What is it?
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils. If you have tonsillitis, your tonsils will probably be swollen and sore. It’s most common in children but anyone can have it.
What are the symptoms?
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. In some cases, the tonsils are coated or have white, pus-filled spots on them.
Other common symptoms of tonsillitis include:
- High temperature (fever) over 38°C (100.4°F).
- Coughing.
- Headache.
- Earache.
- Feeling sick.
- Feeling tired.
- Swollen, painful lymph glands in your neck.
- Loss of voice or changes to your voice.
The symptoms of tonsillitis usually get better after three to four days. 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.
What to expect?
You can try the following things:
- Salt water gargling is advisable as it relieves soreness of throat.
- Have plenty of fluids every day.
- Painkillers such as Tylenol might help in relieving pain and fever.
Seek consult with your GP if:
- Symptoms are worsening.
- Have difficulty of breathing.