Most of us had heard about tonsillitis. But do you know what causes tonsillitis? Let’s look at the different types of tonsillitis, symptoms associated, and the treatment methods used. What are the ways we could prevent it?. 

Don’t worry. In this article, we are going to discuss all that you need to know about tonsillitis. So that the next time if anyone asks you about this medical condition you should not keep your mouth shut.

What is tonsillitis?

In simple words, tonsillitis is an inflammation associated with the tonsils. The tonsils are chunks of tissues that are located at the back of our throat. We all have one pair of tonsils, each located at the opposite sides of the throat.

Tonsillitis can be a result of viruses. But in rare cases, it can also result from bacterial infection. Without proper treatment, tonsilitis can lead to serious problems. So it is necessary to have proper diagnosis and treatment for tonsillitis.

We can classify tonsillitis into three types depending upon its nature and symptoms. They are:

1. Acute tonsillitis 

Tonsillitis is very common in children. Most of us may have experienced it at least once in our childhood. If your tonsillitis lasts for ten days or less, then it is acute tonsillitis. 

2. Chronic tonsillitis

This type of tonsillitis can last longer than acute tonsillitis. Acute tonsillitis can cause tonsil stones. They need to be removed by your health expert with the help of procedures such as tonsillectomy.

3. Recurrent tonsillitis

This medical condition happens when you experience tonsillitis and its symptoms repeatedly. Recurrent tonsillitis needs treatment as soon as possible to avoid further complications.

What problems does tonsillitis cause?

We all have experienced or seen our childhood friends experiencing tonsillitis. But looking at people who are older, tonsillitis is not common in them. This is because tonsillitis mainly affects infants and children.

Now the common causes of tonsillitis include the following:

1. Swollen or red tonsils
2. White coating on the tonsils
3. Pain while swallowing food or water
4. Sore throat
5. Fever
6. Change in voice
7. Foul breathe
8. Stomach ache
9. Neck pain
10. High temperature
11. Headache
12. Coughing

In infants and children, it is impossible to describe the symptoms. But we can understand the symptoms from their certain signs such as:

1. Drooling due to difficulty in swallowing food
2. Denial to eat
3. Unusual irritation
4. Difficulty in breathing

If you or your infants experience any one or multiple symptoms mentioned above, you should immediately consult a doctor. Early treatment can avoid further health complications. So diagnosing it early is worth treating it at a complex stage.

How do you catch tonsillitis?

As mentioned above, the virus is the most common cause of tonsillitis. But in certain cases, bacterial infection can also cause tonsillitis. The causes of tonsillitis vary accordingly depending upon the type of microbes that causes the condition.

1. Viral tonsillitis

Viral tonsillitis is the most common cause of tonsillitis that we experience. These viruses are also responsible for the cause of the common cold in humans. If you are experiencing viral tonsillitis then you will be having nasal congestion and coughing.

2. Bacterial tonsillitis

Tonsillitis around 30-40% is caused by bacteria. Bacterial tonsillitis is most common in children around the age of 5-15. Usually, antibiotics are used to treat bacterial tonsillitis. Besides, almost all the treatments used for viral and bacterial tonsillitis are the same.

What is the best treatment for tonsillitis?

If you are suffering from mild tonsillitis, then don’t worry. Your health condition will be back to normal without any specific treatment. But in contrast to that, if you are having severe tonsillitis your health expert undergoes treatment methods such as antibiotics or tonsillectomy.

1. Antibiotics

If bacteria are responsible for the condition, then your health expert will recommend antibiotics to cure the infection. Antibiotics cure the condition faster. But they are associated with side effects such as stomach aches.

Antibiotics are prescribed to patients who are at higher risks of tonsillitis. You should always remember to complete the antibiotics course even though you are free from all the symptoms. 

2. Tonsillectomy

It is a surgical procedure used to remove tonsils. Tonsillectomy is generally recommended to those patients who are suffering from chronic or recurrent tonsillitis conditions. 

For example, if you are having tonsillitis more than 5 times a year then your health expert will recommend you to undergo a tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is also beneficial in relieving breathing problems associated with tonsillitis.

How can I get rid of tonsillitis in my throat at home?

Most of us like to get rid of any health troubles with home remedies rather than going to hospitals. But you should always remember that unscientific treatment methods can lead to danger. 

Although you get rid of mild tonsillitis at your home by practicing a few tips such as:

• Drinking adequate liquid
• Getting enough sleep
• Gargling with salt lukewarm water 
• Avoid smoking

These are some of the best and easy home remedy tips to cure tonsillitis. If you are suffering from tonsillitis give it a try after proper advice from your health expert about the condition you are possessing.

How do you stop tonsillitis before it starts?

We all know that prevention is way better than cure. There are many steps that we could follow to prevent tonsillitis. Some of them are:

• Wash your hands frequently by using soap and water
• Stay away from people who have the infection
• Avoid sharing utensils with others
• Cover your mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing

There are not many complicated steps to prevent tonsillitis. All we have to do is, brush up on some of our early cleanliness habits. You should immediately consult an ENT Specialist if you need medical assistance.