What are tonsils?
Tonsils are made of soft gland tissue and they are part of the body's defence against infections (the immune system). You have two tonsils, one on either side at the back of the mouth.
Signs and symptoms:
A sore throat is the most common of all tonsillitis symptoms. You may also have a cough, high temperature (fever), headache, feel sick (nausea), feel tired, find swallowing painful, and have swollen neck glands. The tonsils may swell and become red. Pus may appear as white spots on the tonsils. Symptoms typically get worse over 2-3 days and then gradually go, usually within a week.
How is tonsillitis treated?
There’s no specific treatment for viral tonsillitis, but you can help reduce symptoms by:
- getting plenty of rest
- staying hydrated by drinking enough water
- taking pain-relieving medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- gargling a saltwater solution
- using a humidifier
- eating and drinking warm or cold liquids, such as broths, teas, or popsicles
- Sucking on throat lozenges
When to see a doctor?
- Your child has symptoms of tonsillitis.
- Your child has trouble breathing at night or experiences noisy breathing or episodes of sleep apnea, in which the child stops breathing for brief periods while asleep; these symptoms may indicate enlarged adenoids, another kind of tonsil on the upper-rear wall of the mouth cavity, or tonsils.
- Your child has recurrent bouts of tonsillitis; surgery may be indicated.
- Your child is not responding to antibiotics and has fever or pain, as well as white spots or a discharge on the tonsils; this may indicate mononucleosis or another infection.
Anyone with tonsillitis who is drooling, unable to drink or swallow or has any difficulty breathing should go to the emergency room for evaluation..
https://www.healthline.com/health/adult-tonsillitis#treatment
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tonsillitis
https://patient.info/ears-nose-throat-mouth/sore-throat-2/tonsillitis
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/understanding-tonsillitis-symptoms