These include:. Since the Epstein-Barr virus can cause both mononucleosis and tonsillitis, sometimes people with mono will develop tonsillitis as a secondary infection. If you have viral tonsillitis, your symptoms may include coughing or a stuffy nose. Around 15 to 30 percent of tonsillitis cases result from bacteria. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial tonsillitis, though they may not be necessary.
Besides antibiotics, treatment is the same for most cases of viral and bacterial tonsillitis. Diagnosis is based on a physical examination of your throat. Your doctor may also take a throat culture by gently swabbing the back of your throat. The culture will be sent to a laboratory to identify the cause of your throat infection. Your doctor may also take a sample of your blood for a complete blood count.
This test can show whether your infection is viral or bacterial, which may affect your treatment options. If a person becomes dehydrated due to tonsillitis, they may need intravenous fluids. Pain medicines to relieve the sore throat can also help while the throat is healing. Surgery to remove the tonsils is called a tonsillectomy.
The surgery can also relieve breathing problems or trouble swallowing that can result from tonsillitis. A tonsillectomy may reduce the number of throat infections in children during the first year after surgery, according to a study. However, a study found that adults who had their tonsils removed as children had increased risks of respiratory and infectious diseases long term.
Having a tonsillectomy may reduce your overall risk of developing strep throat. You can still get strep throat and other throat infections after your tonsils are removed, though. You should be able to go home the same day as your surgery, but it will take 1 to 2 weeks to fully recover. Learn what to do before and after getting a tonsillectomy.
If a bacterial infection caused your tonsillitis, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. Antibiotics may help your symptoms go away slightly faster. However, they increase the risk of antibiotic resistance and may have other side effects , like an upset stomach. Antibiotics are more necessary for people at risk of complications from tonsillitis.
Your doctor may want you to schedule a follow-up visit to ensure that the medication was effective. Use throat sprays rather than lozenges for young children, and always check with your doctor before giving children medications. Find out more ways to care for tonsillitis at home. Tonsillitis is most common in children because they come into close contact with others every day at school and play, exposing them to a variety of viruses and bacteria.
However, adults can get tonsillitis too. Frequent exposure to people increases the risk of encountering someone with the infection. As a result, taking public transportation or doing other activities alongside many people may increase your chance of being exposed to tonsillitis. Symptoms of tonsillitis and treatments are similar for both adults and kids. Learn what to do if you develop tonsillitis as an adult. A number of different bacteria or viruses can cause tonsillitis, including group A streptococcus bacteria.
This same bacteria is the only cause of strep throat. Both conditions are contagious, so you should try to stay away from other people if you think you have either one.
Your doctor can use the same tests to diagnose both conditions. Treatments for bacterial tonsillitis and strep throat are also similar. Learn more about the differences between tonsillitis and strep throat. People who experience chronic tonsillitis may start to experience obstructive sleep apnea. This happens when the airways swell and prevents a person from sleeping well, which can lead to other medical issues if left untreated.
This is known as tonsillar cellulitis. The infection can also cause a person to develop a buildup of pus behind the tonsils, called a peritonsillar abscess. This can require drainage and surgery. When bothered by an infection, doctors once prescribed the removal of the tonsils through a tonsillectomy.
These small organs are actually quite useful, though. Technically, there are three sets of tonsils in the body: the pharyngeal tonsils, commonly known as adenoids, the palatine tonsils and the lingual tonsils, which are lymphatic tissue on the surface tissue of the base of the tongue, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. When people refer to tonsils, though, they are usually talking about the palatine tonsils.
These tonsils are oval, pea-sized clusters of lymph cells in the pharynx at the opening of either side of the throat. Though they may seem large in children, the size of the tonsils tends to get smaller when a person becomes an adult.
Though small and seemingly useless, tonsils have several uses. The tonsils prevent foreign objects from slipping into the lungs. Think of them as goalies for the throat.
They also filter bacteria and viruses. On top of all that, they produce white blood cells and antibodies, according to the Mayo Clinic. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, these bumps on the back of the throat are the "first line of defense as part of the immune system. April 11, Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease. September Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Mohamad I, Yaroko AA. Malaysian Family Physician.
August 31, Steyer TE. Peritonsillar Abscess: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Family Physician. January 1, Rheumatic Fever. Mayo Clinic. November 17, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 1, Health Topics. Health Tools.
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