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Tonsillitis Symptoms
Have you ever had tonsillitis before? Quite surely, you have. This condition is very common, especially amongst children.
One might say tonsillitis is just because of too much sweets and the only thing that will happen to you is have a sore throat – that’s not the whole story. Before we go the tonsillitis’ symptoms, let’s first find out what tonsillitis really is.
The Tonsillitis Symptoms Causes
Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsil and many of the tonsillitis symptoms is due to some common bacterial of viral infection.
When the two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat are infected by a viral or bacterial infection, the tissues get swollen causing many complications.
It is believed that the tonsil, along with the adenoids located behind the nose and soft palate, is a part of the body’s defense mechanism against bacteria and viruses.
They act as filters that keep bacteria from entering the body and producing antibodies to deal with infection.
In other words, our tonsils produce white blood cells to help fight of the infections trying to go into our body through respiration and food or water intake.
The tonsils, however, decline in their immunity role after puberty. That is why many adults who have not had their tonsils removed as a child barely experienced tonsillitis.
However, those who still have their tonsils will experience tonsillitis symptoms often.
Is Tonsillitis Contagious?
Tonsillitis commonly occurs in children between 5 to 15 years old. What most people fail to realize is that tonsillitis can be contagious.
When tonsillitis symptoms are shown by an individual, they should refrain from direct communication due to the fact that the bacteria or virus causing the tonsillitis can be spread through the air droplets.
So contact with a person with tonsillitis within an enclosed space is a sure way of getting it. Together with other forms of common transmittable disease, tonsillitis is easily spread through sneezing and coughing.
This bacterial infection which causes tonsillitis symptoms can also be passed through sharing of utensils or when a child touches his nose, then touches a toy used by other kids.
Though tonsillitis may sound easily accessible to everyone, it’s usually non-contagious after 24 hours of antibiotics. We should remember that tonsillitis can be easily acquired in crowded areas.
The tonsils have the ability to increase in size and activity to prevent any infiltration and infection from going beyond the throat. But what commonly sickens our tonsils is a group of bacteria called streptococci, hence the American term “strep throat”.
Strep throat is one of the major tonsillitis symptoms you can observe in an infected individual. But digging a little deeper, what are all the tonsillitis symptoms we should all be aware of, and how can we be sure that these tonsillitis symptoms are bacterial or viral tonsillitis?
There Are Two Kinds Of Tonsillitis
Acute tonsillitis and chronic tonsillitis.
Acute tonsillitis refers to a gradual or sudden sore throat usually accompanied by a fever. The most common among tonsillitis symptoms are the mild or the severe sore throat.
This is due to the swelling of the tonsils that even swallowing saliva would already be painful. Accompanied by the swelling of the tonsils is its heightened sensitivity.
Another tonsillitis symptom for this kind of tonsillitis is having a fever. Glandular fevers are usually caused by Epstein-Barr virus.
The next kind of tonsillitis symptoms for this is feeling pain in the ear when swallowing, unable to swallow saliva due to the stinging pain, drooling and bad breath.
There will also be visible grayish-white or yellowish spots or pus. This may be caused by viruses or bacteria.
When the tonsillitis is caused by virus, the swelling of the tonsils, larynx and nodes will not be cured by antibiotics and may gradually leave the system between 7-10 days on natural causes.
Chronic tonsillitis refers to recurring tonsillar infections, which includes the development of tonsilloliths (tonsil stones), which cause bad breath.
The following are all the other tonsillitis symptoms an individual may experience in mild and severe tonsillitis caused by both bacteria and virus. Virus-caused bacteria, however, cannot be remedied by antibiotics:
- Sore throat
- Pain in swallowing/difficulty in feeding infants
- Drooling in children
- Bad breath
- Stiff neck
- Abdominal pain (children)
- Hoarseness
- Ear pain
- Rashes
- Tonsillitis have white patches
- Tonsils and throat are red
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Nausea and vomiting
- Swollen lymph nodes at the back of the neck
- Eyes are red
- Fever
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Chills
- Nasal congestion
- Body aches
A throat swap can be used to determine whether the tonsillitis symptoms exhibited is bacterial of viral.
These Tonsillitis Symptoms Are All
Inter Related With Each Other
The hoarseness (lack of voice when speaking), ear pain, sore throat, stiff neck, drooling and loss of appetite are all because of the swelling of the tonsils. When trying to swallow saliva, there will be immense pain causing (children) to refrain from swallowing and start drooling.
The tonsillitis symptoms wherein the internal systems connecting the tonsils, larynx and the adenoids during tonsillitis are inflamed and swelling cause pain in the neck, losing of voice, and reddening of the throat.
The glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) caused by the Epstein-Barr virus contributes to the fever of a person with tonsillitis reaching from 101 degrees Fahrenheit and above.
If the sore throat is caused by viral infection, the tonsillitis symptoms are usually milder and often related to the common cold. If the tonsillitis is due to the Coxsackie virus infection, the infected person may develop small blisters on the tonsils and roof of the mouth.
These blisters erupt after four days or less, depending on an individual’s immune system, followed by a scab which may be very painful.
If the sore throat condition is due to a streptococcal infection, the tonsillitis symptoms would be that the tonsils would be coated and sore, feeling ill followed by a foul-smelled breath (caused by the bacteria).
These appearances of tonsillitis symptoms are very impossible to tell by just looking at someone’s throat and determine whether the infection is caused by bacteria or virus.
Viral infections resulting to tonsillitis cannot be helped by antibiotics and will have to subside on its own in a week, more or less.
So, whenever you feel your throat is being struck with a knife, talk to your doctor to help avoid severe tonsillitis and keep a healthy infection-free life.
