Tonsillitis Diagnosis And Treatment: Everything You Need To Know About Tonsillitis!
Learn about tonsillitis diagnosis, symptoms, and effective treatments to relieve pain and swelling. Get expert advice on managing this common condition.
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Last updated on 3rd Jul, 2025
Tonsillitis is a common medical condition wherein the tonsil glands are infected, leading to inflammation and pain. Bacterial and viral infections are responsible for this condition. Tonsillitis is characterised by symptoms like sore throat, medium to high-grade fever, tender glands, and swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated, it can be painful and could become chronic, leading to other health conditions. Thus, gathering information about this condition is important for early diagnosis, ensuring quick relief, and improving overall health.
Causes of Tonsillitis
Viruses often affect the upper respiratory tract, leading to the inflammation of the tonsil glands and the appearance of redness and white patches. Some common viruses causing tonsillitis are:
Adenovirus
Epstein-Barr virus
Rhinovirus
Coronavirus
Influenza virus
These are self-limiting pathogens, meaning their life cycle ends automatically after certain days. Hence, your doctor may not prescribe antibiotics for mild symptoms.
On the other hand, the symptoms of bacterial infections are sudden and require treatment through antibiotics and anti-inflammatory steroids. Some of the common bacteria causing tonsillitis are:
Streptococcus pyogenes
Group C and Group D Streptococcus
Staphylococcus aureus
Haemophilus influenza
Moraxella catarrhalis
Symptoms of Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis and sore throat have many common symptoms, but it is critical to know the symptoms of tonsillitis to get the right treatment. So some of the major symptoms of this condition are:
The most prominent symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat, which causes difficulties in swallowing food and water.
The tonsil glands enlarge and become red, with white and yellow patches indicating pus accumulation.
In bacterial tonsillitis, you may have low to medium-grade fever.
Halitosis is also common in bacterial infections.
Voice can become hoarser due to the swollen tonsil glands.
The lymph nodes become tender and swell up due to the body’s immune response.
Referred ear pain due to the enlarged tonsil glands is also common.
On the other hand, some of the severe symptoms of tonsillitis are:
In severe cases, high-grade fever can persist for days, even after taking medicines prescribed by your doctor.
Throat pain can become severe, making eating, speaking, and drinking difficult and painful.
Accumulation of pus can lead to peritonsillar abscess.
The swollen tonsil glands can obstruct the airways, causing difficulty in breathing.
Body fatigue and headache indicate systemic body infections like mononucleosis.
In viral infections caused by Epstein-Barr and Herpes viruses, white and yellow patches can lead to ulcers.
Diagnosis of Tonsillitis
A doctor is the best person to determine the cause of discomfort, and they will do a physical examination and run a few tests to determine the type of tonsillitis one has. The physical examination will include:
General Observation: The doctor will look for signs of fatigue and examine the discomfort level in holding the neck in an upright condition or while bending in different directions.
Inner Inspection: Doctors use a light probe and tongue depressor to analyse the swelling of the tonsil glands, the redness, and the patches that develop in both bacterial and viral infections.
Examination of Lymph Nodes: Since tonsillitis causes tenderness and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck region, the doctor may press these regions to determine the spread of the infection.
Evaluation of Nasal And Oral Cavities: This includes assessment of nasal discharge associated with transparent or yellowish mucus and the presence of bad breath.
Systemic Signs: The doctor can also look for systemic signs like skin rashes due to the sudden onset of scarlet fever or enlargement of the spleen due to suspected mononucleosis.
Additionally, doctors will also ask the individuals to opt for the following lab tests –
Rapid Antigen Detection Test: This quick test is used to detect Streptococcus pyogenes for GABHS wall carbohydrates.
Throat Culture: The most accurate test for detecting strep throat, a sterile swab is used to collect your back throat secretions, and then the lab checks them for bacteria.
Complete Blood Count: CBC helps in differentiating between bacterial and viral infections through different counts of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the secretions.
Monospot Test: It acts as the screening test for Epstein-Barr virus causing mononucleosis by detecting the heterophile antibody count in the blood
Epstein-Barr virus Serology: If the Monospot test fails but symptoms indicate a suspected mononucleosis, your doctor can recommend performing this serology examination.
Types of Tonsillitis
There are two types of tonsillitis:
Acute Tonsillitis
Acute tonsillitis causes inflammation of the tonsil glands in viral infections like Adenovirus and Epstein-Barr virus or bacterial infections like Streptococcus pyogenes. It lasts for around 7 to 10 days, and the symptoms first appear mild, then become high, and then gradually disappear. Symptoms of acute tonsillitis include a sore throat with varying severity, swollen tonsil glands, medium to high-grade fever, and possible exudates.
Chronic Tonsillitis
As the name suggests, the symptoms of chronic tonsillitis persist for several weeks or months. Not getting or adhering to the right treatment can cause the glands to inflame severely due to the body’s systemic immune response. Some major symptoms of chronic tonsillitis are chronic sore throat, enlarged tonsil glands, persistent halitosis, and tonsillar crypt debris.
Treatment Options
Depending on the severity and type of tonsillitis, the doctor will prescribe a course of treatment, and some of these are:
Medications
The first course of treatment is treating tonsillitis with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines. Fever reducers and paracetamols are also recommended based on health conditions and age.
Surgical Procedures (Tonsillectomy)
In case of severe tonsillitis, where medication is no longer effective, doctors may propose surgical removal of the infected part. This procedure is termed tonsillectomy and is performed for both recurrent and chronic tonsillitis.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes
Apart from medication, dietary changes can help alleviate the symptoms of tonsillitis:
Drinking lukewarm water with honey and lemon early in the morning can reduce inflammation
Having chamomile and peppermint tea can provide comfort to a sore throat
Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals can boost the immune power and help your body fight against pathogens.
Proper rest will also help the body fight the infection and reduce the tonsil’s inflammation. Drinking warm water, soups, and broths helps to avoid dehydration caused by medicines.
Complications of Untreated Tonsillitis
A sore throat is sometimes easy to ignore, but if tonsillitis is detected and is left untreated, it can lead to additional health risks, including:
Peritonsillar abscess
Airway obstruction
Rheumatic fever
Scarlet fever
Septicemia
Prevention of Tonsillitis
While tonsillitis is caused by viruses and bacteria, following a few simple practices can prevent the infection.
1. Hygiene Practices
If one is travelling somewhere or has come in contact with an infected person, these hygiene practices can keep him/her safe from tonsillitis:
Always wash hands after touching any infected surface and before meals.
Wear a mask while going out, especially in crowded places.
Disinfect the house properly to keep the pathogens away.
2. Immunisation
Getting proper vaccines such as influenza, diphtheria, pneumococcal, and Hib vaccine can build immunity and lower the risks of tonsillitis.
Conclusion
Tonsillitis is a common yet manageable condition that requires timely diagnosis and proper treatment. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and preventive measures can help reduce complications and improve overall health. By following good hygiene practices, making lifestyle changes, and seeking medical advice when needed, individuals can effectively manage and prevent recurrent tonsillitis episodes.
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