Throat Conditions

Tonsillitis

What is Tonsillitis?

The two lymph nodes that are located on each side of the back of your throat are Tonsils. They function as a defence mechanism and helps to prevent your body from getting an infection. Tonsillitis is the condition when tonsils become infected.

Tonsillitis is a common childhood illness and can occur at any age. It is mostly diagnosed in children from preschool age through their mid-teens. Symptoms include fever, a sore throat and swollen tonsils,

This condition is contagious and can be caused by a variety of common bacteria and viruses, such as Streptococcal bacteria, which causes strep throat. Tonsillitis caused due to strep throat can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

Tonsillitis is relatively easy to diagnose. Symptoms usually go away within one week to ten days.

Adenoids

What are adenoids?

Adenoids are a mass of soft tissues that are high up in the throat and behind the nasal cavity. They are part of the lymphatic system along with the tonsils. The lymphatic system clears the infection and keeps the body fluids in balance. The adenoids and tonsils function by trapping germs coming in through the nose and mouth.

Adenoids usually start to shrink after about the age of five years. By teenage, they are almost completely gone. By then, the body develops other ways to fight germs.

What are enlarged adenoids?

Enlarged adenoids are adenoids that are swollen, which is a common problem in children.

What causes enlarged adenoids?

A child’s adenoids can be enlarged, or swollen because of different reasons. It may just be that the child had enlarged adenoids at birth. Also, Adenoids can become enlarged when they are trying to fight off infection. They may stay enlarged even after the infection is gone.

What problems can enlarged adenoids cause?

Enlarged adenoids can make the person hard to breathe through the nose. He or she might end up breathing only through the mouth. This may cause

A dry mouth, leading to bad breath
Cracked lips
A runny nose

Other problems due to enlarged adenoids can include,

Loud breathing
Snoring
Restless sleep
Sleep apnea (repeatedly stop breathing for a few seconds while sleeping)
Ear infections

How can enlarged adenoids be diagnosed?

The doctor will take a medical history, check the ears, throat, and mouth, and feel the neck.

As the adenoids are higher up than the throat, the doctor cannot see them just by looking through the mouth. To check the size of the adenoids, the doctor may use

A special mirror in the mouth
A long, flexible tube with an illuminated optical (an endoscope)
An X-Ray

What are the treatments for enlarged adenoids?

The right treatment depends on the root cause of the problem. If the symptoms are not too bad, the person may not need treatment. The doctor might just give a nasal spray to reduce the swelling, or antibiotics if he thinks that the patient has a bacterial infection.

In some cases, the person may need an adenoidectomy.

What is an adenoidectomy and why it might be needed?

An adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoid) might be needed if,

The person has repeated infections of the adenoids. In some cases, the infections can also cause ear infections and fluid buildup in the middle ear.

Antibiotics can’t get rid of a bacterial infection

The enlarged adenoids block the airways

If the person also has problems with tonsils, he or she will probably have a tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) at the same time that the adenoids are removed.

After having the surgery, the patient usually goes home the same day. He or she will probably have little throat pain, bad breath, and a runny nose. It can take a few more days to feel all better.

Diagnosis and Tests

X-Ray Exam: Neck

Hoarseness (Voice Change)

Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the voice caused due to a variety of conditions. The voice may have changes in volume and pitch, ranging from a deep, raspy voice, harsh voice to a weak voice. The rapidity of the onset and the symptoms associated with it will depend on the underlying cause leading to hoarseness.

The common cause of hoarseness mostly is acute laryngitis.
The underlying cause of hoarseness can be diagnosed based on the patient’s history and physical examination.
The treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Hoarseness can be prevented by avoiding excessive usage of strenuous voice and smoking cessation.

What causes hoarseness?

Hoarseness is mostly caused by an injury to, or irritation of, the vocal cords. The larynx, which is also referred to as the voice box, is the portion of the respiratory tract containing the vocal cords. The cartilaginous lump of the outer wall of the larynx is commonly referred to as the “Adam’s apple.” The vocal cords are folds of membranous tissue that form a “V” inside the larynx. When we sing or speak, the vocal cords vibrate in the air-stream and produce sound.

Hoarseness can be caused due to a number of conditions. The common cause of hoarseness mostly is inflammation of the vocal cords (acute laryngitis) caused mostly by an upper respiratory tract infection (usually viral), and less commonly from misuse or overuse of the voice (such as yelling or singing loud)

Other causes of hoarseness are:

Benign vocal cord nodules, cysts or polyps,

Vocal cord paralysis
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD),
Allergies,
Inhalation of respiratory tract irritants,
Smoking,
Thyroid problems,
Trauma to the larynx/vocal cords,
Neurological conditions (Parkinson’s disease, strokes, etc.) and
Cancer of the larynx.

Treatment for hoarseness

The treatment for hoarseness is based on the underlying cause, for example:

- Acute laryngitis is caused due to an upper respiratory tract infection that will usually improve on its own as the infection clears the body. Conservative treatment of cough suppressants and humidified air can be highly helpful.
- Voice rest is also highly recommended to avoid further injury or irritation to the vocal cords.
- Antibiotics are not indicated for the majority of cases of acute laryngitis.
- Smoking cessation is strongly advised for those individuals who smoke.
- Individuals with hoarseness caused due to vocal misuse overuse should adhere to voice rest, as a serious injury such as vocal cord hemorrhage can occur to the vocal cords if the voice is strenuously used during the period of acute laryngitis.
- Medications for gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or allergies can treat hoarseness if either of those is found to be the underlying cause.
- In some cases, surgery may be necessary for benign nodules or polyps, trauma to the vocal cords/ larynx and for cancer of the larynx.

How is hoarseness prevented?

Hoarseness can be prevented in some instances, such as:

Avoiding situations that require excessive strenuous voice use, and if a person needs to project their voice, use a microphone whenever possible.

Voice therapists may be helpful in certain cases to assist individuals with voice modification and vocal training.

Smoking cessation mostly prevents hoarseness or the development of cancer of the larynx.

Individuals with hoarseness caused by gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) can benefit from dietary modification (such as avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods) and medications