Bacterial Infection: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Tonsillitis – Symptoms, Treatments And Prevention
What is it?Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, which are two small glands found at the back of the throat. Either a virus or bacteria can cause tonsillitis, however most cases are viral.
What are the symptoms?It usually takes around two – four days for the symptoms to appear after catching the infection. The main one is a sore throat, however tonsillitis is different to just a sore throat because there are usually other accompanying symptoms, such as red and swollen tonsils, high temperature, coughing, headaches and tiredness.
If a virus caused the tonsillitis (the flu virus, for example) then your child may have other flu symptoms, such as a runny nose. If it was bacteria that caused the tonsillitis, your child may also have a skin rash or a flushed face.
How common is tonsillitis?Sore throats are very common, but it's hard to say how common tonsillitis actually is. According to the NHS, one in 10 people see their doctor about sore throats every year. Children are most likely to get tonsillitis between the ages of 5 and 15, because of the close contact with lots of other children during school. The infection is spread through hand contact or breathing in the airborne droplets after someone with tonsillitis has sneezed.
Do you need to take your child to the doctor?Yes. Your doctor will be able to examine your child's throat and diagnose whether the tonsillitis is viral or bacterial.
If it's bacterial, your doctor may be able to prescribe antibiotics.
Viral tonsillitis often clears up on its own without treatment, but you can read our suggestions below to help to ease the pain.
What can you do to help ease the pain for your child?Make sure your child has plenty to eat or drink, even if they complain it's painful to swallow. Being hungry or dehydrated will just make some of the other symptoms even worse.
Children's paracetamol or ibuprofen may also help the pain, but make sure you read the packet before giving any to a small child.
It is likely that their immune system will clear the infection within a few days.
You can also help your child avoid further infections by making sure they wash their hands regularly.
What if your child gets tonsillitis a lot?If your child has recurring bouts, usually five or more times a year, then your doctor may suggest they remove the tonsils. This is done by an operation known as tonsillectomy, and is one of the most common major operations carried out on children.
More like this Should your child go to school with tonsillitis?
Your child may feel too poorly to go to school and if the infection is viral then it's best for your child to stay home for a few days to recover, as going to school with the virus will make it more likely for them to catch it again. However, this will depend on each child and the severity of the infection.
Children who have had a tonsillectomy should be kept off school for two weeks to reduce the chance of picking up another infection.
What else may your child come into contact with during school?Other infections like verrucas, chickenpox, impetigo, molluscum contagiosum, threadworms, ear infections, ringworm, diarrhoea and vomiting are also common for your child to catch during school.
What Causes Recurrent Tonsillitis And How Is It Treated?
Recurrent tonsillitis is a tonsil infection that returns frequently, even with treatment. There may be a genetic component to why some people experience recurrent or chronic infections.
Tonsillitis occurs when the two glands that sit in the back of your throat, called the tonsils, become swollen and painful due to an infection.
Most often, a viral infection, such as the common cold, is responsible for tonsillitis. But bacterial infections, particularly from Streptococcus pyogenes, can also be the cause.
Recurrent tonsillitis doesn't have a clearly defined number of episodes. It generally means that the infection returns frequently, three to five times or more per year, even with treatment such as antibiotics.
Read on to learn about the potential causes of recurrent tonsillitis and treatment options.
When it comes to recurrent bacterial tonsillitis, researchers have found some clues as to why some people are more likely to keep getting infections. Their research centers on genetic components that affect the immune system.
A 2019 study looked at tissue samples from 66 children who had their tonsils removed after having recurrent strep infections. Researchers found an unusual immune response to the strep bacteria. Essentially, the strep bacteria tricked the children's immune systems into attacking immune cells that would normally fight off the infection.
Researchers also found that there was a genetic connection to this immune response, as many of the children had a family history of recurrent tonsillitis.
Both children and adults can have recurrent tonsillitis, but children are often exposed to more germs, which makes them more susceptible to infections. In addition, a 2018 study found that recurrent tonsillitis most often affects people assigned female at birth.
Recurrent tonsillitis may also occur in children with:
Similar to recurrent tonsillitis, genetic and immune factors may also play a role in who gets PFAPA.
If you're someone who gets recurrent tonsillitis, you likely want to prevent a repeat infection. Prevention recommendations include:
As research draws more connections between genetics and the immune response to strep, it may become even more clear why some people are more likely to get recurrent infections despite their best prevention efforts.
