Tonsillitis (Inflamed Tonsils) – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is Tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis doesn’t have age, it can occur to anyone but they are often diagnosed among children from 5 to 15 years old. Tonsils are 2 oval-shaped pads of tissues at the back of your throat which helps airways to trap germs and prevent infection. If infection occurs they make antibodies to fight against it. As they are the first line of defense against infection, sometimes, while combating they get overwhelmed by bacteria or viruses which cause them to get swollen and inflamed.

Symptoms of Tonsillitis:

• Redness and swollen tonsils
• Whitish or yellowing layer on the tonsils
• Sore throat
• Discomfort or painful swallowing
• Fever
• Enlarged and tender glands in the neck
• A scratchy, muffled or throaty voice
• Bad breath
• Stomach ache
• Neck pain or stiff neck
• Headache

The symptoms can be recognized in Infants or toddlers who can’t speak from:

• Excessive drooling
• Painful swallowing around the neck
• Poor Appetite
• Unusual fussiness

Tonsillitis Treatment:

If the tonsillitis is caused by a common virus, such as a cold, and the symptoms are minor, no treatment for tonsillitis is required. In case of severity, treatment may vary from antibiotics to tonsillectomy. If dehydration occurs due to tonsillitis then a patient will need intravenous fluids. Pain relievers are used to manage sore throats while the infection is healing.

Tonsillectomy or Tonsils Surgery

Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove tonsils. The best ENT specialist or best general surgeons in India will suggest for tonsillectomy if you have chronic or recurrent tonsillitis, or if tonsillitis has caused complications. The surgery may also relieve breathing or swallowing problems from tonsillitis. This also reduces the overall risk of developing strep throat, but there can be a rare chance to get getting strep throat or tonsils growing back again after surgery.

With advanced technology and vivid experience in treating tonsillitis, Tonsils removal surgery or Tonsillectomy at Shalby Hospital is a short stay surgery, which means you can go home within 24-48 hours of surgery ( depending on your condition). The entire recovery will take around 1-2 weeks.

How to prevent Tonsillitis:

• Maintain distance from people who show symptoms, as the germs that cause viral and bacterial tonsillitis are contagious
• If you have tonsillitis, try to maintain social distance from family members until the germs are not transmissible.
• Practice good hygiene at your home and ask your child to wash hands often.
• Cough or sneeze into a wipe or, use a hand to cover the mouth.

Tonsillitis is not only painful when they are severe but chronic tonsillitis can cause breathlessness which may lead to obstructive Sleep Apnea. So if you have reoccurring tonsillitis or symptoms that can cause severity in the future, consult the best ENT doctors and surgeon in India.

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