I would like to write about tonsil stones today. It is known that stones in human body develop in kidneys and gallbladder mostly. But, tonsils are another places for stones to develop. Let's start learning what tonsils are.
Tonsils are small organs at the back of throat. These organs are part of our immune system. Because they have a tissue contains cells called lymphocytes. These cells are our soldiers. They fight against microorganisms and they prevent us from infections. We beleive lymphocytes in our tonsils are blocking the passage of most bacteria and viruses entering from our mouth. That should be main function of our tonsils: The first blockage in our body.
But, sometimes they don't work properly. In some situations, they don't help immune system, and they may even block our immune system. It is propably because of the environment. They are under effect of many germs and chemicals, radiation etc. In some patients, doctors decide to remove tonsils with operations. It happens when tonsils start to disturb the health of a patient. Researchers wondered the result after operations, and they didn't find any difference about infections between people who have tonsils and who have not.
Causes
Tonsils has a cranny structure. These crannies might be filled with some bacteria, chemical materials, body fluids etc. These filling may convert to a debris. Tonsil stones develop if the debris hardens or calcifies. That usually happens at patients who has chronic inflamation of tonsils, or who has tonsil infections very commonly. If tonsil stones develop, they will probably be small stones. It is very rare to see big stones. The name of tonsil stone in medical literature is tonsillolith.
Symptoms
These stones are usually small, so most of people with tonsil stones do not have any symptom. They even don't know that they have tonsil stones if they don't check their tonsils well or to be checked. But if they are too many or big, we encounter some symptoms, such as;
1) Bad breath: A blockage of air may cause this symptom, and it may also lead halitosis.
2) Pain: As you know, stones are known to cause pains. Kidney stone causes a pain like being snabbed. Tonsil stone itself may lead sore throat. But tonsil infection itself may cause sore throat too.
3) Difficulty swallowing
4) Ear pain: There are some nerves passing through the tonsils. If stone irritates one of them, and if this nerve is one going to the ear, people may have ear pain eventhough they have a healthy normal ear.
Treatment Options
First option is nothing. If stones are very small and do not cause any problem, no need to do anything for them. But the patient should be informed about the possible reason. If he or she has any other problem leading it, it should be fixed.
Second option is try to remove with a swab in front of mirror.
If there is an infection beside the stone, gargling with warm salty water may help to ease symptoms such as pain. Also some antibiotics might be tried to get rid of infection, but if the reason of infection is virus, antibiotics will not work.
If the stones are very big, surgical removal might be tried. A local anesthesia will be enough for such an operation.
So, my suggestion is to protect yourself from tonsil stones. If you have any breathing problem, snoring at sleep, nose problem etc. visit your doctor. If this problem happens chronically, the environment for tonsil stones may develop.
If you have stones, you can check how big they are. If they do not cause any problem,do not worry. Just be carefull. I offer you same suggestion just before development of tonsil stone. But if you have symptoms, try to remove stones in front of the mirror. You can check some videos online how to remove. But if they are really big, you must visit your doctor. I wish you all happy and healthy days...
Abdurrahman Sarmis, MD
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