What is Tonsil?

Tonsils are part of the immune system that are located at the back of the throat (Oropharynx).

What is Tonsillitis?
  • It is an inflammation of the tonsils caused by Viral or Bacterial infections. Although bacterial infections can cause tonsillitis, common viral infections account for the majority of instances.
  • It is critical to have a timely and precise diagnosis since the proper therapy for tonsillitis relies on the underlying cause.

Some of the common type of bacteria and virus that can cause tonsillitis are :

Viruses:

  • Rhinovirus
  • Flu virus
  • Adenovirus
  • Ebstein Barr virus
  • Herpes simplex virus
  • Cytomegalovirus            

Bacteria:

  • Streptococcus
  • Staphylococcus
  • Neisseria
  • Diphtheria

Symptoms:
  • Soreness in the throat
  • Throat pain
  • Difficulty while swallowing
  • Pain during swallowing
  • Bad breath
  • Fever and chills
  • Pain and stiffness in the neck
  • Voice change
  • Fatigue
  • Children especially between ages 5 and 15 years old are more susceptible to tonsillitis due to frequent bacterial infections and children spend more time in groups with children of their own age at school or camp, hence they are more likely to transfer illnesses that cause tonsillitis.

Diagnosis:
  • When you reach the doctor’s office he or she will start to have  a look at the throat to check for the following signs:
  • Swelling of tonsil
  • Redness around the tonsil
  • White spots or patches of yellow, grey or white colour
  • Lymph node (jugulodigastric nodes) enlargement

Throat swab–  Doctor will check your throat  and saliva for the presence of bacteria

Blood analysis or complete blood count (CBC)– a blood test that helps to identify the presence of any infection

When left untreated for a while, tonsillitis can cause following complications:

  • Secondary infections
  • Chronic tonsillitis
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea
  • Peritonsillar abscess

Prevention

The germs that cause viral and bacterial tonsillitis are contagious. Therefore, the best prevention is to practice good hygiene. Teach your child to:   

  • Wash his or her hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet and before eating
  • Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses, water bottles or utensils
  • Replace his or her toothbrush after being diagnosed with tonsillitis
  • To help your child prevent the spread of a bacterial or viral infection to others:
  • Keep your child at home when he or she is ill
  • Ask your doctor when it’s alright for your child to return to school
  • Teach your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue or, when necessary, into his or her elbow
  • Teach your child to wash his or her hands after sneezing or coughing

Treatment :

Home remedies- you may follow home remedies for symptomatic relief

  • Drink warm liquids to ease throat discomfort
  • Adequate hydration
  • Gargle with warm salt water
  • Take throat lozenges
  • Get enough sleep and rest to let the body gain energy to fight infections.

Medications:
  • Treatment of pain and fever with acetaminophen or analgesics as per doctor’s advise
  • Antibiotics – to treat bacterial infections.
  • Your child must take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor even if the symptoms go away completely.

Surgery:

Tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils) may be used to treat frequently recurring tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis or bacterial tonsillitis that doesn’t respond to antibiotic treatment.

  • A tonsillectomy may also be performed if tonsillitis results in difficult to manage complications such as, obstructive sleep apnoea, breathing difficulty, swallowing difficulty, an abscess that doesn’t improve with antibiotic treatment.
  • A tonsillectomy procedure, may need 1 to 2 days of admission as an inpatient, unless your child is very young, has a complex medical condition or if complications arise during surgery. That means your child should be able to go home the first or second day of the surgery. A complete recovery usually takes seven to 14 days.