Tonsillitis is swelling of inflammation of the tonsils. Tonsils are lymph nodes located in the back of the throat and the back of the mouth. Their function is to filter out bacteria and microorganisms to help protect the body from infection. However, there are times when the tonsils become overwhelmed with a bacterial of viral infection that the tonsils themselves cause the illness they are meant to protect the body from.
Tonsillitis often comes with a severe sore throat, a fever, ear pain, difficulty swallowing, chills, headaches, tenderness of the jaw and throat, and often the loss of normal vocalization.
Tonsillitis is caused by either bacteria or a virus. The passage of the germs that cause tonsillitis are passed through numerous mechanisms, and children are especially susceptible. Children are exposed to a higher number of bacteria and viruses than adults and their immune systems are still developing.
Risk factors for tonsillitis for children are about the same as they are for the common cold in adults. Enclosed spaces with lots of germs floating through the air and on surfaces are just as likely to affect children. Adults rarely get tonsillitis. In fact, only about 78% of adults have their tonsils. Sometimes the tonsils as well as the throat and surrounding areas become infected. This is a form of tonsillitis known as pharyngitis, and is more severe than tonsillitis. Pharyngitis develops from tonsillitis.
Diagnosing tonsillitis can easily be done in the physician’s office. In most cases, the physician simply needs to look at the swelling and inflammation of the throat to determine if it is tonsillitis, combined with the list of symptom complaints. When the tonsil are enlarged and visible, the physician can be sure that the patient presents with tonsillitis. The tonsils may also present with white patches which indicate a more severe infection. The lymph nodes around the jaw and neck may also be infected, presenting with swelling and tenderness to the touch. A swab may be taken to determine if the patient is infected with streptococcus, which is the most severe and dangerous form of tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis can lead to other health complications including but not necessarily limited to blocked airway from swelling, Rheumatic fever, cardiac disorders, abscess in the throat, kidney failure, dehydration, and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis. These can be very serious complications and thus a physician should be seen at the onset of tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis is typically treated with antibiotics to rid the body of infection. Rest, fluids, and fever reducers are also prescribed. Warm of cold bland fluids and the help of lozenges may help the patient feel more comfortable. Some physicians will treat all cases of tonsillitis with antibiotics while other will only treat known bacteria and viruses with antibiotics. In some cases, the tonsillitis does not respond to medication and then a tonsillectomy is recommended. A tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils. A tonsillectomy may also be recommended if the tonsillitis is very severe and presents dangers of inflicting other complications. If tonsillitis is recurring, most physicians recommend a tonsillectomy.
It is important to follow the physician’s recommendations carefully. Never use aspirin in children with a viral infection as this can lead to Reye’s syndrome. The patient should kept as comfortable as possible and plenty of rest is required to allow the body to fight off the infection. Soft foods like yogurt, ice cream, and Jell-o may be all that is tolerated in the early stages of tonsillitis. A lack of appetite is normal.
Tonsillitis is contagious, at least the germs that cause tonsillitis are, and children with signs of tonsillitis should be kept home from school or day care to avoid the spread of the bacteria or virus. Never stop an antibiotic treatment when the symptoms disappear. A full round of antibiotics must be taken to ensure that the bacteria is gone. Stopping antibiotics too early may result in the return of the tonsillitis, which may also return in a more aggressive and severe form. If the patient has been diagnosed with streptococcus tonsillitis and begins to show signs of infection elsewhere in the body, contact the physician immediately as this may be the signs of a related infection known as Streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Tonsillitis videos
PreOp® Pediatric: Tonsillectomy Surgery
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How the Body Works : The Tonsils and Adenoids
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Histopathology Pharynx--Streptococcal tonsillitis
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Find out more by viewing the Human Anatomy page:
Lymphatic system
Urinary system
Medication commonly used for these disease:
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Cleocin is an antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial infections and can be generically prescribed as clindamycin. Cleocin may cause diarrhea, which may or may not be a sign of a secondary infection. Patients should alert the prescribing physician sho more...
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Ceftin can be generically prescribed as cefuroxime and is commonly used to treat life threatening or severe bacterial infections, or bacterial infections which have not responded to other antibiotics. Ceftin does not work on fungal or viral infections. Ce more...
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Keflex, which is generically prescribed as cephalexin, is commonly used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Infections such as skin infections, ear infections, urinary tract infections and upper respiratory infections have been proven to effectively b more...
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Also generically prescribed as cefaclor, Ceclor is typically used to a treat a variety of bacterial infections, including but not limited to urinary tract infections, ear infection, skin infections, tooth infections, tonsillitis, and bronchitis. Ceclor is more...
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Levaquin is often generically prescribed as levofloxacin and can be used to treat pneumonia, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, bronchitis, skin infections, urinary tract infections, and other bacterial infections. Levaquin is in a class of antibiotics known as fluoro more...
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Amoxicillin is the generic form of antibiotics which are also prescribed as Morisot, Amoxil, Biomox, Dispermox, Trimox, and Wymox. It is commonly used to treat bacterial infections in the body. Infections such as gonorrhea, skin infection, tooth infection more...
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The antibiotic Cipro can also be generically prescribed as ciprofloxacin, and is part of the group of medications known clinically as fluoroquinolones. Cipro is most often used to treat bacterial infections in the body, as antibiotics are ineffective at t more...
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Bactrim is a combination antibiotic which is generically prescribed as sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Bactrim is also commonly prescribed as Bethaprim, Cotrim, Septa, Sulfatrim, and Uroplus, each with a pediatric version as well. Bactrim is typ more...
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Ampicillin is a form of generic penicillin which is sometimes prescribed as Omnipen, Totacillin, or Principen. Ampicillin should be avoided by patients who have had an allergic reaction to penicillin based antibiotics. Ampicillin is prescribed to f more...
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Rulide is part of the family of medications known as macrolide antibiotics and is commonly used in the treatment of bacterial infections. Rulide is generically prescribed as roxithromycin and can cause life threatening heart complications in patients who more...
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