Pharyngeal tonsil. Hypertrophy of pharyngeal tonsils

Tonsils - lymphatic formations, located mostly in the area of throat. Surely you've heard about these structures, but perhaps you do not know how important the functions they perform. Unfortunately, like all other organs, tonsils are prone to infections and other diseases.

Naturally, it is important to know about what symptoms are accompanied by certain diseases. And since the largest is the pharyngeal tonsil (in medicine it is also referred to as nasopharyngeal), it is worthwhile first to consider the features of the course of certain pathologies in this structure.

Pharyngeal tonsil: structure and general information

To begin with it is necessary to say that the pharyngeal ring consists of six tonsils (they even have their own numbering). The structures themselves are a cluster of oval-shaped lymphoid tissue . They can be paired and unpaired.

• Palatine tonsils (I and II) are located in the so-called tonsillar niches, on the sides of the tongue hanging from the sky. In shape they resemble almonds. Quite often in medicine, these structures appear under the name "glands". It is their inflammation that causes all known tonsillitis and tonsillitis.
• The pharyngeal tonsil (photo above) is also known as the nasopharyngeal and tonsil cannon (III). The structure is located almost on the vault of the pharynx, occupying also the upper and part of the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. It looks like a few transversely located, protruding folds of the mucous membrane, lined with ciliate epithelium.
• The lingual tonsil (IV), located at the root of the tongue, with the median furrow dividing the structure into two halves. The tonsil has a tuberous surface, as well as shallow crypts, at the bottom of which open the salivary ducts. The structure is covered with a flat multilayer epithelium.
• Tubular tonsils (V and VI) are the smallest structures that are located near the pharyngeal openings of the Eustachian tube.

In addition, in the tissues of the larynx and pharynx, there are smaller lymphoid formations. Together they form the lymphoepithelial apparatus, the main function of which is to protect the body from the effects of negative factors.

The main functions of tonsils

Tonsils are part of the immune system, as well as lymph nodes, spleen and other structures. Accordingly, the main functions in this case are hematopoiesis and body protection.

For example, in the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils, lymphocytes are formed - blood cells that provide humoral immunity. In addition, it contains a large number of macrophages that have the ability to absorb and neutralize various antigens, including viral particles and bacterial cells.

And in the tonsils, the cells-lymphocytes very closely approach the surface epithelium. In some places, the tissues are so thin that the cells reach the surface of the tonsils and, accordingly, can interact with different foreign agents.

Inflammation of the amygdala: causes

Adenoiditis is an inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil. As a rule, the acute form of the disease develops against the background of other respiratory diseases, in which the infection penetrates into the lymphoid tissues. In addition, the disease often develops when the conditionally pathogenic microflora of the nasopharynx is activated. As you know, there is a huge number of bacterial microorganisms. But while their number is tightly controlled by the immune system, bacteria can not cause serious harm. Nevertheless, when the immune system weakens or malfunctions, microorganisms begin to multiply actively, which, accordingly, leads to the development of an inflammatory process.

Unfortunately, inflammation of the tonsils quite often remains without attention and necessary treatment. Frequent diseases lead to the fact that the lymphoid structures themselves become a source of infection that spreads to neighboring organs, causing sinusitis, otitis, tracheobronchitis, and other ailments.

By the way, this disease is most often diagnosed in children. Inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil in adults is a dangerous condition, since it can cause a severe form of retinasal angina.

Clinical picture in inflammation

This disease of pharyngeal tonsils at the initial stages resembles an ordinary cold. First, the body temperature rises and symptoms of intoxication appear, including chills, weakness, body aches, headache. Symptoms include an obsessive cough.

As the disease develops, pain occurs in the depth of the nose, which extends to the posterior sections of the nasal cavity. Quite often patients complain of pain in the nape. The swelling of the mucous membrane often extends to the Rosemueller fossa, which is accompanied by pain in the ears, a decrease in hearing, a violation of nasal breathing. In addition, patients complain of tickling and sore throat.

On examination, you can see a buildup of mucus in the nasopharynx. There is also an increase in the pharyngeal tonsil. On the surface it can be seen fibrous plaque, and its grooves are often filled with purulent exudate. There is an increase in the occipital, submandibular and posterior cervical lymph nodes. In infants, the disease can be accompanied by attacks of suffocation, as with laryngitis.

The acute form of the disease lasts about 5-7 days. Unfortunately, the likelihood of recurrence, even multiple, is very high, which in the end can lead to the appearance of a chronic form of the disease. Moreover, against the background of inflammation in children, complications such as otitis, sinusitis, lesions of lacrimal passages, retropharyngeal abscesses, bronchopneumonia, laryngotraheobronchitis and other respiratory tract diseases are often developed.

