What Is Tonsillitis?
Coughing and sore throat are common during winter due to the low humidity. With very similar symptoms, many people do not know if they have a sore throat or tonsillitis. If you consistently experience pain in your throat and ear, as well as difficulty swallowing, you should visit your doctor at your earliest advance to avoid delayed treatment and developing into tonsillitis.
Causes of Tonsillitis
There are two major causes of tonsillitis.
- Bacterial infection: Streptococcus infection
- Viral infection: Enterovirus, coronavirus, influenza virus, human herpesvirus type IV, etc.
Symptoms of Tonsillitis
- Sore throat
- Difficult or painful swallowing
- Coughing
- Fever or chill
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck or low jaw
- White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils
Types of Tonsillitis
The tonsils are normal structures located on each side of the back of the throat. Tonsil is an integral part of the immune system that produces antibodies to fight against germs from attacking the mouth. In case of infection, the tonsils are prone to inflammation, causing a condition called tonsillitis. For mild cases, you may have an enlarged tonsil and experience pain. However, pus and white patches result in more severe cases. Tonsillitis can be categorized into three types.
1. Acute Tonsillitis
Tiredness and sleep deprivation are the causes of acute tonsillitis as these causes flavor viral infection. Common symptoms include fever, chill, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing. You may also experience fatigue, headache, and joint pain.
2. Recurrent Tonsillitis
Recurrent tonsillitis occurs when bacteria live on your tonsil surface, leading to recurrence. For severe cases, bacterial infection occurs once a month and disrupts one’s daily life.
3. Chronic Tonsillitis
When tonsillitis occurs consistently in over 3 months or a year, it belongs to chronic tonsillitis. Its symptoms are milder than acute tonsillitis, such as sore throat and swallowing difficulties.
High-Risk Groups of Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is common, and everyone is prone to such inflammation. However, the below individuals have a higher risk of tonsil inflammation.
- Children aged from 5 to 15 years old
- Upper respiratory virus patients (such as influenza virus, parainfluenza virus)
- Individuals with low immunity or the sleep deprived
Is Tonsillitis Contagious?
Tonsillitis is caused by viral and bacterial infection, so it can be transmitted by contact and saliva droplets. To stop the transmission, you should wash your hands frequently and maintain a high level of personal hygiene. If you have the above symptoms, please consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Complications of Tonsillitis
If your symptoms persist for days, you should visit your doctor at your earliest advance for further check-ups to prevent peritonsillar abscess (tonsil suppuration), tonsilloliths (tonsil stones), and other serious complications and diseases.
1. Peritonsillar abscess (Tonsil suppuration): In severe cases of tonsillitis, an abscess (a collection of pus) can form around the tonsil. Your doctors often recommend surgery to drain the abscess. If the treatment is delayed, it may lead to systemic infection and difficulty breathing.
2. Tonsilloliths (Tonsil stones): Tonsil stones are small lumps of calcified material that form in the tonsils. Large tonsil stones may need numerous health problems, such as difficulty breathing. If acute streptococcal infection occurs, it may further lead to serious complications, such as acute rheumatic fever or acute glomerulonephritis.
Treatments of Tonsillitis
Your doctor may suggest the following tonsillitis treatments based on your condition, causes of infection, and examination results. There are two common treatments of tonsillitis as shown below.
1. Antibiotics
Your doctor will prescribe pain killers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics for you if tonsillitis is caused by viral or bacterial infection. Therefore, you should follow your doctor’s instructions strictly to finish the antibiotic treatment to avoid recurrence and drug resistance.
2. Surgery
Your doctor may suggest tonsil removal for severe cases if you have a frequent recurrence, complications, and limited improvements from other treatment methods.
Source
© Cigna Healthcare 2023
Information provided in this article is intended for health and fitness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease (see Terms & Conditions for details). Any health-related information found in this article is available only for your interest and should not be treated as medical advice. Users should seek any medical advice from a physician, especially before self-diagnosing any ailment or embarking on any new lifestyle or exercise regime. Any information contained in this article may not be suitable, accurate, complete or reliable. Cigna Healthcare accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of information contained on external websites or resources, or for the security and safety of using them. "Cigna Healthcare" and the "Tree of Life" logo are registered trademarks of Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. in the United States and elsewhere, licensed for use. All products and services are provided by or through operating subsidiaries, and not by The Cigna Group.
