Always bear in mind that tonsillitis is a condition in which the tonsils or clumps of flesh-like tissue positioned on each side of the back of the throat become infected by bacteria or virus. When it comes to viral tonsillitis, it often subsides without requiring any form of treatment. As for bacterial tonsillitis, it might require the administration of antibiotics to help clear up the infection. Remember that untreated tonsillitis can lead to a variety of complications.
Abscess
Once the tonsils are infected, they generate pus which is a gluey fluid comprised of white blood cells, dead cells and cell debris. The pus can end up trapped inside the space between the soft tissues of the tonsils and result to the development of an abscess. The pus within the abscess can seep into the bloodstream which results to further complications.
When it comes to abscesses, they require drainage or aspiration. Since some of these spaces are difficult to reach physically, drainage of the abscess might be a difficult task.
Sleep apnea
Tonsillitis is known to cause the tonsils to swell. Untreated tonsillitis can lead to an obstructed airway and disrupt with regular breathing. It is important to note that this can lead to sleep apnea which is a condition in which the breathing in an intermittent manner stops or becomes very superficial while at sleep.
Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea can have 5-30 pauses while breathing during a single night’s sleep. In addition, this condition disrupts with sleeping which results to sleepiness during daytime.
Acute glomerulonephritis
In uncommon cases, tonsillitis can be caused by certain strains of streptococcus bacteria that can lead to kidney inflammation. This can progress to a condition called as acute glomerulonephritis (AGN).
The glomeruli are the miniature filtering screens in the kidneys that take out the waste products from the blood. Once the bacteria that infect the tonsils enter the bloodstream, the bacteria can reach the glomeruli. The immune system reacts by triggering inflammation which causes the formation of scar tissues. The presence of scar tissue disrupts with the ability of the glomeruli to filter out the blood effectively.
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is likely to develop especially among children after being infected by the bacteria Streptococcus strain A. This condition can cause a delay in the immune system response to the bacteria. This causes inflammation of the joints, fever, rashes, weight loss, stomach pain and fatigue.
The management of rheumatic fever typically involves antibiotics that fight the bacteria, bed rest and medications to minimize the joint inflammation. In severe cases, it might require hospitalization. Since rheumatic fever can cause inflammation in the heart valves, proper diagnosis and treatment are vital.