My Vedic Life

Tonsillitis  is an inflammation of the two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat.

Tonsillitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can be from a bacterial infection.

Symptoms

symptoms of tonsillitis include:

• a sore throat and pain when swallowing
• red and swollen tonsils with pus-filled spots
• fever
• headache
• tiredness
• difficulty swallowing
• pain in the ears and neck
• difficulty sleeping
• coughing
• chills
• swollen lymph glands

Causes

Tonsils are the first line of defense against potential diseases and infections. For this reason, they can easily develop an infection.

Tonsillitis is typically viral. Less commonly, bacteria can cause an infection.

Viral or bacterial tonsillitis can be contagious and spread from person to person. However, if tonsillitis is due to a secondary illness, such as sinusitis or hay fever, it is unlikely to spread.

Viral causes

A viral infection is the most common cause of tonsillitis. The most common types of virus that infect the tonsils include:

• adenovirus, which is a possible cause of the common cold and sore throat
• rhinovirus, which is the most common cause of the common cold
• influenza, or flu
• respiratory syncytial virus, which often leads to acute respiratory tract infections.
• two subtypes of coronavirus, one of which causes SARS

Less commonly, the following can cause viral tonsillitis:

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
• herpes simplex virus (HSV)
• cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Bacterial causes

The most common type of bacteria to infect the tonsils is Streptococcus pyogenes. However, less often, other species can cause tonsillitis, including:

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Mycoplasma pneumonia
• Chlamydia pneumonia
• Bordetella pertussis
• Fusobacterium
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae

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Types

Different types of tonsillitis may occur. Doctors define them by their symptoms and recovery period.

These include:

• Acute tonsillitis: Symptoms usually last around 3–4 days but may last up to 2 weeks.
• Recurrent tonsillitis: A person has several different instances of acute tonsillitis in a year.
• Chronic tonsillitis: Individuals will have an ongoing sore throat and foul-smelling breath.

Treatment

If a person cannot treat tonsillitis at home, a range of treatment options is available.

Medications

People can use over-the-counter (OTC) pain relieving medications to numb the symptoms of tonsillitis.

If a bacterial infection is causing tonsillitis, a doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics. However, they will not do so for a person with viral tonsillitis. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses.

Penicillin is the most common antibiotic. When on a course of antibiotics, a person must follow the full course and continue taking them, even if the symptoms have resolved. Stopping a course of antibiotics part of the way through might allow the infection to spread.

Rarely, if left untreated, certain types of bacteria may lead to rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation.

Removal

Previously, doctors regularly recommended surgery to treat tonsillitis. Today, a doctor will not recommend a tonsillectomy unless the condition is chronic and recurring.

Although the tonsils become less active after puberty, they are still a functional organ. For this reason, a surgeon will not remove them unless necessary.

A doctor might request a tonsillectomy if the tonsils are causing secondary issues, such as:

• sleep apnea, which involves problems breathing at night
• difficulties with breathing or swallowing
• an abscess that is difficult to treat
• tonsillar cellulitis, in which the infection spreads to other areas and leads to a buildup of pus behind the tonsils

If a tonsillectomy is necessary, doctors can choose from  a variety of methods. Medical practitioners have successfully used lasers, radio waves, ultrasonic energy, cold temperatures, or a heated needle to remove the tonsils.

Surgery has increasingly become the last port of call. 

While tonsillitis can be distressing and uncomfortable when it occurs, it will pass without any serious long term implications for most people.

Home remedies

A few simple remedies can help a person reduce symptoms of tonsillitis at home:

• Resting enables the body to preserve energy for fighting the infection rather than using it on daily activities.
• Drinking plenty of fluids will prevent the throat from drying out and becoming more uncomfortable. When the body is responding to an infection, it needs more hydration than usual. Warm, preferably caffeine free drinks can also have a soothing effect.
• Gargling with saltwater might reduce discomfort.
• Sucking throat lozenges may help soothe the throat.
• Dry air can irritate the throat. Using air humidifiers or sitting in a steamy bathroom can alleviate this.
• Avoiding irritants, such as tobacco and smoky locations, can help a person reduce symptoms.
• Taking medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help with pain and fever.