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What is Tonsillitis?

Tonsils are located at the rear end of the throat (pharynx). They are a pair of soft tissues similar to lymph nodes and help to fight infections that enter the body through the mouth.
In some people, the tonsils become inflamed due to some bacterial infections and give rise to the condition called tonsillitis. It causes difficulty in eating, drinking, and sometimes even breathing.
In the normal state, tonsils act as filters and trap germs that can enter the airways. They also make antibodies that fight infection but if they get inflamed severely, it becomes crucial to get them removed. The good news is that tonsil removal won’t make you susceptible to infections.
Thus, a surgical procedure is performed for the removal of tonsils, called a tonsillectomy. This is the best treatment method that completely resolves the problem. And once the tonsils are removed, you will never have to worry about the problem again.

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  • Common viruses like rhinovirus, enterovirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, etc.
  • Bacterial infections such as strep throat
  • Throat pain and tenderness
  • High fever
  • Redness in tonsils
  • A white or yellow coating on the tonsils
  • Painful blisters or ulcers on the throat
  • Ear pain
  • Trouble eating and swallowing
  • Swollen glands in the neck or jaw
  • Bad breath
  • A scratchy voice
  • Stiff neck
When you visit our ENT specialist, he will begin the consultation by asking you questions about your symptoms, since when are you having them, or about your diet and lifestyle. The ENT specialist will perform a general examination to check for swelling around the tonsils, and may also inspect the throat from outside to check for signs of enlarged lymph glands or a rash that may have occurred. The ENT doctor may also take a swab from your throat for closer inspection and to check if the cause of the infection is viral or bacterial. The doctor may also recommend you take a blood test. These diagnostic tests can help the doctor determine the cause of the condition and choose the best treatment. If you suffer from frequent episodes of sore throat, pain, fever, or other symptoms of infected tonsils, visit the best ENT doctors in India at our clinic. Individuals can now have pain-free tonsils removal surgery in Delhi by the best ENT surgeons at our ENT clinics and hospitals.
The treatment approach for tonsillitis will mainly depend on the patient’s response to medications and the severity of tonsillitis.
There is no specific treatment for tonsillitis and in most cases, the patient gets better in a week without treatment. For mild cases of tonsillitis, the doctor may recommend the patient to eat and drink healthy, even if they find it painful to swallow. Staying dehydrated or hungry can cause symptoms, such as headaches and tiredness.
The doctor may prescribe medications such as paracetamol or penicillin if the patient does not get better or has severe symptoms.
If episodes of tonsillitis become more severe, frequent, and cause severe complications, the ENT doctor might suggest a tonsillectomy.
  • Exposure to bacteria at a very young age
  • Frequent exposure to germs that can cause tonsillitis
  • Take your prescribed pain medications whenever you feel pain. Also, avoid taking aspirin.
  • Complete the antibiotic medicine course. Don’t stop taking antibiotics just because you feel better.
  • Keep a track of all your medicines and take them as directed by the doctor.
  • You may experience bleeding after surgery for 4 to 8 days. Drink ice water and sit down if the bleeding is minimal. If you bleed excessively, contact the ENT surgeon right away.
  • Do not smoke or drink alcohol while your throat is healing.
  • Wrap a bag of crushed ice in a towel and place it on your neck for relief.
  • Don’t take shower or wash your face with hot water.
  • Avoid eating foods that are spicy, hot, or have sharp edges.
  • Do not gargle or let the brush touch the backside of your throat. Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth gently.
  • Don’t blow your nose, sneeze, or cough.
  • Use a cool humidifier to moisten the air and soothe your throat.
  • Limit your activities for 7 to 10 days after surgery.
  • You may get sick easily after the surgery. So, stay away from people who are sick and have a cold, sore throat, or flu.
  • Don’t drive or return to work without getting permission from your doctor.
  • Visit your doctor for follow-ups and contact the surgeon immediately if you have symptoms like worsening throat pain, high fever, red face/neck, swelling, itchy skin, or rashes.

Frequently Asked Question

You should see a doctor for tonsillitis if you have symptoms like high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, and sore throat that doesn’t go away after 2 days.

