Tonsillitis Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Tonsillitis

Have you ever experienced a sore throat that makes you feel uncomfortable and gives you a hard time swallowing? This usually happens when the throat is irritated or inflamed due to tonsillitis. The tonsils, which are located in a human’s throat, can become red and swollen; on top of that they can also develop yellow and white patches on them. These conditions point towards an individual developing tonsillitis. 

People that have tonsillitis may also develop other conditions that include fever, chills and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Those are the more common symptoms however there are other symptoms as well including headaches, bad breath, fatigue or a hoarse voice. When it comes to younger children, the symptoms however can be different. Children may refuse to eat as they feel the pain when they try to swallow anything. 

What is Tonsillitis

So what really is tonsillitis? This is a condition that occurs when the tonsils get inflamed. Tonsils are two oval-shaped lymphoid tissues located at the back of the throat. This area of the body plays a big role when it comes to an individual’s immune system. This is due to the fact that they trap bacteria that enter the body through one’s mouth and nose. Because tonsils are frequently hit by germs, sometimes they themselves can be infected. How do these infections occur? The infection happens when the tonsils get red and swollen. Apart from being red and swollen the tonsils may also get a few yellow and white patches on them. This can cause swallowing to become painful and in some people, it may even cause fever and fatigue. 

Who Is Most Likely to Develop Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is a condition that can affect people of all ages, however it is more common among young children. This is due to the fact that kids are usually in environments that give them a higher chance of getting the condition. Kids go to school where they are exposed to many people from all over, thus giving them a higher chance of getting tonsillitis. Another reason is because the immune system of a child is still developing, therefore it is easier for them to get the condition. 

Causes of Tonsillitis

Viral Infections

When it comes to tonsillitis a lot of the cases have to do with viral infections. These include various different viruses like adenovirus, influenza virus and Epstein-Barr virus. 

Bacterial Infections

Other than viral infections, bacterial infections are another thing that causes tonsillitis. One of the more common bacteria that causes tonsillitis is known as Group A Streptococcus. This bacterium causes strep throat. 

How the infection spreads

Tonsillitis can spread through various different ways. These include coughing or sneezing, having close contact with infected people and touching any surface that may be contaminated with the infection. 

Types of Tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis

This type of tonsillitis develops suddenly, which is commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections, lasts about a few days to week. The conditions can get better with treatment and supportive care. 

Chronic tonsillitis

When the tonsil is inflamed for a long time it is known as chronic tonsillitis. Symptoms of this condition include persistent coughing, swollen tonsils, and ongoing bad breath. When it becomes chronic, medicine alone may not be enough to treat it. 

Recurrent tonsillitis

This is when someone goes through multiple tonsillitis episodes in a year. The repeated infection may affect an individual’s daily life and if things get worse, healthcare professionals may recommend a surgical treatment. 

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose someone with tonsillitis, doctors must do a physical examination of the throat and neck to evaluate their condition. In doing this doctor are looking for swollen tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes, redness and white and yellow patches. 

For further examination, doctors may even do a rapid strep test to check if there are any bacterial infections. Throat culture can be done to confirm if there is any Group A Streptococcus infection and blood tests are also done to see if there's any viral infection like mononucleosis. 

(Disclaimer: Accurate diagnosis helps healthcare professionals come up with an accurate treatment plan for each individual.)

Treatment Options 

The treatment of each tonsillitis condition depends on the cause of the infection. 

Treatment for bacterial tonsillitis

In the case of bacterial tonsillitis, doctors will prescribe individuals with antibiotics, commonly penicillin and amoxicillin. These medications can help individuals get rid of the bacteria and reduce their symptoms. 

Treatment for viral tonsillitis

Unlike bacteria, antibiotics do not work against viral infections. In this case, doctors focus the treatment on symptom relief and recovery. Doctors will recommend individuals to rest, drink lots of water and take medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain. 

Things like lozenges, salt water gargling are also recommended in order to soothe one’s throat and get some relief. 

When Surgery May Be Recommended

When the conditions get worse and often doctors may recommend a tonsillectomy, this is done to surgically remove the tonsils. This procedure is usually only recommended when the infection turns chronic, recurrent, interferes with a person's daily life or develops other complications. 

Treatment at Vibhavadi Hospital 

Vibhavadi Hospital has a team of experienced doctors that can diagnose and treat tonsillitis. Whether it's through medication, supportive care or surgery, the hospital is equipped with tools that can help doctors deal with the conditions.