Tonsillitis
is inflammation of the tonsils which are
at the back of your throat. Acute tonsillitis
is often caused by streptococcal bacteria,
but may be caused by many other germs too.
Symptoms
The tonsils
become swollen and red and the surfaces
may show spots of pus coming from the clefts
(tonsillar crypts). Sometimes material from
the crypts forms a whitish membrane over
the surface. The lymph nodes in your neck,
just behind or under the angle of the jaw,
are swollen and tender to the touch.
You may
have a sore throat, pain on swallowing,
a headache, a feeling of being unwell (malaise)
and a fever, which may be very high in young
children. Constipation and earache are also
common.
Your tongue
may well be furry and your breath unpleasant.
You may find it rather difficult to open
your mouth and your speech may be thickened.
Diagnosis
This is based
on the symptoms, the appearance of the throat,
and the presence of swollen neck nodes (‘glands’).
Sometimes a throat swab (a small sample
of mucus) may be taken for laboratory analysis.
Treatment
Most sore
throats are caused by viruses, and do not
respond to antibiotics.
Tonsillitis
caused by streptococcal bacteria responds
well to antibiotic treatment. This should
always be given if the infection is streptococcal.
Severe or
complicated tonsillitis that keeps on coming
back may justify the removal of the tonsills,
an operation known as tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy
is always done under a general anaesthetic,
but is less often done than it used to be.
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Tonsillitis & Tonsillectomy
