TONSILITIS

Overview & Facts

  • An infection or inflammation of the tonsils, balls of lymph tissue on both sides of the throat, above and behind the tongue, which form part of the immune system.
  • Often heals on its own after 4 to 10 days.

Types & Symptoms

2 Types:

  • Recurrent tonsillitis: multiple episodes of acute tonsillitis a year.
  • Chronic tonsillitis: episodes last longer than acute tonsillitis plus other symptoms that include:
    • Chronic sore throat
    • bad breath (halitosis)
    • tender lymph nodes in the neck

Main symptom:

  • Sore throat

The following may also be present:

  • Fever
  • Bad breath
  • Nasal congestion and runny nose
  • Swollen lymph nodes camera.gif
  • Red, swollen tonsils covered completely or in patches by pus
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Headache
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Raw, bleeding patches on the tonsils

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

  • Based on a physical examination of your throat. A throat culture may also be done by gently swabbing the back of your throat then analyzed in the lab to identify the cause of the infection.

 

RECOMMENDED MEDICATIONS

  • An antibiotic, usually amoxicillin or penicillin, is used to treat tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria. Although tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria usually will go away on its own, antibiotics are used to prevent the complications, such as rheumatic fever, that can result from untreated strep throat.

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