What is Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of both tonsils, caused by bacteria or virus.
Tonsillitis is a general name for the inflammation of the tonsils – the round, soft white pads of tissue in the back of your mouth, one behind each ear.
Strep throat is a form of tonsilitis caused by the Streptococcus bacterium, so not actually the same as tonsilitis.
Causes of Tonsilitis
Most cases of tonsillitis are triggered by infection of an airborne virus, although other infections can cause tonsillitis as well.
Bacterial infections can be present when your immune system is low or when you have certain health conditions.
Other causes include viral infections, tumors, and structural problems in the throat.
Many different causes of tonsillitis can be prevented, especially if you know what to look for.
Tonsillitis that is caused by bacteria is contagious, so everyone in the family should be treated at the same time.
The virus spreads through secretions from the tonsils and throat.
Therefore, if your tonsillitis has a counterpart, such as strep throat or a cold, it could spread from one person to the other as well.
Anyone with a cough should immediately visit their doctor.
Symptoms of Tonsilitis
Tonsilitis may not be a serious issue because it can go away on its own within one week.
The tonsils are part of the immune system which helps to fight diseases.
The following are the common symptoms and signs of tonsillitis.
- Swollen tonsils
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Bad breath
- Throaty voice
- Tender lymph nodes on either side of the jaw
If you are experiencing symptoms that do not go away or if you feel that you have become more ill than usual, go to your doctor immediately.
Symptoms of tonsillitis can appear anytime between the time of infection and the beginning of effective treatment.
If you start to notice symptoms such as a fever, pain around the infected area, or a sour taste in your mouth, or any combination of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.
Difficulty in swallowing can lead to loss of appetite, which could lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Viral infections are sometimes associated with viral meningitis.
However, these symptoms should not be ignored because they may affect your ability to fight off infections should you ever get one.
A viral meningitis infection will usually involve swelling of the lymph nodes in the head and neck area.
You will typically experience flu-like symptoms along with flu-like fevers.
Do not delay treatment for any reason and you could risk having serious complications or die.
Also, people who already have a cold should be concerned about sneezing and sniffling because it could be a symptom of tonsillitis that can lead to pneumonia and more serious complications.
Another complication of tonsillitis that you should be aware of is difficulty breathing or swallowing.
This is often mistaken for a heart attack, but it is not.
In fact, there are many reasons someone might have a problem with breathing, such as swallowing water too quickly.
Tonsilitis Treatment
The treatment of tonsillitis can vary depending on whether the cause of tonsillitis is viral bacterial or structural in nature.
You can take cold drinks and soft foods if you’ve Tonsillitis.
However, most treatment plans involve antibiotics, though some doctors may suggest the use of steroids in some situations.
Tonsillitis in adults can be cured in a few hours with antibiotics and other antibacterial or antiviral drugs.
Penicillin and Amoxccillin are common effective drugs for gettig rid of Tonsillitis fast.
Tonsillitis caused by viruses is treated with anti-viral medications that your doctor will prescribe.
These medicines will either fight infection or starve it so that it cannot survive.
The anti-viral drugs will help to improve your body’s ability to fight infection.
There is also a variety of over the counter treatments that can be used to treat tonsillitis caused by bacteria.
These treatments won’t attack the actual virus but will help to starve the bacteria while trying to kill the infection.
These are much like over the counter decongestants and can be quite effective at relieving symptoms.
Since Tonsillitis can be triggered by poor lifestyle, for example stress, you can adjust your lifestyle.
You can also use ibuprofen to relieve yourelf from the pain, and there are home remedies to help with Tonsillitis.
If you have a cough that won’t go away, or if you are experiencing nasal symptoms like a sore throat or post-nasal drip, you should see your doctor right away.
The sooner you can get treatment, the better, as the longer you leave symptoms untreated the worse they’ll become.
For people who ask how long they can wait before they should see their doctors or going to hospitals, once the symptoms did not go away after four days, you should seek medical advice.
Some cause serious complications when left untreated, so if you think you have tonsillitis you should contact your doctor to find out what kind of treatment is best for you.
Conclusion
Fortunately, tonsillitis causes are quite easy to avoid with a few quick home remedies and a positive attitude.
Therefore, if you have a cough or any other symptoms you should visit your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan immediately.