Almond pain

definition

Almond pain usually occurs due to inflammation (tonsillitis) of the tonsils, which is triggered by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria. In addition to pain in the throat, there is often difficulty swallowing, fatigue, fever and aching limbs. Earache and breathing restrictions are also possible. While mild sore throats and tonsils usually heal through physical rest and home remedies, it is essential to go to the doctor for pronounced complaints so that targeted treatment can be initiated. A bacterial tonsillitis should definitely be treated with antibiotics in order to prevent life-threatening complications and serious secondary diseases of the infection.

Read more on the topic: Tonsillitis

What helps? What is the best way to relieve pain?

The cause of tonsil pain is usually inflammation, for example from a cold, so there are several ways to relieve the pain. These include, for example, warm neck wraps or gargling salt water. Various plant components can also help combat pain. This includes, for example, fresh horseradish root or a kitchen onion. In the case of pronounced symptoms, you can also take short-term over-the-counter painkillers from the pharmacy, which also usually have an antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect. It is important that in addition to these symptomatic measures to alleviate the pain, treatment with an antibiotic should also be carried out in the case of bacterial tonsillitis. The doctor recognizes this by the whitish deposits on the tonsils. If necessary, you can determine this yourself with the help of a mirror with your mouth wide open.

Read more on the topic: Home remedies for otitis media

Home remedies

With home remedies, tonsil pain and other symptoms of inflammation can usually be relieved well without having to fear the side effects associated with the use of medication. Fresh horseradish root, for example, has proven itself. For this you pour freshly grated horseradish with hot water and add a little honey and two cloves. After the drink has drawn for a quarter of an hour, it can be drunk in sips. In general, if you have inflammation in the tonsils or throat, you should drink a lot. Warm drinks such as sage or chamomile tea are best. These plants also have an anti-inflammatory effect and thus directly support the healing process. Warm neck wraps, which are best put on the neck overnight, are also recommended. Another home remedy for almond pain is the juice of the aloe vera plant, which is said to have healing properties. This can be purchased in health food stores, for example, and should gargle hourly without diluting it, but not drink it. Mild forms of almond pain can be treated and cured so well with home remedies. However, it is primarily the symptoms that are treated and not the inflammation itself, which is usually the cause. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted if the symptoms are particularly pronounced or persistent. Without the use of antibiotics, tonsillitis can otherwise be life-threatening.

Read more on the topic: Home remedies for a sore throat

onion

For almond pain, using onions as a home remedy can help alleviate the discomfort. For example, the onion can be cut into pieces and placed in a cloth that is wrapped around the neck. The onion juice can also be gargled. The sulfur-containing amino acids it contains have a bactericidal effect. However, there is no evidence that the use of onion wraps or onion juice can really promote the healing process for almond pain.

Read more on the topic: Home remedies for tonsillitis

Duration

Most of the time, tonsillitis occurs in acute tonsillitis and disappears again within a few days to a few weeks. In some cases, however, persistent or chronic inflammation of the tonsils can also occur. The pain is usually less pronounced, but can still be constant. In the case of longstanding or recurring tonsil pain, the doctor may recommend surgical removal of the tonsils.

causes

The cause of tonsil pain is usually tonsillitis caused by an infection. Usually the pathogens are viruses or bacteria. In some cases, some pathogens cause a very specific clinical picture, on the basis of which a targeted treatment can be initiated. An inflammation of the tonsils caused by bacteria of the group of streptococci, for example, leads to typical purulent coverings, so-called specks, on the tonsils. With this finding antibiotic therapy should be started (see also: Treatment with antibiotics). An infection with the Ebstein-Barr virus, on the other hand, leads to Pfeiffer's glandular fever with heavily swollen tonsils and, as a result, pronounced swallowing difficulties. If this disease is the cause of the almond pain, antibiotics do not help but rather lead to a rash. The treatment is limited to physical rest and relief from the symptoms. If tonsillitis occurs more often, a weakness of the immune system or a genetic susceptibility may be the cause. If necessary, further diagnostics should then be carried out by the doctor.

diagnosis

The doctor can usually suspect the cause by asking specific questions about the type and course of the tonsil pain. The diagnosis is often made based on the examination. This means that the doctor can see the throat and tonsils through the patient's wide open mouth. Depending on what the tonsils look like, a diagnosis can often be made. When infected by viruses, the tonsils are usually only red and enlarged. When infected by bacteria, purulent coatings, so-called stipples, often appear. In this case, treatment with an antibiotic should be used. Diagnostics beyond the medical consultation and examination of the throat are usually not necessary. Only if the tonsil pain does not improve or occurs again very frequently, further methods of diagnosis can be considered. An ear, nose and throat doctor, for example, has special optical examination instruments. A blood test can also help make a diagnosis.

Concomitant symptoms

Almond pain usually does not appear as an isolated symptom. In most cases, almond pain occurs as part of a cold and associated inflammation of the tonsils. Accompanying symptoms are, for example, fever, aching limbs and fatigue. In some cases, inflammation of the middle ears also occurs at the same time, which can lead to ear pain. In some forms of tonsillitis, in addition to tonsil pain, there is also difficulty swallowing, lumpy speech and possibly even impaired breathing. One example to be mentioned here is the Pfeiffer glandular fever caused by the Ebstein-Barr virus.

Earache

Almond pain is quite often accompanied by earache. This is because the tonsils are located on both sides in direct anatomical proximity to a duct that connects the throat with the middle ear. This so-called Eustachian tube or Tuba auditiva is used to equalize pressure in the middle ear. In addition to pain, tonsillitis also causes swelling of the tonsils. This can block the Eustachian tube and lead to a feeling of pressure in the ear and possibly ear pain. In addition, there is a risk that the middle ear will also become inflamed by bacteria that rise up, which can lead to very pronounced ear pain.

difficulties swallowing

Those who suffer from almond pain often also complain of difficulty swallowing. The common cause of both symptoms is usually inflammation of the tonsils, which is accompanied by swelling. Since the tonsils lie directly on the throat, there is not only pain but also a difficult swallowing process. In addition, tonsillitis can also cause the cervical lymph nodes to swell, which also affects swallowing.

Read more on the topic: Lymph nodes

Unilateral tonsil pain

Almond pain that only occurs on one side is rather rare and can be an indication of a rare special form of tonsillitis. This is Plaut-Vincenti angina caused by special bacteria. Either only the left or only the right side can be affected. All other forms of tonsillitis almost always lead to tonsillitis on both sides. In the case of pronounced unilateral tonsil pain, the house doctor or ear, nose and throat doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Angina Plaut-Vincenti must be treated with a different antibiotic than the much more common tonsillitis caused by bacteria from the group of streptococci.

Almond pain on both sides

In most cases, tonsillitis occurs on both sides. Therefore, on the basis of this, it cannot be differentiated whether it is, for example, an inflammation caused by bacteria or viruses. The diagnosis and, if necessary, therapy must primarily be based on the throat examination by the family doctor.

forecast

The inflammation underlying tonsil pain usually heals without any consequences. In the case of viral diseases, symptomatic treatment using home remedies, physical rest and, if necessary, pain-relieving medication is sufficient. In the case of inflammation caused by bacteria, a good prognosis can also be expected if the correct antibiotic (usually penicillin) is given in good time. However, if there is no adequate antibiotic therapy for tonsillitis due to bacterial tonsillitis, the prognosis may be different. In addition to possible complications such as a dangerous spread of the inflammation in the throat area, secondary diseases such as the kidneys can also occur. Some people are also more likely to experience tonsillitis from tonsillitis. Surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) should be considered after a certain frequency.