Tonsillitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments. Surgery is also available.

What are the common symptoms of Tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis can be an inflammation of one or both of the two round tissue lumps that are located at the back corner of your mouth just above your throat. If you have a bacterial or viral infection, the inside of your tonsils will be yellow, white, or red. (3)

Tonsillitis symptoms can vary greatly from one person to another. Most common are inflamed, swollen tonsils and sore throat. Other symptoms include a fever (high temperature), mouth ulcers, and loss of appetite. Some people may only experience mild throat pain, while others will have stomach aches and a general malaise. If you are experiencing difficulty swallowing or hearing loss or feeling generally unwell, with other symptoms such as earache or headache, visit your GP immediately for further investigations by laboratory tests or a blood test.

The symptoms listed below can appear between two days and two weeks following initial exposure.

Sore throat

Tonsillitis is often characterized by a sore throat. A general feeling of pain or discomfort in the throat can be described. This is caused by swelling or inflammation of the tissues in your throat. It can be mild, medium or severe. The pain can vary from mild throbbing, to severe aches depending on how severe your condition is. The pain in your throat is usually worse in the morning, and can last for several days or even weeks. It may feel like something is stuck in your throat. Other symptoms can include a fever, a cough and nasal congestion.

Fever

Tonsillitis is often accompanied by a moderate to high-grade fever. It’s often the first sign of tonsillitis in both children and adults. The intensity can be variable and last from a few hours to a week. You can experience a fever lasting over a week if you have tonsillitis that is very infected or swollen.

Malaise can also be caused by fever – the feeling of constantly being sick, tired and wanting to sleep. Children under six years of age are more susceptible to high grade fever caused by bacterial tonsillitis. A high grade fever in children can lead to febrile fits if not treated immediately. This is a medical emergency. Cold sponges and over-the-counter fever-lowering medications can help you lower your fever. If you don’t see any improvement with home remedies, consult your doctor for specific treatment.

Difficulty in swallowing

If the tonsils are inflamed or swollen, it can cause difficulty swallowing. This is a common symptom of tonsillitis. Inflamed tonsils can make it hard to swallow, and this prevents the body from getting nutrients and water. This is also why your throat may feel sore when you have tonsillitis. You may also suffer from health problems if you are unable to eat or drink your favorite foods.

In severe cases, swallowing difficulties can become chronic (long-term). It can lead to a deficiency in important nutrients and other complications, such as malnutrition. Malnutrition is common among children who have chronic tonsillitis in developing countries. Malnourished kids are more likely to experience developmental and academic problems.

Cough

Most people mistakenly confuse the symptoms of tonsillitis and those of colds or flu. There are certain characteristics that distinguish tonsillitis from colds and flus, which can help you diagnose the condition as early as possible. You should also receive treatment within six hours after experiencing your first symptoms.

Dry, irritating cough can last up to 2 weeks. The phlegm produced by tonsillitis-related coughing can be yellow, green or rusty. Coughing helps to clear airways by raising bacteria and mucus to the throat, where they are more easily coughed up. But sometimes coughing hurts your throat – like the irritating cough caused by tonsillitis.

This condition is characterized by violent coughing. It’s therefore important that your child drinks plenty of water in order to prevent dehydration or throat irritation. This coughing can be accompanied by fever and a sore throat. A painful, prolonged and harsh cough can indicate a serious infection such as whooping-cough or pneumonia.

Headache

This condition causes a headache due to the tension or stress in the muscles surrounding your head. When the muscles are pushed or pulled against something, such as inflamed nodes and tonsils in this case, they can be compressed and cause pain.

Many tonsillitis cases are accompanied by a headache, but it can also be caused by other conditions. Headaches can cause pain across the forehead or on one side. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to sound and light. The headache can be described either as dull or throbbing. The headache can last for a long time, even though it is not severe. It can also affect your sleep.

Earache

Tonsillitis and earache go together. It is characterized as pain or discomfort around and behind the ear. It can be dull or sharp, and keep you up at night. Swallowing and eating can worsen the pain, as it pushes liquids or food down the throat into the inflamed lotsils.

Swollen lymph glands can cause pressure and discomfort in the ears. If this has been bothering you for more than two days, and the problem is not improving, consult your doctor.

Feeling tired

Do you feel tired or drained when doing activities that normally bring you joy? This could be due to tonsillitis. Tonsillitis can cause fatigue, along with a sore throat and swollen lymph glands. Dehydration, along with the infection that has affected your immune system, is what causes this fatigue.

Take a break and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.