tonsillitis is an infection developing on your tonsils, leading to their swelling. Tonsils are two lymph nodes located on each side of the back of the throat, and they prevent you from getting infections. You can have tonsillitis at any age, but it is most common in children. During the illness, tonsils Marrero becomes swollen and you may feel discomfort when swallowing. You can recover from tonsillitis within a few days with or without medication. Symptoms last for ten days at most.
Causes
A virus or bacteria causes tonsillitis. About seventy cases of tonsillitis are caused by a virus such as cold or flu. The other cases are bacteria-related, specifically group A Streptococcus. The bacterial form of tonsillitis is known as strep throat.
Symptoms
Sore throat, red and swollen tonsils, swallowing difficulties, swollen neck glands, fever, a white or yellow coating on the tonsils, and bad breath are the symptoms of tonsillitis.
Contamination
The virus and bacteria causing tonsillitis are contagious and can be passed in the following ways:
- Kissing or sharing food, drinks, and utensils with an infected person
- Having close contact with an infected patient
- Touching contaminated surfaces or materials then touching your nose
- Inhaling contaminated particles in the air when a sick person coughs or sneezes
Diagnosis
Physical examination: Your doctor will examine your throat to check for redness, swelling, white, yellow, or grey spots on your tonsils. Another physical examination is looking at the sides of your neck to determine if the lymph nodes are swollen and tender. Your specialist will inquire about the symptoms you are experiencing, such as fever, running nose, fever, rash, or headache. Your ears and nose can show other signs of infection.
Throat culture: To determine whether a virus or bacteria causes your tonsillitis, your doctor will do a throat culture, also known as a strep test. It confirms strep throat tonsillitis. A strep test detects a specific bacteria in the throat. This diagnosis technique involves your doctor swiping the back of your throat with long cotton to gather saliva and cells. Although the process is not painful, you may feel some discomfort. Your doctor will test the cells to check for bacteria, and the results are ready within fifteen minutes at most. If the results are positive, showing the presence of bacteria, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for treatment. If the outcomes are negative, the doctor can send the sample back to the lab for thorough testing. The other test takes about two to three hours to get results. If the outcomes are still negative, your tonsillitis is viral, not bacterial.
Treatment
Bacterial tonsillitis: Your doctor can recommend antibiotics that you take orally for ten days. Penicillin, clindamycin, and cephalosporin are the commonly used antibiotics to treat strep throat.
Viral tonsillitis: Antibiotics will not work for viral tonsillitis. Plenty of rest, fluids, throat lozenges, and over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help relieve symptoms.
In most cases, viral tonsillitis will clear up within a few days with plenty of rest and fluids to keep you hydrated. tonsillitis does not cause severe health problems. Schedule an appointment at ENT of New Orleans for tonsillitis treatment to relieve your sore throat.
