Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is a condition where the tonsils become infected and inflamed. Tonsils are small lumps of tissue that are located at the back of your throat on either side. Tonisillitis is quite common and more than one in 10 people have repeated bouts of tonsillitis at some point in their life.

What causes tonsillitis and who can get it?

Tonsillitis is usually caused by a viral infection. But it can also be caused by bacterial infections. Tonsillitis is extremely common in children and young people but it can occur at any age. The tonsils are made of lymphoid tissue which produce immunoglobulins which have a role in fighting infections. However people can have their tonsils removed without being at any increased risk of developing infections and this is probably because there are many other patches of lymphoid tissue in the body.

What are the signs and symptoms of tonsillitis?

Sore throat and loss or change of voice
Red, swollen tonsils
White spots of pus on tonsils
Fever
Difficulty swallowing
Swollen lymph nodes

How is it normally diagnosed and treated?

If the tonsillitis is caused by a virus, it will not respond to antibiotics, but will eventually go away on its own. Taking paracetamol and ibuprofen may help to reduce the pain and fever in the meantime.

Tonsillitis that is caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics and this will help to speed up recovery. If you are given antibiotics it is important to complete the full course, even if you feel better quite quickly.

What’s going to help?

Drinking lots of fluids – even though it hurts
Avoiding smoking
Sucking throat sweets
Eating soft foods like soup, jelly and ice-cream
Getting lots of rest and staying warm

Looking forward

If you keep getting tonsillitis and it is interfering with your school or college work, your doctor might decide to refer you to have them removed (tonsillectomy). A tonsillectomy is a quick operation that is carried out under a general anaesthetic. This operation is not nearly as common now as it used to be.

Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital: 14 July 2006

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