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Tonsillitis
Medical Questions » Tonsillitis
| Name: Tonsillitis |
| Also known as: |
| Infection of the tonsils, which are modified lymph nodes that sit on either side of the throat at the back of the mouth. They intercept and destroy bacteria and viruses that enter the body, but if a tonsil is overwhelmed by these organisms tonsillitis occurs. May occur at any age, but far more common amongst children. |
Causes of Tonsillitis
Bacteria (eg. Streptococci, Staphylococci, Haemophilus) or viruses (eg. glandular fever) that enter through the mouth or nose. |
Symptoms of Tonsillitis
Tonsil becomes enlarged, red and covered in pus. Patient develops a sudden high fever, headache, throat pain, has offensive breath and finds it difficult to swallow or speak. Can easily spread to the other tonsil and to lymph nodes below the jaw and around the ear. |
Tests for Tonsillitis
Bacterial infection: types of bacteria differentiated by a throat swab. Viral infection: blood tests can detect glandular fever and likelihood of other viral infections. |
Treatment for Tonsillitis
Bacterial infection: bed rest, fluid diet, aspirin or paracetamol, antiseptic mouth washes and antibiotics (eg. penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline). Viral infection — no cure available, and pain-killing tablets and gargles used to give relief, while prolonged rest allows recovery. Recurrent attacks: surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy).
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Complications of Tonsillitis of its treatment
The Eustachian tube that drains fluid from, and allows air to enter into the middle ear, opens into the back of the throat between the tonsils and adenoids. As a result infection may spread from the tonsils to the ear. Uncontrolled bacterial infection may cause an abscess (quinsy) or septicemia (see separate entries). Infectious, and may be passed to another person who is in close contact with the patient. |
Likely Outcome of Tonsillitis
Very good with appropriate treatment. |
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