How is lingual tonsil hypertrophy treated?
Treatment is usually conservative, avoiding airway irritants, and surgery is indicated when there is evidence of symptomatic airway obstruction. We present the case of a patient with unrecognized lingual tonsillar hypertrophy.
What causes tonsil hypertrophy?
Some potential causes of tonsillar hypertrophy include viruses like adenovirus, influenza virus, and herpes simplex virus. Another cause could be bacterial infections including Neisseriagonorrhoeae, mycoplasma, and Haemophilus influenzae Type B. Enlarged tonsils can also be caused by fungal or parasitic infections.
Is lingual tonsillitis serious?
Lingual tonsil abscess is an extremely rare but potentially life-threatening entity, with instances in the published literature limited to a small number of case reports. Identified precipitants include lingual tonsillitis (as in this case), trauma and infected thyroglossal cyst.
Are lingual tonsils normal?
The lingual tonsil, a normal component of Waldeyer’s ring, consists of lymphoid tissue located at the base of the tongue. Acute inflammation and hypertrophy of lingual tonsils can occur and has been reported as one of the unusual causes of unexpected difficulty with both mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation.
Can a child grow out of enlarged tonsils?
It is not clear why some children have enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and others don’t. But these enlarged areas of tissue are often a normal part of growing up. They sometimes get smaller again over time.
What becomes of this tonsil when hypertrophied?
Hypertrophy means enlargement. Hypertrophy of the tonsils and the adenoids means this tissue is enlarged. Adenoid hypertrophy is common in children but rare in adults. The common causes of adenoid hypertrophy in adults are chronic infection and allergy.
What does an enlarged tonsil mean?
Enlarged tonsils can be a sign of infection or irritation from things like smoke or polluted air. Some people just naturally have larger tonsils. In other cases, there’s no known cause. Tonsillar hypertrophy is particularly common in children, though it can also affect adults.
Why do lingual tonsils swell?
The most common cause of lingual tonsillar enlargement is compensatory enlargement following tonsillectomy. Other potential causes include lymphoma, chronic infection and HIV. Irritation such as from smoking and gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) can also cause lingual tonsil hypertrophy.
Can your lingual tonsil swell?
Lingual tonsil swelling can cause a wide variety of signs and symptoms due to its anatomical position, including altered phonation, airway stenosis (obstructive sleep apnea, stridor, airway compromise), interference with swallowing (dysphagia, odynophagia, globus sensation), and referred otalgia.
What does lingual tonsil mean?
Medical Definition of lingual tonsil : a variable mass or group of small nodules of lymphoid tissue lying at the base of the tongue just anterior to the epiglottis.
How do you treat lingual tonsils?
Treatment can range from at-home care like gargling with salt water and getting plenty of rest and hydration to surgery, such as a tonsillectomy. While this surgery can be essential for you or your child’s well-being, in some cases, the removal of palatine tonsils is the cause of lingual tonsil issues.