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Acute Tonsillitis - Tonsillitis
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Tonsillitis is an inflammation or infection of the tonsils.
What is going on in the body?
The body has two sets, or pairs, of tonsils. The palatine tonsils can be seen at the back of the throat. The lingual tonsils are at the back of the tongue and cannot be seen by looking in the mouth. Tonsillitis usually means the inflammation or infection of the palatine tonsils. But sometimes the infection can involve the lingual tonsils and lymph nodes in the back of the throat.
What are the causes and risks of the infection?
Common causes of acute tonsillitis may include:
Subacute tonsillitis is most commonly caused by actinomyces, a normal mouth bacterium that can cause infection.
In chronic tonsillitis, there is a long-standing infection that is almost always bacterial.
Symptoms & Signs
What are the signs and symptoms of the infection?
There are three forms of tonsillitis:
Symptoms of acute tonsillitis include:
Symptoms of subacute tonsillitis can last from 3 weeks to 3 months, and include:
Symptoms of chronic tonsillitis include:
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the infection diagnosed?
A healthcare provider can diagnose acute tonsillitis based on the person's health history and a physical exam. A throat culture can help identify the organism causing the infection. A complete blood count, or CBC, can also help determine if the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria.
If mononucleosis is involved, the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin will be enlarged. An antibody titer may be done to check for antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus.
A healthcare provider can diagnose subacute tonsillitis and chronic tonsillitis based on a person's health record and a physical exam.
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the infection?
The best way to prevent acute tonsillitis is to avoid people who have strep throat or any of the bacterial or viral infections that can lead to acute tonsillitis.
A person can get acute tonsillitis by:
There is no way to prevent subacute or chronic tonsillitis.
What are the long-term effects of the infection?
Usually, no significant long-term effects result from any of the three forms of tonsillitis. However, difficulty swallowing or breathing during sleep can result if the chronic infection causes enlargement of the tonsils. The healthcare provider may recommend a tonsillectomy, or removal of the tonsils, if there are recurrent infections or difficulties with swallowing and breathing.
What are the risks to others?
Strep, diphtheria, and Epstein-Barr infections are all contagious.
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the infection?
Acute tonsillitis is usually treated with:
For acute tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria, antibiotics will usually
cure the infection. Unfortunately, some strep bacteria are becoming resistant
to
Since antibiotics are not effective against viruses, the only treatment for tonsillitis caused by viral infection is medication to reduce fever and pain. Oral steroids may be given for a short period of time if symptoms are severe.
Oral steroids can lessen the symptoms of tonsiliitis caused by mononucleosis. Antibiotics can be helpful in preventing infection if material has collected on the surface of the tonsils.
In subacute tonsillitis caused by
actinomyces,
In cases of chronic tonsillitis, antibiotics combined with oral steroids may resolve the infection. If not, the tonsils should be removed.
Tonsillectomy may be recommended by the healthcare provider if the person has had:
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Side effects depend on the medications used, but may include allergic reactions and upset stomach. Surgery to remove the tonsils can cause bleeding, infection, or allergic reactions to anesthesia.
What happens after treatment for the infection?
Most viral episodes of tonsillitis will resolve without further problems. Antibiotics should clear up infections caused by strep or other bacteria. After recovery from tonsillectomy, the person should be free of symptoms.
How is the infection monitored?
Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
Attribution
Author:William Stevens, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Ballenberg, Sally, BS
Edit Date:11/29/00
Reviewer:Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed:08/09/01