Future research may also find new treatments and prevention strategies for those who are prone to recurrent tonsillitis. For example, scientists are currently looking to develop a vaccine that can prevent strep infections.
How tonsillitis is treated depends on a couple of factors: whether it's caused by a viral or bacterial infection and whether it's a recurrent infection.
A tonsillectomy, surgical removal of the tonsils, is typically recommended for people with recurrent tonsillitis.
According to Texas Children's Hospital, frequent or recurrent tonsillitis is typically defined as:
Tonsillectomies are also typically recommended for those with:
Learn more about tonsillectomy here.
Recurrent tonsillitis means you frequently get infections that cause your tonsils to become red, swollen, and painful.
Researchers are beginning to understand why certain people are more susceptible to repeat infections, and it has something to do with an abnormal immune response tied to certain genes.
When recurrent tonsillitis starts to affect your quality of life, surgery to remove the tonsils — called a tonsillectomy — is usually recommended.
Can You Use Lemon For Tonsillitis?
Although there is not a lot of specific research to confirm it, the nutrients in lemons may be beneficial for those with sore throats, especially when paired with a soothing, warm liquid.
Tonsillitis or inflammation of the tonsils is a common problem that results in 1.3% of outpatient doctor visits. Many people experience an extremely sore throat due to tonsillitis and are willing to try almost anything to feel better.
Though only a little research has been done to prove the effectiveness of lemons in easing the pain of tonsillitis, there are reasons this home remedy might be worth considering. Here's more information about the possible benefits of lemons for tonsillitis.
Learn more about tonsillitis.
There is not a lot of research on the use of lemon to treat tonsillitis. However, it is known that staying hydrated when one has tonsillitis is important, so consuming liquids with lemon in it may be beneficial if it increases a person's water consumption. The taste of lemon may also make drinking lots of water more palatable for some people.
Also, lemon is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, which may be beneficial for building the immune system and controlling inflammation. The citric acid in lemon may also help break up mucus.
Because lemon juice is acidic, drinking it can cause a stinging or burning sensation if it's not diluted. If it's uncomfortable, stop using it.
You can squeeze fresh lemon into hot water or tea using lemons to help with your tonsillitis. Not a fan of fresh lemons? Lemon juice can be used instead, and you can also add a bit of honey to your tea.
Also, lemon is often found along with other soothing ingredients in cough drops and lozenges. Sucking on these can help keep the throat moist, too.
If you have tonsillitis, your doctor may recommend ibuprofen to help reduce fever and inflammation. They may also recommend throat sprays, lozenges, and antiseptic sprays to help with throat pain.
If you have tonsillitis caused by bacteria or develop a bacterial infection related to the tonsillitis, your doctor may recommend antibiotics. In making this determination, they will weigh risks of developing a resistance to the antibiotic with the potential benefits of it.
In most cases, you won't experience complications from tonsillitis.
Rarely, an abscess may form between the tonsils and the wall of the throat. Some people may also experience frequent recurrences of tonsillitis that require surgery.
Symptoms of tonsillitis typically last only 3 to 4 days.
With antibiotics, even if people develop complications from their tonsillitis, they tend to have good outcomes. When people require surgery because of frequent tonsillitis, their long-term outcome is also good.
There's no way to eliminate the possibility of developing tonsillitis. Still, to reduce your risk, you can:
Symptoms of tonsillitis can include a sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, coughing, and bad breath. To diagnose tonsillitis, your doctor may check your throat for swelling and use a throat swab to test for bacterial infections.
Do I need antibiotics for my tonsillitis?Most cases of tonsillitis are viral and clear up on their own. If you have a bacterial form of tonsillitis, antibiotics may be needed.
What other home remedies might help with my tonsillitis?If you have tonsillitis, consider using a humidifier while sleeping to ensure you breathe in moist air. Gargling with salt water, sucking on popsicles or ice chips, and drinking tea with honey may also help.
Tonsillitis is a common condition that can result in a sore throat for several days. Treatment focuses on relieving uncomfortable symptoms, especially when tonsillitis is due to a viral infection.
Research on the use of lemons for tonsillitis is limited, but drinking a soothing liquid may help. If you are diagnosed with tonsillitis, discuss treatment options with a healthcare professional.
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