How is adenoiditis treated?

The treatment regimen for a similar disease depends on the patient's condition and the massive nature of the inflammatory process. If there are ulcers, they may need to be opened with subsequent irrigation with antiseptic drugs.

If the cause of the inflammatory process is a bacterial infection (most often this is what happens), then the patient is prescribed antibiotics. In addition, it is necessary to take antihistamine medications (Tavegil, Suprastin, etc.), which help to avoid the development of an allergic reaction to drugs and relieve swelling of the mucous membrane, thereby facilitating breathing and swallowing. Also, the use of vasoconstrictive drops for the nose is recommended. Nasal passages, the nasopharynx wall are irrigated with antiseptic solutions (for example, silver solution, protargol, collargol). With fever, it is possible to take antipyretic drugs, anti-inflammatory non-steroid drugs (for example, Nurofen, Ibufen, Paracetamol).

To accelerate the process of recovery, patients are sometimes prescribed immunomodulators. Sometimes you need vitamin therapy. By the way, the intake of vitamins and drugs that strengthen the immune system (for example, Aflubin) is recommended twice a year to prevent relapse.

If this disease of the pharyngeal tonsils develops heavily, accompanied by a severe fever, the formation of an abscess, various complications, then the hospitalization of the child is necessary. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process and maintaining the amygdala. Nevertheless, in some cases, its surgical removal is necessary.

What is hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsils? Photo, symptoms and stages of the disease

In addition to inflammation, there is another fairly common disease. In particular, in modern medicine, hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil, which is also referred to as "adenoids", is often recorded.

This disease is accompanied by an increase (growth) of the amygdala. According to statistical studies, the disease is more often diagnosed in children aged 3 to 14 years. During puberty, the volume of the amygdala decreases. In adults, this disease is rarely diagnosed.

Adenoids look like structures of irregular shape, which slightly resembles a cock's comb, since they are divided by connective tissue septa into several lobules. They have a pale pink color and a soft consistency. Often the disease spreads to the side walls of the pharynx and down (this is hypertrophy of the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils), and sometimes also to the holes in the auditory tubes.

There are three degrees of hypertrophy:

• At the first degree, the adenoid covers about 1/3 of the opener.
• Hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil of the 2nd degree is more pronounced - the structure closes almost 2/3 of the opener.
• The third degree of the disease is characterized by the complete closure of the khohans (internal nostrils), which, naturally, is fraught with a lot of problems with breathing.

The main causes of hypertrophy

In fact, the mechanism of tissue hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil has not been fully studied. The reasons for the development of such a pathology, alas, can not be determined in every case. Nevertheless in modern medicine it is customary to single out several main provoking factors:

• There is a certain genetic heredity, which is associated with some disorders in the structure and functioning of the lymphatic and endocrine system.
• Increases the chances of adenoid growth problem pregnancy and heavy childbirth. For example, risk factors include fetal hypoxia, viral diseases that the mother suffered in the first trimester of pregnancy, toxic drugs and antibiotics that she had to take. In addition, the propensity to form adenoids can be caused by child asphyxia and some injuries during the birth process.
• Naturally, the peculiarities of the first years of life also have significance, for example, whether the child was sick in infancy and what medicines he took, what the diet looked like, whether the baby's ration included preservatives, whether he was breastfed, etc.
• Frequent colds and viral diseases also increase the risk of hyperplasia.
• The pharyngeal tonsil is often hypertrophied in children suffering from allergies (by the way, the tendency to allergies in itself indicates a malfunction in the immune system).

Other factors are important, including an unfavorable ecological environment, malnutrition, sedentary lifestyle, etc. Quite often, the growth of adenoids is stimulated by several factors.

What disorders cause adenoids? Symptoms of the disease

Naturally, this pathology is accompanied by a number of certain symptoms. Having found out in the child (or at itself) some attributes, it is better to address at once for consultation to the doctor. At the initial stages of the disease can still be cured conservatively. So how does the clinical picture look like?

