Tonsillitis is usually a self-limiting condition, ie it gets better without treatment, and generally there are no complications.Tonsillitis is extremely common in children and young people but it can occur at any age. The characteristics of the disease are pain in the throat and trouble swallowing.
Usually, tonsillitis is caused by a virus. But sometimes it's caused by the same bacteria that causes "strep throat." Only in very rare cases, is it caused by a fungus or a parasite. Tonsillitis is spread through droplets in the air, when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
The most common symptoms for tonsillitis:
- Tonsillitis causes include viral infections such as the flu, the common cold, mononucleosis. Streptococcus is the most common bacterial cause. Bacterial tonsillitis can be treated with antibiotics, but viral tonsillitis cannot.
- Tonsillitis is transmitted most commonly from one person to another by social contact such as- coughs, sneezes, and nasal fluids.
- Only about 30% of tonsillitis in children is caused by strep throat.
- Only 10% of tonsillitis in adults is caused by strep throat.
- There will be pain in mouth with swallowing.
- Headache
- Loss of appetite is the common symptom of tonsillitis.
- There will be high temperature during tonsillitis.
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- In tonsillitis, there will be white or yellow spots of pus on the tonsils.
- Sore throat - some children complain of pain in their tummy, rather than a sore throat.
- Swollen lymph glands under each side of the jaw.
- Earache
- Headache
- Bad breath
Nursing Diagnosis for Tonsillitis : Anxiety related to lack of knowledge about the disease, prognosis and treatment needs.
Goal : Anxiety is reduced or lost
Outcomes:
- Diminished or lost.
- Anxiety is reduced.
- Shows understanding of the disease process and prognosis.
- Manifest behavior, due to no anxiety.
Intervention and Rational :
1. Provide information about drug therapy, side effects and interactions on the importance of adherence to the program.
R:/ Improving understanding and promote cooperation in the treatment / prophylaxis, and reduce the risk of recurrence of complications.
2. Discuss the need for proper nutritional intake / balance.
R :/ Need for optimal healing and general well-being.
3. Encourage adequate rest periods with activity scheduled.
R:/ Prevent fatigue, energy savings and improve healing.
4. Review the need for personal health and a healthy environment.
R:/ Exposure Helps the environment by reducing the number of the existing bacterial pathogens.
5. Identify the signs / symptoms requiring medical evaluation, such as increased temperature settled, tachycardia, syncope, rash of unknown origin, unexplained fatigue, anorexia, increased thirst and changes in bladder function.
Early recognition of the R :/ progression / recurrence of infection would allow intervention and reduce the risk of progression towards life-threatening situation.
6. Emphasize the importance of immunization prophylactic / antibiotic therapy as needed.
R:/ The use of the prevention of infection.