Inflammation of the tonsillar tissue.

Inflammation of the tonsils, especially the PALATINE TONSILS but the ADENOIDS (pharyngeal tonsils) and lingual tonsils may also be involved. Tonsillitis usually is caused by bacterial infection. Tonsillitis may be acute, chronic, or recurrent.

Tonsils are lumps of tissue at the back of the throat. There are two of them, one on each side. Along with the adenoids, tonsils are part of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system clears away infection and keeps body fluids in balance. Tonsils and adenoids work by trapping the germs coming in through the mouth and nose. Tonsillitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the tonsils. Sometimes along with tonsillitis, the adenoids are also swollen. The cause of tonsillitis is usually a viral infection. Bacterial infections such as strep throat can also cause tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is most common in children over age two. Almost every child in the United States gets it at least once. Tonsillitis caused by bacteria is more common in kids ages 5-15. Tonsillitis caused by a virus is more common in younger children. Adults can get tonsillitis, but it is not very common. Although tonsillitis is not contagious, the viruses and bacteria that cause it are contagious. Frequent handwashing can help prevent spreading or catching the infections. The symptoms of tonsillitis include: 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. You should call your health care provider if your child: Has a sore throat for more than two days; Has trouble or pain when swallowing; Feels very sick or very weak. You should get emergency care right away if your child: Has trouble breathing; Starts drooling; Has a lot of trouble swallowing. To diagnose tonsillitis, your child's health care provider will first ask you about your child's symptoms and medical history. The provider will look at your child's throat and neck, checking for things such as redness or white spots on the tonsils and swollen lymph nodes. Your child will probably also have one or more tests to check for strep throat, since it can cause tonsillitis and it requires treatment. It could be a rapid strep test, a throat culture, or both. For both tests, the provider uses a cotton swab to collect a sample of fluids from your child's tonsils and the back of the throat. With the rapid strep test, testing is done in the office, and you get the results within minutes. The throat culture is done in a lab, and it usually takes a few days to get the results. The throat culture is a more reliable test. So sometimes if the rapid strep test is negative (meaning that it does not show any strep bacteria), the provider will also do a throat culture just to make sure that your child does not have strep. Treatment for tonsillitis depends on the cause. If the cause is a virus, there is no medicine to treat it. If the cause is a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, your child will need to take antibiotics. It is important for your child to finish the antibiotics even if he or she feels better. If treatment stops too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect your child. No matter what is causing the tonsillitis, there are some things you can do to help your child feel better. Make sure that your child: Gets a lot of rest; Drinks plenty of fluids; Tries eating soft foods if it hurts to swallow; Tries eating warm liquids or cold foods like popsicles to soothe the throat; Isn't around cigarette smoke or do anything else that could irritate the throat; Sleeps in a room with a humidifier; Gargles with saltwater; Sucks on a lozenge (but do not give them to children under four; they can choke on them); Takes an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen. Children and teenagers should not take aspirin. In some cases, your child may need a tonsillectomy. A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. Your child might need it if he or she: Keeps getting tonsillitis; Has bacterial tonsillitis that does not get better with antibiotics...

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat - one tonsil on each side. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck.

Acute tonsillitis is an acute infection of the parenchyma of the palatine tonsils. This definition does not include tonsillitis as part of infectious mononucleosis, although tonsillitis may occur in isolation or as part of a generalized pharyngitis. The clinical distinction between tonsillitis and pharyngitis is unclear in the...

Tonsillitis, inflammatory infection of the tonsils caused by invasion of the mucous membrane by microorganisms, usually hemolytic streptococci or viruses. The symptoms are sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, fever, malaise, and enlarged lymph nodes on both sides of the neck. The infection lasts...