Types of Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis occurs when viruses or bacteria that enter the mouth and nose infect the tonsils, which normally produce antibodies to fight these organisms. The infection causes the tonsils to become inflamed. Tonsillitis commonly occurs in children, but can also affect adults. Washing your hands often and avoiding contact with people who are ill are the best ways to prevent this illness.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms of tonsillitis include red, swollen tonsils with white patches, sore throat and trouble swallowing. Headaches, laryngitis, tender lymph nodes in the neck and jaw and fever or chills can also occur. Tonsillitis can also be accompanied by abdominal pain in children. Sudden inflammation or pain, a high fever and a lack of nasal congestion indicate a strep infection. Call your doctor if you have a stiff neck, a sore throat for more than 48 hours or abdominal pain and vomiting. Call your pediatrician if your child is drooling or can't swallow.

Viral Infections

• Viruses, such as Epstein-Barr, cause most cases of tonsillitis. A blood test will confirm a viral infection if the white blood cell count is high or the cells are abnormal. Treatment for viral forms of tonsillitis focuses on reducing inflammation while the illness runs its course, which usually takes one to two weeks. Gargling with warm salt water, drinking warm liquids such as tea or broth and taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain and fever can help ease discomfort. Using a humidifier and sucking on throat lozenges can also relieve throat irritation.

Bacterial Infections

• Bacterial forms of tonsillitis occur less often than viral forms, but can be serious when they do. When group A streptococci bacteria cause tonsillitis, the condition is also called strep throat. A throat swab will determine whether strep bacteria are present. Treatment for bacterial forms of tonsillitis involve antibiotics such as penicillin. Although improvement starts to show within two days, the antibiotic treatment must be completed to prevent the infection from returning. Children will need to take antibiotic treatment for at least one day before returning to school or daycare if they have strep throat.

Tonsillectomies

• Adult cases of tonsillitis rarely require surgical removal of the tonsils, or tonsillectomy. Children who have had several serious throat infections or who have obstructive sleep apnea or difficulty breathing or eating often need a tonsillectomy. This procedure can also be used to treat breathing difficulties or abscesses caused by swollen and infected tonsils. Most patients can leave the hospital the same day they have surgery. Recovery can take up to two weeks. Intracapsular tonsillectomies involve leaving a layer of tonsil tissue to protect throat muscles. This type of surgery results in a faster and less painful recovery time, but there is also a very slight risk that the infection can return.

Warning

• Untreated tonsillitis can lead to airway obstruction, which could result in conditions such as sleep apnea. An abscess, or collection of pus, can form between your tonsils and soft tissues, covering your soft palate and, in rare cases, entering your bloodstream. Some strains of strep bacteria can cause kidney inflammation or rheumatoid fever.