The tonsils are two small glands that sit on either side of the throat. In young children, they help to fight germs and act as a barrier against infection. When the tonsils become infected, they isolate the infection and stop it spreading further into the body.
As a child's immune system develops and gets stronger, the tonsils become less important and usually shrink. In most people, the body is able to fight infection without the tonsils. Removal of the tonsils is usually only recommended if they're causing problems, such as severe or repeated episodes of tonsillitis see below.
Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a viral infection, such as the viruses that cause the common cold or flu virus influenza. Some cases can also be caused by a bacterial infection, typically a strain of bacteria called group A streptococcus bacteria. These types of infections spread easily, so it's important to try to avoid passing the infection on to others by:.
Read more about the causes of tonsillitis. If test results show that your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, a short course of oral antibiotics may be prescribed. If oral antibiotics aren't effective at treating bacterial tonsillitis, intravenous antibiotics given directly into a vein may be needed in hospital.
In most cases, tonsillitis gets better within a week. However, a small number of children and adults have tonsillitis for longer, or it keeps returning.
This is known as chronic tonsillitis and surgical treatment may be needed. Read more about treating tonsillitis. Complications of tonsillitis are rare and usually only occur if it's caused by a bacterial infection.
They're usually the result of the infection spreading to another part of the body. Other complications of tonsillitis are very rare and usually only occur if an underlying bacterial infection is left untreated. They include:. The main symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat. Your tonsils will be red and swollen, and your throat may be very painful, making swallowing difficult.
If you have tonsillitis that's caused by a viral infection, such as the common cold or flu , your symptoms may be milder. If your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, such as a streptococcal infection, your symptoms will usually be more severe and you may also have bad breath. It's difficult to tell just by looking at a person's throat whether they have tonsillitis as a result of a virus or a bacterial infection.
Tests are needed to confirm this. Antibiotics may be recommended if test results show that your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection. In rare cases, tonsillitis can also be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever. If this is the case, you'll probably feel very ill. You'll have a sore throat and the lymph glands in your throat may be swollen.
You may also have a fever and feel very tired. Bacterial tonsillitis can be caused by a number of different bacteria, but it's usually due to group A streptococcus bacteria.
In the past, serious bacterial infections, such as diphtheria and rheumatic fever, have been linked with tonsillitis. However, this is now rare, because these conditions are vaccinated against and treatment for them has greatly improved. Viruses, such as those that cause colds and flu, are spread through coming into close contact with someone who's infected. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of their nose and mouth.
You can become infected by breathing in the contaminated droplets. This is known as direct contact. You can also become infected if you touch a surface or object that the droplets have landed on and then touch your face. This is known as indirect contact. There's no specific treatment for tonsillitis and most cases get better within a week without treatment. While waiting for the infection to clear up, there are a number of things you can do to help relieve your symptoms see below.
If your child has tonsillitis, make sure they have plenty to eat and drink, even if they find it painful to swallow. Being hungry and dehydrated can make other symptoms, such as headaches and tiredness, worse. Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen , can help relieve painful symptoms such as a sore throat. If treating your children with painkillers, it's important to use the correct type and dosage. Younger children only need small dosages.
Your pharmacist can advise you about this. Over-the-counter treatments that can soothe a sore throat, such as lozenges and oral sprays, are also available. Some people find that gargling with a mild antiseptic solution can also relieve a sore throat. For tonsillitis that is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are prescribed.
If attacks of tonsillitis become frequent and severe, or cause complications, your doctor might suggest an operation, known as tonsillectomy. Reasons for tonsillectomy can include:.
Before doing a tonsillectomy, your doctor will give you a complete physical check-up. The tonsil pad has a large blood supply, and special note will be taken whether you have any abnormal bleeding tendencies. Your doctor will check to see if your tonsils are actively inflamed and, if so, will prescribe antibiotics for a few weeks to control the infection before the surgery.
Tonsillectomy is mainly done in children to treat snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea or frequent tonsillitis. If symptoms are mild, a wait and see approach is recommended as problems often get better as children get older.
Safer Care Victoria has developed a Making a decision about tonsillectomy fact sheet to support parents in making an informed decision about tonsillectomy for their child together with their doctor. A tonsillectomy is performed under general anaesthesia.
The glandular tissue is contained inside a skin lining which the surgeon cuts using scalpel, scissors, laser or an electric current electrocautery. The surgeon then removes the tonsils. Each tonsil pad has a substantial blood supply, so electrocautery is often used to fuse the blood vessels and reduce the risk of haemorrhage.
Safer Care Victoria has developed a number of videos where parents share their stories about caring for their child before, on the day of and after tonsil surgery. Be guided by your doctor about how to care for yourself at home, but general suggestions include:. However, it will stop the tonsillitis and allow you to swallow more easily.
You will probably lose your bad breath, if that was a problem. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. People are less sensitive to smells the older they get, and women tend to have a more acute sense of smell than men.
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