Swollen tonsils with white spots can be a sign of tonsillitis, which is an inflammation of the tonsils. This condition can be painful and very annoying. Swollen tonsils are usually the result of an infection, and this can cause serious pain and discomfort. There are several different interventions that can be helpful for swollen tonsils pain. It is important to know more about the disease in order to treat it properly.
The tonsils are a collection of lymphoid tissue in the back of the throat. Lymphoid tissue is related to lymph glands and the lymphatic system, which is involved with the immune system. A lot of different materials are present in the mouth since it is the major portal of entry for substances into the body. That is why the mouth and surrounding area have a lot of lymphoid tissue, so any bacteria or other foreign invader can be recognized and dealt with.
The tonsils are part of this immune system. When a bacteria or other organism come into the mouth and body, the tonsils respond to it. This can result is swelling and pain of the tonsillar pillars. Chronic swollen tonsils result from persistent immune activation of this tissue. These collections of cells can develop granulation tissue and enlarge rapidly when immune system is activated. Over-activation of the immune system can occur with an infection of the tissue with a bacteria or virus.
The most common bacteria to infect the tonsils and cause swelling is streptococcus type A. Strep A is present all over the body and usually does not cause much trouble. But if the tonsils become infected with strep A they can enlarge and become painful. The body is usually able to deal with this infection and will get better on its own, but sometimes it requires help. Antibiotics such as penicillin were created to deal with bacteria such as Strep A. The antibiotics can allow the body to heal faster, but their real purpose to to prevent more serious disease from occurring. Strep A can cause rheumatic fever, which is a disease of the heart that ruins the conduction system. Strep can also cause a kidney problem such as nephritis. Both of these more serious problems are prevented with the administration of antibiotics.
The white spots that occur in chronic swollen tonsils are called exudate. There are made up of inflammatory material from immune cells. They can be scraped away and cultured to determine the cause of the infection. In people who have swollen tonsils pain for a long duration of time, it may be appropriate to have a surgery to have the tonsils removed. This prevents infection and the problems that occur with the swollen tonsils. The surgery is relatively easy for children and more more involved in adults. It is therefore appropriate to investigate the cause of swollen tonsils with white spots and provide treatment quickly to prevent the disease from progressing.