Tonsils and tonsillitis
Your tonsils are two lumps of tissue at the back of the throat, one on each side. With the adenoids, they belong to the lymphatic system, which clears infection and keeps body fluids in balance. They work by trapping germs coming in through the mouth and nose.
Tonsillitis is inflammation (swelling) of the tonsils. The adenoids may be swollen too.
Causes and who gets it
- Usually a virus. Bacteria such as strep throat can also cause it.
- Mostly children over age two — almost every child in the United States gets it at least once. Bacterial tonsillitis is more common at ages 5–15; viral tonsillitis in younger children. Adults can get it, but rarely.
- Contagious? Tonsillitis itself is not, but the viruses and bacteria behind it are. Frequent handwashing helps prevent spreading or catching them.
Symptoms
- a sore throat, which may be severe
- red, swollen tonsils
- trouble swallowing
- a white or yellow coating on the tonsils
- swollen glands in the neck
- fever
- bad breath
When to get help
| Call your child's provider if your child | Get emergency care right away if your child |
|---|---|
| has a sore throat for more than two days | has trouble breathing |
| has trouble or pain when swallowing | starts drooling |
| feels very sick or very weak | has a lot of trouble swallowing |
Diagnosis
The provider asks about symptoms and history, then looks at the throat and neck for redness, white spots on the tonsils and swollen lymph nodes. Because strep needs treatment, your child will probably be tested for it, with a swab from the tonsils and back of the throat:
- a rapid strep test, done in the office, with results in minutes;
- a throat culture, done in a lab, with results in a few days — more reliable, so it may follow a negative rapid test to make sure.
Treatment
It depends on the cause. No medicine treats a virus. Bacterial tonsillitis, such as strep, needs antibiotics — and your child should finish them even after feeling better, or surviving bacteria may cause a new infection.
Whatever the cause, help your child feel better:
- plenty of rest and fluids;
- soft foods if swallowing hurts; warm liquids or cold foods like popsicles to soothe the throat;
- no cigarette smoke or other throat irritants;
- a humidifier in the bedroom;
- saltwater gargles;
- lozenges — but not for children under four, who can choke on them;
- an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen. Children and teenagers should not take aspirin.
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. Your child might need one for:
- repeated tonsillitis;
- bacterial tonsillitis that antibiotics don't clear;
- tonsils so big they cause trouble breathing or swallowing.
Most children go home the same day; very young children and those with complications may stay overnight. Full recovery can take a week or two.
Sources
Based on "Tonsillitis," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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