Acute Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is defined simply as the swelling of the tonsils, which are located in the throat, towards the back of the mouth.
Acute tonsillitis comes on quickly and can be caused by a variety of organisms, including viruses, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (Strep throat)and other types of bacteria.
Acute tonsillitis is caused by both bacteria and viruses and will be accompanied by symptoms of ear pain when swallowing, bad breath, and drooling along with sore throat and fever. In this case, the surface of the tonsil may be bright red or have a grayish-white coating, while the lymph nodes in the neck may be swollen.
Signs of Acute Tonsillitis :
- There is hyperaemia of pillars, soft palate and uvula.
- Often the breath is foetid and tongue is coasted.
- Tonsils are red and swollen with yellowish spots of purulent material presenting at the opening of crypts (acute follicular tonsillitis) or there may be a whitish membrane on the medial surface of tonsil which can be easily wiped away with a swab (acute membranous tonsillitis). The tonsils may be enlarged and congested so much so that they almost meet in
- the midline along with some oedema of the uvula and soft palate (acute parenchymatous tonsillitis).
- The jugulodigastric lymph nodes are enlarged and tender.
- Sore throat.
- Fever. It may vary from 38 to 40°C and may be associated with chills and rigors. Sometimes, a child presents with an unexplained fever and it is only on examination that an acute tonsillitis is discovered.
- Difficulty in swallowing. The child may refuse to eat anything due to local pain.
- Earache. It is either referred pain from the tonsil or the result of acute otitis media which may occur as a complication.
- Constitutional symptoms. They are usually more marked than seen in simple pharyngitis and may include headache, general body aches, malaise and constipation. There may be abdominal pain due to mesenteric lymphadenitis simulating a clinical picture of acute appendicitis.
Nursing Diagnosis: Impaired verbal communication related to the effects of damage to the area to talk to the brain hemispheres.
Goal:
- Patients are able to communicate to meet their basic needs and show improvement in their communication skills.
Interventions :
- Do a personal communication with the patient (often but short and easy to understand).
- Create an atmosphere of acceptance of the changes experienced by the patient.
- Teach the patient to improve communication techniques.
- Use non-verbal communication techniques.
- Collaboration in the implementation of speech therapy.
- Observation of the patient's ability to communicate in both verbal and non-verbal.
Nursing Care Plan for Tonsillitis
Nursing Care Plan Tonsillectomy
Nursing Interventions for Acute Tonsillitis
