What is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis (ton-sil-lie-tiss) is an inflammation of the tonsils
caused by an infection. In tonsillitis, the tonsils are enlarged,
red, and often coated (either partly or entirely) by a substance
that is yellow, gray, or white. Tonsillitis usually occurs as part
of a pharyngitis (throat infection). Tonsillitis usually begins
with sudden sore throat and painful swallowing.
Sometimes, tonsillitis reoccurs, and may cause difficulty
breathing. If this occurs, your doctor may recommend taking them
out. This procedure of removing tonsils from the throat is called
a tonsillectomy.
What are Tonsils?
The tonsils are fleshy clusters of tissue that lie in bands on
both sides of the back of the throat, above and behind the tongue.
The tonsils' major function is to catch incoming germs before the
germs cause infections in the throat, mouth, or sinuses. Tonsils
contain infection-fighting cells and antibodies that stop the
spread of the germs further into the body.
If the tonsils are taken out, the individual will not suffer from
more infections than they did when they had their tonsils. There
are other tissues in the body that will produce antibodies to
fight infection.
What are the symptoms of Tonsillitis?
Each person with tonsillitis may not experience all of the
symptoms. Some of the major symptoms of tonsillitis are:
a very sore throat
fever
redder-than-normal tonsils
chills
a yellow or white coating on the tonsils
a funny-sounding voice
swollen glands in the neck
bad breath
How is Tonsillitis diagnosed?
Tonsillitis can be diagnosed by performing a rapid strep test,
also called a throat culture. To perform the throat culture, the
doctor will use a long cotton swab to swipe off some of the stuff
on the surface of the back of your throat. The doctor will then
test the "stuff" on the cotton swab. This test will determine
whether you have tonsillitis and whether it is caused by a
bacteria or a virus.
Is Tonsillitis Contagious?
Yes. Tonsillitis usually spreads from person to person by contact
with the throat or nasal fluids of someone who is already
infected.
How Is Tonsillitis Treated?
Treatment for tonsillitis depends on whether it was caused by a
virus or bacteria. If the tonsillitis was caused by strep bacteria
(streptococci), the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. If the
tonsillitis was caused by a virus, your body will fight off the
infection on its own. However, medication can be prescribed to
alleviate the symptoms.
How long does Tonsillitis Last?
If tonsillitis is caused by bacteria, with antibiotic treatment,
the illness is usually cured within 1 week. However, it may take
several weeks for the tonsils and swollen glands to return to
normal size.
When tonsillitis is caused by viruses, the length of illness
depends on which virus is involved. Usually, people are almost
completely recovered within 1 week.
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