How to Get Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils, which are fleshy pads in the back of the throat, become infected, which causes them to become swollen and painful. Tonsillitis is usually caused by an airborne virus, such as the Epstein-Barr virus--which also causes mononucleosis--so it is often spread through coughing or sneezing by people suffering from a cold or flu. A less common cause is through a bacterial infection called streptococcus, commonly referred to as strep throat, which is accompanied by high fever, sudden pain and inflammation, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. The bacteria enter the body through the nose and/or mouth. Common symptoms of tonsillitis include a sore throat, headache, fever, difficulty swallowing, and redness and swelling in the back of the throat.

Instructions

Treatment

• 1

  Have a strep test, which your doctor does by taking a sample of mucus from the back of the throat with a cotton swab. This will help your doctor determine whether the tonsillitis is caused by a virus or a bacterial infection, and will determine the type of treatment necessary.

• 2

  Take over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and throat lozenges if the tonsillitis is caused by a virus. This will help alleviate the symptoms until the virus exits the body, which could take one to two weeks..

• 3

  Begin treatment with antibiotics if your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection. A common medication used is penicillin, which should be taken for seven to ten days.

• 4

  As a last resort, surgery to remove the tonsils may need to be performed if the condition does not improve. This is normally conducted on an outpatient basis, and is typically followed by one to two weeks of recovery.