Overview Inflamed tonsils Open pop-up dialog box Close. Inflamed tonsils Tonsils are fleshy pads located at each side of the back of the throat. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kliegman RM, et al. Tonsils and adenoids. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Elsevier; Accessed Oct. Ferri FF.
In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Merck Manual Professional Version. Mattke AC, ed. Common illnesses and concerns. Mayo Clinic; Tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus such as: adenovirus the flu Epstein-Barr virus mono Bacteria also can cause it, most commonly group A streptococcus strep throat. Who Gets Tonsillitis? How Is Tonsillitis Diagnosed? This can be: tested quickly with a rapid strep test that gives an answer within minutes sent to a lab for a throat culture , which takes a few days If the rapid strep test doesn't show signs of strep, the health care provider will depend on the culture for a final diagnosis.
It's important to call your health care provider if your child has tonsillitis symptoms. How Is Tonsillitis Treated? Treatment depends on whether the tonsillitis is caused by: a virus, in which case the body will fight the infection on its own bacteria, in which case the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. Help your child take the antibiotic exactly as directed. This helps symptoms clear up quickly and prevents spreading the infection to others. It's important to finish the entire prescription — even if your child feels better in a few days — or the infection could come back.
This also helps prevent a more serious health problem that streptococcus can cause, called rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart. Is Tonsillitis Contagious? Can Tonsillitis Be Prevented? What Else Should I Know? Cindy Gellner on "The Scope. Gellner: So tonsils are the small glands on either side of the back part of the throat.
Their main job is to help stop bacteria from getting farther down the throat. Some people have large tonsils and some people have small tonsils. Tonsils are graded on a scale from 0 to 4. Zero means you've had them removed, 1 means they're barely visible, 2 means they're normal, 3 means they're large and just about touching that thing that hangs down at the back of your throat called the uvula, and 4 means they're ginormous. They're touching or overlapping the uvula or kissing each other. Enlarged tonsils can be an ongoing problem or a temporary result of an infection.
Your tonsils are part of your immune system, so they do get bigger as your body fights off illnesses. If needed, a doctor can look at the adenoids either by using a light and a small mirror held at the back of the mouth, or by using a small flexible telescope.
Occasionally, an X-ray is done to determine the size of the adenoids. Like tonsils, adenoids help to defend the body from infection. They trap bacteria and viruses which you breathe in through your nose.
They contain cells and antibodies of the immune system to help prevent throat and lung infections. Although tonsils and adenoids may help to prevent infection, they are not considered to be very important. The body has other means of preventing infection and fighting off bacteria and viruses. In fact, the adenoids tend to shrink after early childhood and by the teenage years they often almost disappear completely.
Generally, you can have your tonsils and adenoids removed without increasing your risk of infection. Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils.
A sore throat is the common symptom. In addition, you may also have:. Pus may appear as white spots on the enlarged tonsils.
Symptoms typically get worse over days and then gradually go, usually within a week. Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by viruses, some are caused by germs bacteria.
See the separate leaflet called Tonsillitis for more details. Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It tends to cause a severe bout of tonsillitis in addition to other symptoms. See the separate leaflet called Glandular Fever Infectious Mononucleosis for more details. This is also known as peritonsillar abscess. An abscess is a collection of pus.
0コメント