Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the glands of the throat, which results in a sore throat. Tonsillitis can be caused by either viruses or bacteria.
Causes of Tonsillitis
Whether viral or bacterial, tonsillitis is transmitted most commonly from one person to another by social contact such as droplets in the air from sneezing. Most of the time, tonsillitis is caused by a viral infection.Bacterial tonsillitis can be caused by Streptococcus pyogenes-the organism that causes strep throat. If left untreated, strep throat may lead to a more serious condition called rheumatic fever, which can affect the heart several years later.
Symptoms of Tonsillitis
- Sore throat
- Difficulty feeding (in babies)
- Pain with swallowing
- Fever
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Runny nose
- Redness of the tonsils and throat
- Tenderness in the glands of the neck (swollen lymph glands)
- White patches on the tonsils
- Redness of the eyes
- Rash
- Ear pain (nerves that go to the back of the throat also go to the ear)
When to Seek Medical Care
Call your doctor for advice if you have the following symptoms:- Fever
- Pain with swallowing
- Social contact with a person with strep throat
- Tender glands in the neck
- Rash
- Pain is not relieved with home care
- Pain is worsening
- Unable to control secretions; unable to eat, drink, or take medicines
- Change in voice, such as muffled speech or "hot potato" voice
- Difficulty breathing
Self-Care at Home
- Ease sore throat pain by gargling frequently with warm salt water (8 ounces of warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon salt).
- Drink plenty of clear liquids to avoid dehydration.