All about Tonsillitis

Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of tonsillitis are:

• Fever

• Sore throat

• Pain or difficulty while swallowing

• Tonsils become red and swollen

• Headache

• Ear pain

• Stomach pain

• White or yellow patches on tonsils

• Lymph nodes become enlarged or swollen

• The voice becomes hoarse and scratchy

• Loss of appetite

• Tiredness

Causes

Tonsillitis can be caused by both viruses and bacteria, though viral infections are the most common cause. People with viral infections have milder symptoms than those with bacterial infections. Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) is the most common bacteria affecting the tonsils. A bacterial infection called strep throat can also cause tonsillitis.

Viruses which can cause tonsillitis are —

• Adenoviruses:

Common cold, sore throats, and bronchitis are caused by these viruses.

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) :

The Epstein-Barr virus causes mononucleosis, which is transmitted through infected saliva.

• Measles virus (rubeola) :

This highly contagious virus affects the respiratory system through infected saliva and mucus.

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV-5) :

CMV is a herpes virus that can affect pregnant women and people with weak immunity.

Risk Factors

The risk factors include the following —

1. Children:

Primarily, children in the age group of 5-15 are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with tonsillitis.

2. Exposure to germs:

Those frequently exposed to the viruses or bacteria that cause tonsillitis, such as teachers and school-going children, remain at a higher risk.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will check your throat for redness and swelling, examine the ears and nose, and feel your neck to check if the lymph nodes are tender and swollen. If it is a confirmed case of tonsillitis, a throat culture may be done to know the cause of the infection. In this procedure, the doctor will take a sample of secretions from the back of the throat with a cotton swab to find out the cause of the infection. If the test result is positive, it indicates you have bacterial infection or strep throat; a negative report implies you have viral tonsillitis. In some cases, the doctor may order a complete blood count (CBC) test.

Treatment

The treatment depends on the cause (whether viral or bacterial) and severity of the condition and includes —

• Antibiotics:

If the cause of tonsillitis is bacterial, you may have to take antibiotics. It’s important to complete the full course of antibiotics even if your symptoms improve before the course completion. Not completing the full course may worsen the infection. If it’s a viral infection, you will not need antibiotics, and symptoms improve on their own within 7-10 days.

• Pain-relieving medications:

Over-the-counter pain-relieving medications help reduce pain, inflammation and fever.

• Surgery:

In case of chronic or recurring tonsillitis or when other treatments are not effective, doctors may recommend tonsillectomy, i.e., the surgical removal of the tonsils.

Home Remedies

Apart from the above-mentioned treatments, here are some home remedies which can help provide relief:

• Take plenty of rest to help your body recover fast

• Have adequate fluids like water, soups, and tea to soothe the throat and prevent dehydration

• Salt water gargling several times a day can help reduce throat pain and inflammation

• Lozenges can provide relief from throat pain

• Using a humidifier can help keep the air in your home moist and ease throat discomfort

Prevention

These simple tips can prevent getting infected with tonsillitis:

• Practice good hand hygiene, such as washing your hands thoroughly, particularly before eating or touching your mouth and nose and after coming into contact with someone who has the symptoms of tonsillitis.

• Avoid sharing foods, utensils, or other personal items with someone who is sick.

• Staying away from people who show symptoms of the infection.

• If you or your children are sick, staying at home will prevent the spread of the infection.