Everyone has two tonsils, one on each side of the throat, and these masses of tissue serve as the body's first line of defense against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth or nose. Tonsillitis — inflammation of the tonsils — is most common in children over the age of 2, but it can occur in adults as well.
Tonsillitis occurs when your tonsils become infected with bacteria or viruses, including:
- Herpes simplex virus
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Measles virus
Symptoms of tonsillitis may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Sore throat
- Bad breath
- Pain with swallowing
- Trouble swallowing
- Tender lymph nodes or glands in the neck
- Red tonsils
- Tonsils that are coated with a yellow, gray, or white pus
- Swollen tonsils
- Difficulty breathing
- Breathing through the mouth
- Voice changes
Tonsillitis Types: Acute, Recurrent, and Chronic
There are three main types of tonsillitis:
- Acute tonsillitis. With acute tonsillitis, your symptoms will usually resolve in three to four days, and no longer than two weeks.
- Recurrent tonsillitis. If you have multiple occurrences of acute tonsillitis in a year, it is referred to as recurrent tonsillitis.
- Chronic tonsillitis. People with chronic tonsillitis have persistent sore throats, bad breath, tender lymph nodes, and inflamed tonsils. It is unknown why some people have problems with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis while others don’t.
Diagnosing and Treating Tonsillitis
If you (or your child) have symptoms of tonsillitis, you should call your doctor, who will give you a physical exam, review your medical history, and perform diagnostic tests to determine if you have tonsillitis. It is important to determine if tonsillitis is caused by bacteria or viruses, so your doctor may perform a throat culture to determine what microorganism is responsible for the infection.
Tonsillitis that is caused by a bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics. If you are given an antibiotic, it is important to take it as recommended and to take all of the antibiotics your doctor prescribed, even if you feel better. Taking your antibiotics properly can reduce your chances of having recurrent or chronic tonsillitis and other complications.
Viral tonsillitis cannot be treated with antibiotics, and will most likely resolve on its own in about a week to 10 days. Whether you have bacterial or viral tonsillitis, the following home treatments can make you more comfortable as you recover:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Eat soft foods (for example, soups, milkshakes, smoothies).
- Drink extra fluids.
- Use an over-the-counter pain medication (for example, acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
- Gargle with warm salt water.
- Use throat lozenges to ease pain.
- Use a humidifier to increase the humidity in your environment.
In severe cases of tonsillitis, especially when the swollen tonsils are obstructing the airway, hospitalization may be required.
And in people who have chronic tonsillitis, or tonsillitis that recurs frequently (five to seven times per year or more), your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. Most people with tonsillitis, however, do not need a tonsillectomy.
Because tonsillitis is contagious, you can help protect other members of the family by keeping the patient's dishes and utensils separate from those of other family members, and washing all dishes and utensils in hot, soapy water. You can also help prevent the spread of tonsillitis by frequently washing your hands, avoiding touching your mouth or nose, and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Find more information in the Everyday Health Ear, Nose, and Throat Center.