Tonsillitis is when the tonsils - fleshy pads on each side of the back of the throat - become infected with a virus or bacteria. A common childhood ailment, tonsillitis causes the tonsils to become swollen and painful.

Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a virus and are treated at home with over-the-counter sore throat remedies. Less often, tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection and antibiotics are needed. At one time, removing the tonsils (tonsillectomy) was a common treatment for recurrent tonsillitis. Today, surgery is only recommended if tonsillitis doesn’t get better with other treatment.

Signs and symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include:

  • Red, swollen tonsils
  • White patches on the tonsils
  • Sore throat
  • Difficult or painful swallowing
  • Headache
  • Fever and chills
  • Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the jaw and neck
  • Loss of voice (laryngitis)
  • Abdominal pain in children

How Is Tonsillitis Treated?

If the tonsillitis is caused by strep bacteria, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics, a type of medicine that kills bacteria. It’s very important to take the antibiotics exactly as you’re supposed to and finish the entire prescription to kill all the bacteria.

If the tonsillitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t work and your body will fight off the infection on its own. Sometimes kids get an operation to remove their tonsils, but only if their tonsils get infected a lot during the year or are so big they make it hard for the kid to breathe at night.

If you get tonsillitis, here are some tips that can help you feel better:

  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Eat smooth foods, including flavored gelatin, soups, ice-pops, and applesauce.
  • Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods.
  • Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in the room where you spend the most time.
  • Rest.

Preventing Tonsillitis:

To prevent tonsillitis, avoid letting your child near anyone who already has tonsillitis or a sore throat. Make sure to practice good hand-washing habits, and teach kids to do the same.

If you think your child has symptoms of tonsillitis or has been exposed to someone who is infected, call your doctor.

Complications:

Complications resulting from tonsillitis are uncommon, but some of the problems that can occur are outlined below.

  • Abscesses - also called quinsy, or peritonsillar abscesses, can appear in the tissues around the tonsils. In some cases, the pus from the abscesses can spread to the surrounding areas, such as the roof of the mouth (palate), neck, chest and lungs. These abscesses can be easily treated using antibiotics, although sometimes a small operation to drain the pus may be needed.
  • Swelling of the face and neck - this can sometimes block the airways and prevent a person from breathing. Chronic tonsillitis can cause obstructive sleep apnoea, which prevents full oxygen supplies from getting to your brain, and may lead to disturbed sleeping patterns.
  • Middle ear infection - also known as otitis media, is a build up of mucus in the middle ear, between your ear drum and inner ear. The mucus can sometimes become infected with bacteria but, in most cases, the infection clears by itself.
  • Blood poisoning - or septicaemia can occur if bacteria get into your bloodstream and multiply. The bacteria can be destroyed using either oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) or intravenous antibiotics which are injected into your bloodstream.
  • Glomerulonephritis - is inflammation (swelling) of the filters in your kidneys, caused by streptococcal bacteria. It can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin.
  • Lemierre’s syndrome - is a very rare condition in which bacteria spreads from your throat to major veins in your neck. Small ‘clumps’ of bacteria then travel through your bloodstream to your lungs, joints and bones. Lemierre’s syndrome can be easily treated with antibiotics but it can be fatal if it is not diagnosed quickly.

Sources: NHS Direct, Kids Health

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