILS?

Tonsils are masses of lymph tissue on either side of the throat (in the oropharynx region). They can be called as two of the lymph glands in the body. Like other organs of the lymphatic system in the human body, tonsils produce lymphocytes to fight pathogens. They, thus provide us with immunity or protection against various infections, especially those affecting the upper respiratory tract. They are soft to the touch and their colour varies from bright red to pink.

CLASSIFICATION OF TONSILS

Tonsils can be classified based on their position as:

• Palatine tonsils: These are located on the left and right sides at the back of the throat.
• Lingual tonsils:  Rounded in shape, they cover the posterior(back) region of the tongue
• Tubal tonsils: These are present close to the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube.
• Pharyngeal tonsils: These are located at the very back of the nose, approximately at the juncture of the nose and the pharynx. They are specially termed “adenoids” as, unlike other types, they have ciliated cells and lack crypts (narrow protrusions into a larger structure).

 DISORDERS OF THE TONSILS:

The diseases affecting the tonsils are: 

→Tonsillar Hypertrophy

→Tonsilitis

→Tonsil Stones/Tonsilloliths

Tonsillar Hypertrophy

In this condition, the tonsils become larger and obstruct the airway causing symptoms of painful swallowing. The hypertrophy is mostly due to aneurysms or malformation of blood vessels underlying the tonsils. This condition may or may not be accompanied by Tonsilitis.

Tonsilitis

Here, the tonsils become very much enlarged and acutely inflamed with their surface becoming rough. Symptoms include recurring fever, persistent sore throat, and white spots on the tonsils.  Tonsilitis is caused mostly by bacteria, but can also be caused by some species of virus, like the Herpes simplex virus.

TONSILLECTOMY: Tonsils may need to be surgically removed under the above two circumstances. This process is known as Tonsillectomy. The operation is carried out with the help of a local anaesthesia. The person is normally discharged on the following day itself with an advice to take only cold, non-spicy foods for 2-3 days until the area is completely healed.

Complications: There are practically no negative effects of tonsillectomy except that the person needs to take extra care regarding respiratory ailments. The main complication of tonsillectomy is bleeding, which can easily be controlled. Also, it has been found that, in a few cases, tonsillectomy might have an effect on speech to a slight extent.

However, many cases of tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy are now being treated with drugs- such as paracetamol or penicillin- without resorting to tonsillectomy.

Tonsil stones/ Tonsilloliths

This is an abnormal condition where stones or calculi are formed in the tonsillar area, more often on the palatine tonsils, when food particles and bacteria are trapped in the crypts present on the surface of the tonsils. The most common symptoms are bad breadth and coughing.

The removal of the tonsil stones is via a Q-tip (cotton bud) or by means of surgical irrigation.