• The very first and characteristic sign is a complicated nasal breathing. The baby breathes very often, with the mouth.
• Often a dream is accompanied by snoring and snoring, sometimes at night the patient wakes up from attacks of suffocation.
• The patient is constantly worried about a runny nose, and the discharge from the nose is serous.
• Due to the fact that secretions constantly flow down the back wall of the nasopharynx, the child suffers from frequent coughing.
• As the disease develops, it can be noted changes in voice, hoarseness, nasal.
• A patient with hypertrophied tonsils is more prone to various diseases of the respiratory system, including sore throats, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis.
• Frequent among such children are also problems with hearing, frequent otitis, a feeling of stuffy ears.
• Violation of normal breathing leads to the development of chronic hypoxia, in which the brain does not receive enough oxygen. It is believed that adenoids in schoolchildren may be the reason for the decline in academic performance.
• In connection with the violation of nasal breathing, pathologies are observed in the development of the facial department (if it is a sick child). An irregular bite is formed, the mouth is always slightly ajar, the lower jaw lengthens and narrows.
• Deformity of the chest can also be observed (with a prolonged course of the disease). Due to the small depth of inspiration, the chest wall is flattened, even it can acquire a hollow form.
• In some cases, anemia develops and some disorders of the digestive tract, for example, problems with stool, a decrease in appetite.

Modern methods of treatment of adenoids

If a doctor is found at the examination that the pharyngeal tonsillitis is hypertrophic, then therapy is prescribed. Of course, if possible, try to keep the lymphoid structure. Nevertheless, conservative treatment is possible only at the first stage of the disease.

As a rule, patients are prescribed the administration of antihistamines, which help to eliminate edema. It is necessary to use nasal drops, as well as irrigation of the nasal passages and the posterior nasopharyngeal wall with antiseptic solutions. If there is a slight inflammation of the tonsils, you may need anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs. Also, the patient's condition will be affected by massages of the face and collar zone (help prevent skeletal development), respiratory gymnastics, physiotherapy. Good results are provided by climate therapy, which amounts to regular rest in the mountains or on the beach, as well as visits to specialized sanatoriums.

It is worth noting that the presence of adenoids requires constant monitoring by a doctor - regular examinations are necessary, since they enable us to determine in time the increase in the size of the tonsils.

Nevertheless, the second and third degree is an indication for surgical intervention. Resection of adenoids - the procedure is relatively simple. On the other hand, it is worthwhile to understand that in the childhood, the removal of a part of the immune system can undermine the defenses of the body. Therefore, after the procedure for some time, you need to carefully monitor the child's health and, if necessary, conduct immunomodulatory therapy.

Other diseases of the tonsils

Inflammation and hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil are the most common ailments, but they are by no means the only ones. There are more dangerous and complex diseases.

For example, in patients of middle and advanced age (in childhood it is rarely observed), an abscess is sometimes diagnosed. Inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil in adults is sometimes accompanied by the appearance of an abscess with a coat. Such a disease is quite difficult. It is characterized by a rare increase in temperature (sometimes up to 40 degrees), weakness, body aches, dizziness, sharp soreness in the throat, which becomes stronger during swallowing or talking.

In addition, the formation of tumors, both benign and malignant, is possible. For example, in modern medicine, papillomas, lipomas, neurinomas, fibroids, fibroids, angiomas are diagnosed. With a similar ailment the pharyngeal tonsil visually increases. As the disease develops, patients note the difficulty of swallowing, discomfort during a conversation, the constant sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Benign tumors tend to grow slowly. The main method of treatment is surgical removal. But the growth of malignant neoplasms can be incredibly fast. Moreover, cancer cells can spread to other organs (metastasis formation). In such cases, in addition to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or any other method, depending on the decision of the treating specialist, is required.

The cyst is a defect of the pharyngeal tonsil, which is accompanied by the appearance of a benign formation with a membrane inside which liquid contents are contained. Cysts can be either large single, or smaller, multiple. Neoplasms are located either on the surface, or directly in the tissue of the tonsils. The causes of the development of the disease can be different, including hormonal failures, chronic tonsillitis, infection of lymphoid tissues, etc. The clinical picture depends on the size of the cyst. If the formation is small, then it can cause no discomfort. As the cyst grows, difficulties with swallowing and other common symptoms may appear. And the presence of a neoplasm is often accompanied by an unpleasant odor from the mouth. A ruptured cyst can provoke a massive inflammatory process, and therefore therapy in this case is simply necessary.

Inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsil can occur against the background of tuberculosis. Quite often this disease proceeds secretly and disguises itself as chronic tonsillitis. The diagnosis can be made only after careful diagnosis and bacteriological studies.

The defeat of the tonsils can be associated with syphilis, and the inflammatory process can develop at virtually any stage of the disease. Sometimes patients develop so-called syphilitic angina, which is much more severe than other forms of inflammation.

In any case, the pharyngeal amygdala is an important structure, the state of which should not be ignored. Therefore, when discomfort occurs, you need to turn in time for help to specialists. Curing a disease at an early stage is much easier than getting rid of, for example, the chronic forms of a particular ailment.