The viruses that commonly cause tonsillitis are rhinovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis A, streptococcus pyogenes, and HIV. In some cases, people who have these viruses can also develop secondary infections. Therefore, it is necessary that you visit a doctor immediately.
Yes. Tonsillitis can be cured with antibiotic medications, but only when it is acute. You may be given intravenous fluids and pain medications to relieve the sore throat and promote healing. However, if the inflammation is chronic or recurrent, the doctor will most likely recommend surgical treatment, i.e., tonsillectomy.
Tonsillectomy is performed by ENT surgeons or otolaryngologists. They specialize in both medical and surgical treatment of diseases related to the ears, nose, and throat.
If tonsillitis is not treated on time, it can lead to a complication called a peritonsillar abscess. If this happens, the area around the tonsils will get filled with bacteria and cause severe throat pain, muffled voice, drooling, and difficulty in opening the mouth.
If you wish to consult the best ENT specialists, get in touch with us. We house an experienced and well-trained team of ENT surgeons that specialize in all kinds of surgical procedures.
On average, you will need only about 7 to 10 days to recover completely after tonsillectomy. The actual recovery time depends on your body’s healing abilities. If you take a healthy diet and follow the doctor’s instructions, you will be able to recover very quickly.

Different Stages of Tonsillitis 

Almost every person probably gets tonsillitis at least once in their life. After that, the body builds up immunity against bacteria and infection. At different stages of life, the severity of tonsillitis also varies. And depending on the severity, the method of treatment is also different. The different stages are:

  • Acute Tonsillitis – When the inflammation in the tonsils only lasts for 10 days or less, it is considered acute. It can be resolved easily with home remedies or by using antibiotics. 
  • Chronic Tonsillitis- In case the inflammation lasts for longer than 10 days, the condition is considered chronic. It increases the chance of tonsil stones too in which the dead cells, saliva, and food start to build up in the tonsil crevices. Eventually, the deposits become hard and turn into small stones. Home remedies or antibiotic treatment is not effective for this condition and you’ll have to undergo surgery. 
  • Recurrent Tonsillitis- A tonsillitis is said to be recurrent when the patient develops a sore throat 5 to 7 times a year or tonsillitis occurs at least 5 times each in the previous two years. It usually happens due to biofilms in the folds of the tonsils. It is a community of microorganisms with increased antibiotic resistance due to which the patient suffers from recurrent infections. 

Whether you have acute, chronic, or recurrent tonsillitis, it is important that you seek help from ENT specialists and get proper treatment for the disease. 

 

What is the difference between tonsillitis and strep throat?

Tonsillitis and strep throat are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but this is very wrong. You can get tonsillitis without having strep throat. The bacteria Streptococcus is one of the causes of tonsillitis and is also responsible for strep throat. But tonsillitis can also be caused by other bacteria and viruses. 

Both conditions are contagious and have almost similar symptoms. But people with strep throat will have some additional symptoms like body ache, small red spots on the roof of the mouth, swollen and red tonsils with white streaks of pus. In extreme cases of strep throat or tonsillitis can lead to complications like scarlet fever, kidney inflammation, or rheumatic fever. 

The major difference between strep throat and tonsillitis is that if you have strep throat, it can be treated with medications and lifestyle changes. But if you have tonsillitis which is chronic or recurrent, you may have to undergo a surgical procedure for the removal of these lymph nodes. 

 

Discuss Your Treatment Options for Tonsillitis with the Help of ENT Specialists 

Instead of using self-care methods that may or may not be effective in treating tonsillitis, the ideal thing to do is to consult an ENT specialist. You can get in touch with our medical experts and discuss your problem in detail. Our doctors will diagnose you thoroughly and suggest plausible treatment options for the condition. 

If possible, the doctor will prescribe medications to treat the infection. If not, then as a last resort, the doctors will recommend tonsillectomy which is the procedure performed for permanent removal of tonsils. Under the care of our ENT surgeons, you will get advanced medical care without any compromise. Our doctors will help you resolve the problem once and for all safely and effectively. 

 

Prevention Tips

Tonsillitis is a condition that arises due to viral or bacterial infections. And this infection is contagious. Hence, it is important that you practice good hygiene. This way, you can prevent the condition from developing in the first place. 

  • Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after eating, urinating, or bowel movements. 
  • Do not share your food, drinking glass, utensils, or even water bottles. 
  • Replace your toothbrush once you’ve been diagnosed with tonsillitis. 
  • Stay at home and avoid contact with others until the inflammation subsides. 
  • Always sneeze or cough on a tissue and throw it out afterward. 

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