Because they are so frequent and familiar, numerous alterations are not given the necessary importance. Angina, also called tonsillitis, is characterized by inflammation of one or both palatine tonsils. These are oval tissue masses located on the lateral wall of the oropharynx; in other words, they are on each side of the throat so they can be felt when they are inflamed and, at the same time, the discomfort it causes.
Everyone knows that there are numerous causes of tonsillitis but if you ask yourself, do angina spread? We invite you to read the following FastlyHealarticle so that you can answer this and other questions.
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Angina symptoms
The tonsils are responsible for filtering the germs that enter the body through the mouth to prevent them from passing to the rest of the body and causing multiple alterations, so they must work properly. When you suffer from tonsillitis and they cannot do your job correctly, you are exposed to various alterations that can significantly affect your health; it is essential to avoid suffering from this increasingly common pathology.
Depending on the type of infectious agent causing the alteration, the symptoms present and their intensity may vary, just as there are cases in which significant symptoms do not develop. In general, the symptoms of angina caused by viruses usually appear gradually with a mild to moderate intensity. On the contrary, the bacterial symptoms appear at the moment, being more substantial and lasting. Among the signs of tonsillitis are:
- Pain and redness in the throat.
- Inflammation of the tonsils.
- White or pus patches in the throat.
- Difficulty swallowing and speaking.
- Pain to the touch from the neck to the jaw.
- Fever is generally more intense if the cause is bacterial.
- Muscle pain.
- Loss of appetite
- Bad breath.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches.
- Fatigue.
Is angina contagious?
Inflammation in the tonsils occurs when some viruses or bacteria enter the airway and increase in these lymph nodes since it acts as a barrier so that these external microorganisms do not reach other parts of the body, so the body responds to these invaders with increased production of defender cells and antibodies to eliminate them. Infections are often caused by viruses, while bacterial angina cases are less common but become more intense, long-lasting, and require medical treatment.
Due to the transmission route of infectious agents, angina spreads quickly, especially if you have a weakened immune system, and is more common in people between 5 and 20 years of age. Once the virus or bacteria has entered the tonsils, they begin to multiply if conditions are favorable. It can take up to a week before noticing any symptoms, so sometimes, patients do not know when they were infected.
How Tonsillitis Spread From Person to Person
Anyone can get tonsillitis by coming into direct person-to-person contact with secretions from the throat or nose of someone infected, for example, by kissing or covering their mouth when sneezing or wiping their nose and then greeting you without washing. So after passing your hand through your nose or mouth, you carry the pathogenic microorganisms.
Also, tonsillitis is highly contagious because viruses or bacteria can be acquired through the air you breathe with an infected person nearby. This occurs because sneezing or coughing expels a certain amount of these harmful agents and disperses into the air, so it is not uncommon for the disease to be transmitted while walking in the street without knowing who is infected.
On the other hand, although less frequently than the different routes of transmission, it is possible to become infected with microorganisms by touching an object that has traces of secretions from the nose or mouth of someone with tonsillitis, as could happen when using a glass that was not properly washed after using it by an infected person or consuming food contaminated with such viruses or bacteria.
Thus, tonsils are spread by saliva, mucus, and air, either by direct or indirect contact.
Tips to prevent the spread of tonsillitis
Suppose someone close to you is experiencing this infection in the tonsils. You can follow some precautions to reduce the risk of contagion, whether they have symptoms or have already disappeared, at least the first week after since it could still transmit pathogens. To prevent more infections of angina, it is recommended:
- The glasses and cutlery used by the infected person should be washed very well with hot, soapy water. Preferably keep them separate so that only he uses them until he heals.
- The person with tonsillitis should cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing with a handkerchief or their forearm to avoid contagion from coming into contact with their hands.
- Anyone who has suffered from tonsillitis should replace their toothbrush with a new one.
- Both the patient with angina and the people around him have to wash their hands frequently, especially after sneezing, coughing, or blowing their nose and before eating or preparing food.
- Avoid touching tissues, napkins, or anything else that has been used by someone infected and could be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.
- Maintain a balanced diet since the healthier and more robust the body’s defense system, the lower the risk of suffering from this disease.
Treatment for swollen tonsils
It is essential to make a medical consultation when you suffer from one or more symptoms of angina. In this way, the professional will be able to offer the indicated treatment, which will be based on the particularities of each patient; however, they are generally treated with anti-inflammatories to calm the discomfort caused by the alteration. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic mainly when plaques in the throat occur due to a bacterial infection.
Despite the above, several home methods can help the traditional treatment considerably so that the patient improves a little faster and can get rid of the symptoms more quickly.
Among the most recommended natural remedies is honey with lemon, which, thanks to the properties of both ingredients, can eliminate the alteration of the tonsils and its symptoms quickly. Despite this, numerous products can be ideal for gargling or infusions to alleviate these cases, for example, baking soda, rosemary, chamomile, ginger, garlic, onion, or oregano, among others. . In the following FastlyHealarticle, we talk about home remedies for throat plaques.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Is angina spread? We recommend that you enter our category of Ear, nose and throat .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.