3. Table of Content
What is Tonsillitis?
Types of Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis vs. strep throat
Symptoms
Causes of Tonsillitis
Diagnosis
Treatment
Home Remedies
Prevention
Conclusion
4. What is Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two
oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of
the throat — one tonsil on each side. Signs
and symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen
tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing
and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the
neck.
Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by
infection with a common virus, but bacterial
infections also may cause tonsillitis.
6. Types
Different types of tonsillitis may occur. Doctors define
them by their symptoms and recovery period.
These include:
Acute tonsillitis: Symptoms usually last
around 3–4 days but may last up to 2
weeks.
Recurrent tonsillitis: A person has
several different instances of acute
tonsillitis in a year.
Chronic tonsillitis: Individuals will have
an ongoing sore throat and foul-smelling
breath.
7. Tonsillitis vs. strep throat
People often confuse tonsillitis with strep
throat. However, there are important
differences.
A specific type of bacteria called group A
Streptococcus causes strep throat.
Symptoms are often more severe.
Streptococcus can also infect other parts
of the throat.
Viruses may also cause tonsillitis. However,
strep throat is purely a bacterial infection.
8.
9. Causes
Tonsils are the first line of defense against
potential diseases and infections. For this
reason, they can easily develop an
infection.
Tonsillitis is typically viral. Less commonly,
bacteria can cause the infection.
Viral or bacterial tonsillitis can be
contagious and spread from person to
person. However, if tonsillitis is due to a
secondary illness, such as sinusitis or hay
fever, it is unlikely to spread.
10. Viral causes
A viral infection is the most common
cause of tonsillitis. The most common
types of virus that infect the tonsils
include:
adenovirus, which is a possible
cause of the common cold and sore
throat
rhinovirus, which is the most
common cause of the common cold
influenza, or flu
respiratory syncytial virus, which
often leads to acute respiratory
tract infections.
11. Bacterial causes
The most common type of bacteria to infect
the tonsils is Streptococcus pyogenes.
However, less often, other species can cause
tonsillitis, including:
Staphylococcus aureus
Mycoplasma pneumonia
Chlamydia pneumonia
Bordetella pertussis
Fusobacterium
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
12. Risk factors
Risk factors for tonsillitis include:
Young age. Tonsillitis most often affects
children, and tonsillitis caused by bacteria
is most common in children ages 5 to 15.
Frequent exposure to germs. School-age
children are in close contact with their
peers and frequently exposed to viruses or
bacteria that can cause tonsillitis.
13. How is tonsillitis diagnosed?
To diagnosis tonsillitis, your doctor will:
Examine your throat for redness, swelling
or white spots on the tonsils
Ask about other symptoms you’ve had,
such as a fever, cough, runny nose, rash or
stomachache
Look in your ears and your nose for other
signs of infection
Feel the sides of your neck to see if the
lymph nodes are swollen and tender
14. Treatment
Medications
People can use over-the-counter (OTC) pain
relieving medications to numb the symptoms
of tonsillitis.
If a bacterial infection is causing tonsillitis, a
doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics.
However, they will not do so for a person with
viral tonsillitis. Antibiotics are not effective
against viruses.
Penicillin is the most common antibiotic. When
on a course of antibiotics, a person must
follow the full course and continue taking
them, even if the symptoms have resolved.
15. Treatment
Removal
Previously, doctors regularly recommended
surgery to treat tonsillitis. Today, a doctor will not
recommend a tonsillectomy unless the condition is
chronic and recurring.
Although the tonsils become less active after
puberty, they are still a functional organ. For this
reason, a surgeon will not remove them unless
necessary.
A doctor might request a tonsillectomy if the
tonsils are causing secondary issues, such as:
sleep apnea, which involves problems breathing at night
difficulties with breathing or swallowing
an abscess that is difficult to treat
16. Home remedies
Resting enables the body to preserve
energy for fighting the infection rather than
using it on daily activities.
Drinking plenty of fluids will prevent the
throat from drying out and becoming more
uncomfortable. Gargling with saltwater
might reduce discomfort.
Sucking throat lozenges may help soothe
the throat.
Dry air can irritate the throat. Using air
humidifiers or sitting in a steamy bathroom
can alleviate this.
17. How can you prevent tonsillitis?
To reduce your risk of developing tonsillitis,
you should:
Wash your hands often, especially before
touching your nose or mouth.
Avoid sharing food, drink, or utensils with
someone who is sick.
Replace your toothbrush regularly.
18. When should I call my doctor
about tonsillitis?
You should contact your doctor if you have:
Sore throat for more than 2 days
Fever over 101 degrees
Trouble or pain when swallowing
Difficulty breathing
Tonsils that are swollen or painful
19. Conclusion
Swollen tonsils may cause breathlessness,
which may lead to disturbed sleep. Without
treatment, tonsillitis-causing pathogens can
spread to the area behind the tonsils or to
the surrounding tissue.
Symptoms of tonsillitis due to a bacterial
infection usually improve a few days after
you begin taking antibiotics. The infection
is considered transmissible until you’ve
been taking antibiotics for a 24-hour
period.
