Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

from birth until the age of 7, after which
time they shrink substantially. Tonsillitis
is a common childhood infection.
tonsillectomySurgical removal of the
tonsils, which is now performed only if a
child suffers frequent, recurrent attacks
of severe tonsillitis. The operation is also
carried out to treat quinsy(an abscess
around the tonsil).
tonsillitisInflammation of the tonsilsas
a result of infection. Tonsillitis mainly
occurs in children under age 9. Some-
times the tonsils become repeatedly
infected by the microorganisms they are
supposed to protect against. The main
symptoms are a sore throat and diffi-
culty in swallowing. The throat is visibly
inflamed. Other common symptoms are
fever, headache, earache, enlarged and
tender lymph nodesin the neck, and
bad breath. Occasionally, there may be
temporary deafness or quinsy(an abs-
cess around the tonsil).
Tonsillitis is treated with plenty of flu-
ids and an analgesic drug such as
paracetamol; in some cases antibiotic
drugsmay also be prescribed.
toothSee teeth.
tooth abscessSee abscess, dental.
toothachePain in 1 or more teethand
sometimes the gums. Causes include
dental caries, a tooth fracture (see frac-
ture, dental), a deep, unlined filling (see
filling, dental), periodontitis, a dental
abscess (see abscess, dental), a blow to
a tooth, or referred pain from sinusitis.
Analgesic drugsmay provide temporary
relief. Treatment depends on the cause.

toothbrushingCleaning of the teeth

with a brush to remove plaqueand food

particles from tooth surfaces and to stim-

ulate the gums. Toothbrushing should

be carried out twice a day using a fluo-

ride dentifrice(usually toothpaste).

tooth decaySee caries, dental.

tooth extractionSee extraction, dental.

toothpasteSee dentifrice.

tophusA collection of uric acidcrystals

deposited in tissues, especially around

joints, but occasionally in other places

such as the ear. It is a sign of hyper-

uricaemia, which accompanies gout.

topicalA term describing a drugthat is

applied to the surface of the body, not

swallowed or injected.

torsionA term that means twisting, often

applied to the intestine or testis.

torticollisTwisting of the neck, causing

the head to be tilted and fixed in an ab-

normal position (wryneck). There is

often neck pain and stiffness. The cause

is usually a minor neck injury that irri-

tates cervical nerves, leading to muscle

spasm. Other causes are sleeping in an

awkward position, a neck-muscle injury

at birth, and a burn or injury that has

caused heavy scarring.

Torticollis due to muscle spasm may be

treated by use of an orthopaedic collar

(see collar, orthopaedic), heat treatment,

ultrasound treatment, physiotherapy, or

injections of the toxin that causes botu-

lism.When the cause is an injury arising

from birth, the muscle is gently stretched

several times each day; occasionally, an

operation is required.

touchThe sense by which certain cha-

racteristics of objects, such as their size,

shape, temperature, and surface texture,

can be ascertained by physical contact.

The skin has many types of touch

receptors, including Merkel’s discs and

Meissner’s corpuscles to detect light

touch, and Pacinian corpuscles to sense

deep pressure and vibration. Signals

from these receptors pass, via sensory

nerves, to the spinal cord, from there to

the thalamusin the brain, and on to the

sensory cortex, where touch sensations

are perceived and interpreted.

The various parts of the body differ in

their sensitivity to painful stimuli and

in touch discrimination. For example, the

TONSILLECTOMY TOUCH

T

TONSIL

Nasal
cavity

Adenoid

Tongue

Pharynx

Opening of
eustachian
tube

Tonsil

Epiglottis

Palate