Swollen Tonsils
Learn How We Can Treat Swollen Tonsils
There are two masses of tissue at the back of your throat, one on each side, called tonsils. These small structures are part of our immune system; however, they are themselves prone to infection by viruses and bacteria such as strep. When tonsils are infected, they become inflamed, thereby developing a condition called tonsillitis. Tonsillitis typically causes throat pain, redness and sometimes small white spots called exudate to appear on the tonsils. Additional symptoms can include loss of appetite, ear pain, fevers, and bad breath. In rare cases tumors can form on the tonsils as well. Risk factors for developing a tonsil malignancy include smoking and infection with certain strains of HPV (human papilloma virus).
MAKE AN APPOINTMENTTreatment Options for Swollen Tonsils
If you’re experiencing swollen tonsils, your treatment plan is going to depend on the root cause of the issue. Most of the time tonsillitis is caused by a virus. In these cases it is important to resist the urge to take an antibiotic, since antibiotics do not treat viruses. Taking medications to treat the symptoms and waiting several days until the infection clears is the best course of action. In some cases, bacteria called streptococcus (aka strep) can cause a tonsil infection. It is important to treat strep with antibiotics because in some cases the bacteria will release toxins that can cause problems such as inflammation of the kidneys or heart. This is why in the case of a tonsil infection we obtain a Q-Tip culture—to detect whether or not the infection is caused by strep. If tonsil infections recur, or if tonsil stones persist, removal of the tonsils is the best approach. This procedure is performed by Dr. Davis in a nearby operating room on an outpatient basis. The procedure itself takes less than an hour in most cases. If only one tonsil is swollen and painful and the condition is not resolving, a biopsy may be necessary to rule out more serious conditions.
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