Reasons for Swollen Tonsils

Chronic tonsil infections are common in children and adults alike. These infections can lead to swollen tonsils, which can be quite painful and difficult to treat. Understanding what causes swollen tonsils can help sufferers effectively management this condition.

Function

• Tonsils help the immune system filter out germs that enter the body. Tonsils themselves can become irritated and infected, often with swelling present. There are several different types of throat infections that can cause swollen tonsils such as strep throat and tonsillitis.

Identification

• An infection that causes swelling of the tonsils is known as tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is the leading reason that children and adults may have a tonsillectomy. This is a procedure that removes the tonsils, to prevent further infection.

Causes

• Viruses can cause swollen and infected tonsils, such as the flu or the common cold. This is more common in small children. In older children and adults, bacteria is most often the cause, such as streptococcus, also known as strep throat.

Symptoms

• The most common symptoms that accompany swollen tonsils are sore throat, white coating on the tongue, redness of the throat, fever, pain upon swallowing and swollen glands in the neck.

Treatment

• Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for throat infections that are caused by bacteria. Treating the pain with anti-inflammatory medication and gargling with salt water, are recommended.

Frequency

• If there are five or more episodes of throat infections within one year or infections do not respond to treatment, a tonsillectomy may be performed. Adenoids are typically removed during this procedure, due to the fact that infection often spreads to this area.