Tonsillitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 19 Jul 2009 - Updated: 12 Jun 2021

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Overview - Related Content

Synopsis

Tonsillitis refers to inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsils and may involve the back of the throat including adenoids and lingual tonsils.

Overview

Tonsillitis is the medical term for inflammation of the tonsils, usually due to a viral infection or, less commonly, a bacterial infection. It is a common type of infection in children. Most cases of tonsillitis get better within a week. A small number of children have tonsillitis for a long time or it keeps coming back. This is known as chronic tonsillitis and may require treatment with surgery. If tonsillitis is recurrent or persistent, or if enlarged tonsils cause upper airway obstruction or difficulty eating, surgical removal of the tonsils, called tonsillectomy, may be necessary.

The tonsils are lymph nodes, or oval-shaped masses of lymph gland tissue, located on both sides of the throat. An infection of the tonsils is called tonsillitis. There are several variations of tonsillitis: acute, recurrent, and chronic tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess.

Tonsillitis usually begins with sudden sore throat and painful swallowing. Inflammation may involve other areas of the back of the throat including the adenoids and the lingual tonsils. This swelling is usually caused by either a viral or bacterial infection.

Tonsillitis is usually a self-limiting condition - it gets better without treatment, and generally there are no complications. Tonsillitis is extremely common in children and young people but it can occur at any age.

Causes for Tonsillitis

Some important causes of tonsillitis include:

• Streptococcus and glandular fever
• When tonsillitis is caused by bacteria, the most common type of bacteria that causes tonsillitis are streptococci.
• Glandular fever is one of the viral illnesses which can cause tonsillitis, but there are many other viruses that may also be responsible. These includes: herpes simplex virus, Streptococcus pyogenes (GABHS) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and the measles virus.

The following are the most common symptoms for tonsillitis:

• Earache
• Headache
• Bad breath
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• There will be pain in mouth with swallowing.
• There will be high temperature during tonsillitis.
• Swollen lymph glands under each side of the jaw.
• loss of appetite is the common symptom of tonsillitis.
• Only 10% of tonsillitis in adults is caused by strep throat.
• Only about 30% of tonsillitis in children is caused by strep throat.
• In tonsillitis, there will be white or yellow spots of pus on the tonsils.
• Bacterial tonsillitis can be treated with antibiotics, but viral tonsillitis cannot.
• Sore throat - some children complain of pain in their tummy, rather than a sore throat.
• Tonsillitis is transmitted most commonly from one person to another by social contact such as; coughs, sneezes, and nasal fluids.
• Tonsillitis causes include viral infections such as the flu, the common cold, mononucleosis. Streptococcus is the most common bacterial cause.

Some important herbal treatments for tonsillitis includes:

• Gelsemium 6C: A well-known herb for the treatment of tonsillitis. It is mainly used for the healing process of tonsils.
• Belladonna 30C: A Homeopathic remedy used for fast relief of acute fever, pain, headaches, sore throat, swollen tonsils, dry cough.
• Salvia officinalis: Has a beneficial effect on all conditions of the mouth and throat and has well-known herbal astringent, antibiotic and antiseptic properties.
• Gallium aperine (also known as Cleavers): An excellent cleansing tonic and has a beneficial effect on all the lymph glands, including the tonsils. Gallium aperine is effective in relieving swollen tonsils and other lymph glands and is also recommended for glandular fever.

Home remedies for tonsillitis:

• Get plenty of rest.
• Avoid cigarette smoke and other irritants.
• Take aspirin if you are an adult, acetaminophen if you are a child, which help to numb the throat.
• Fenugreek Seeds: A gargle made from fenugreek seeds is very effective in severe cases of tonsillitis.
• Stay hydrated. Drink iced beverages or suck on Popsicles. Frozen liquids help numb the throat. Try hot teas with honey, and clear soups.

Related Information

• Home Remedies for Sore throat
• Infectious Mononucleosis (Mono)
• Is Kissing Dangerous to Your Health?
• Sore Throat: Causes Symptoms and Treatment

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.