Tonsillitis Symptoms

Tonsillitis is an ailment commonly associated with children, but people of any age can get the condition just so long as they still have their tonsils. To diagnose the condition a doctor will swab the tonsils to test for infection, and there would also be a blood test to test for infection. Surgery used to be the default treatment for tonsillitis, but now that the condition can be treated in other ways, surgery is not always used.

Identification

• The tonsils are two glands found on either side of the throat. Their job is to help protect the body from infection by producing antibodies that defeat various kinds of viruses and bacteria. As time goes by the tonsils produce less antibodies and they become susceptible to possible infection. When a bacteria or virus is able to infect the tonsils then this is called tonsillitis.

Effects

• The initial effects of tonsillitis can sometimes take several days to develop, but they are evident even at the earliest stages. Some of these early symptoms include a sore throat, white spots on the tonsils, a difficulty in swallowing that rapidly becomes painful and a general feeling of a sore throat. The tonsils may also become red and swollen along with a yellowish color coating them in a liquid form. The voice may also start to squeak a little and talking may become painful.

Potential

• It only takes a few days for the initial symptoms of tonsillitis to progress to more serious symptoms. Some of these symptoms include a hoarseness in the voice that gets progressively worse, a high fever accompanied by chills and excessive sweating, a headache that becomes more chronic and painful abdominal pain. Also, the tonsils may swell to the point where they can be felt on the outside of the neck and they can be seen protruding out at the base of the neck as well.

Prevention/Solution

• Surgery used to be the primary treatment for tonsillitis, but in recent years there has been a preference shown to medication and bed rest. In the case of a bacterial infection a doctor may prescribe antibiotics to address the condition, and will recommend completing the medication regiment to ensure the condition has been completely treated. If a viral infection is causing the tonsillitis, then a doctor may recommend bed rest and plenty of fluids to allow the virus to run its course. Surgery is only used in cases of persistent tonsillitis that returns several times a year.

Considerations

• According to the Mayo Clinic, tonsillitis that goes untreated could lead to sleep apnea. When the tonsils are allowed to swell without treatment, and they do not go back to their standard size on their own, then they will block the airway when the person tries to sleep. This will result in sleep apnea that deprives the body of much needed oxygen during rest.