Tonsils are the oval-shaped areas of pink tissue at the back of your throat. There are two tonsils, one on each side.
They help fight infection by reacting to germs that enter through your nose and mouth. Infected tonsils become inflamed and swollen. Swollen tonsils often are the first sign of tonsillitis. It may feel like your throat or neck glands are swollen. Other symptoms may include:. Children who have tonsillitis may have stomach pain. This is more common when strep is the cause of tonsillitis. Viral infections cause most cases of tonsillitis. For example, the virus that causes mononucleosis, or mono, called the Epstein-Barr virus can cause tonsillitis.
The main bacteria are a certain type of streptococcus, or strep. In these cases, the illness may be called strep throat. Contact your doctor if you or your child has symptoms of tonsillitis. Your doctor will ask about symptoms. They will check your ears, nose, and throat for swelling and signs of infection.
Your doctor will use a swab to take a sample from the back of your throat. The sample may be used for a rapid strep test or a throat culture. Both tests can show if your infection is caused by strep or another bacteria. A rapid strep test only takes a few minutes to show results. A throat culture must be sent to a lab and takes 24 hours or more. It is more reliable than a rapid stress test, which can give a false negative result. The doctor may order both tests to ensure a diagnosis.
In some cases, your doctor may do a blood test to determine the cause. Sometimes you can get a pocket filled with pus abscess between your tonsils and the wall of your throat. This is called quinsy.
Page last reviewed: 10 February Next review due: 10 February Check if you have tonsillitis Tonsillitis can feel like a bad cold or flu. The main symptoms in children and adults are: a sore throat problems swallowing a high temperature of 38C or above coughing a headache feeling sick earache feeling tired Sometimes the symptoms can be more severe and include: swollen, painful glands in your neck feels like a lump on the side of your neck white pus-filled spots on your tonsils bad breath What tonsils with pus-filled spots can look like Tonsils with pus-filled spots at the back of the throat.
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. These include rheumatic fever and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. To decrease your risk of getting tonsillitis, stay away from people who have active infections.
Ensure you and your child practice good hygiene habits. Wash your hands often, especially after coming into contact with someone who has a sore throat, or is coughing or sneezing. Swollen tonsils may cause difficulty breathing, which can lead to disturbed sleep.
Tonsillitis left untreated can result in the infection spreading to the area behind the tonsils or to the surrounding tissue. Symptoms of tonsillitis caused by a bacterial infection usually improve a few days after you begin taking antibiotics.
Learn about what foods are good to eat and what foods to avoid if you have a sore throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat.
We explain the common signs, diagnostic tests, treatment…. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the throat and nose. Get the facts on causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
White spots on the tonsils have several possible causes. Learn more about causes and treatments. Tonsillitis can be caused by various viruses or bacteria. Strep throat is only caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils, which are located in the back of your throat.
Sometimes they can become infected. McInerny TK, et al. Pharyngitis and tonsillitis. American Academy of Pediatrics; Infectious mononucleosis.
Sore throat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drutz JE. Acute pharyngitis in children and adolescents: Symptomatic treatment.
Reye's syndrome information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Kliegman RM, et al. Acute pharyngitis. Mitchell RB, et al.
Clinical practice guideline: Tonsillectomy in children update. Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.
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