Tonsillitis Defined
We’ve all experienced tonsillitis symptoms, but what is tonsillitis? It’s is a word I grew up with. Whenever I would go into the doctor’s office with a sore throat, and I often did, the word would inevitably come up. Other words like strep, viral, bacterial, and inflammation would take their turns, but the term always bubbled up. All these tonsillitis symptoms present similarly to these other throat afflictions. Let’s take a moment to figure out exactly what this seemingly catch-all term really means. I’ll also share some tonsillitis pictures. These photos of tonsillitis may or may not look like individuals throats with tonsillitis, but are examples.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery addresses the question of what is tonsillitis quite well:
Tonsillitis refers to inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsils (glands at the back of the throat, visible through the mouth). The inflammation may involve other areas of the back of the throat, including the adenoids and the lingual tonsils (tonsil tissue at the back of the tongue). There are several variations of tonsillitis: acute, recurrent, and chronic tonsillitis, and peritonsillar abscess.
Viral or bacterial infections and immunologic factors lead to tonsillitis symptoms and its complications. Nearly all children in the United States experience at least one episode. Due to improvements in medical and surgical treatments, complications associated with tonsillitis symptoms, including mortality, are very rare.
There you have it. Knowing that you have tonsillitis is like knowing that you have a sore throat. Why you have it is a much more important question than what is tonsillitis? Is it caused by a virus, a bacterial infection, or an allergy? Treatments for each are unique. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. They are of no use in treating allergies or viruses.
Sometimes an affliction called tonsilloths or tonsil stones, is mistaken for tonsillitis.
I just had my tonsils removed a week ago. My surgery was out patient, off from work two wks and I am 45. My feel so mush better now
Suffered my whole life from strep, tonsillitis and infection after infection, finally removed tonsils at age 27….Would NOT ever recommend to my worst enemy, that was absolutely hell, came home from outpatient surgery with Thrush. So did the 3 others that day, had that same infection 9 more times before someone Finally gave me the correct damn antibiotics and I’ve never had a problem since, no sore throat or thrush ever!!!!. But, I have strange scars like pitted scars where the tonsils were, is that normal???
Its been 6 years with no issues btw..
Hello and thanks for posting. Sounds like quite an ordeal…with a happy ending? Thrush is pretty common after tonsillectomy- I’m told that the antibiotics prescribed after surgery actually contribute to it. I’m no doctor, but it’s what I hear.
My own throat does have some pitting where by tonsils once were- I hadn’t really noticed until looking after reading your comment. I think it’s normal…anyone else…?
I was to have a tonsilectamy done 2 days ago, but was reschedualed for 2 weeksfrom now due to probably the worste case of tonsilitis I have ever had. It is now early April and since January, this is my 3rd bout with tonsilitis this year. They are definitely getting more and more frequent and more severe. My tonsils were so swollen they touched. There is a slight gap now. Under my ears and jaw were so swollen and hard , it felt like 2 gumballs lodged in the side of my neck. I had so much pressure in my neck and head, I couldn’t sleep laying down. I had to sit up , plus it made the pressure go away some. I have been having problems with my ears lately, a couple of weeks. Usually it’s the left or right ear, feels like its going to pop, clogged. Since being sick, both ears feel this way but much more of a clogged feeling. My ENT said the ears are from teeth grinding.but this was the day of the canceled surgery at the hospital. He may have been rushing to examine me. I know he had another surgery that day. He barely looked at me and not saying he’s wrong, but with all that’s gone on, I would think it would be something more like an ear
infection. I am going tomorrow to see my family dr just to get his take on it.I can’t wait to just get this over with.
I am 27 and had my tonsils removed a week today,it has been pure hell with 4 nights stay in hospital so it’s nice to see something positive Greg!thank u for this blog it made me see a light at the end of the tunnel knowing I wasn’t alone in my recovery 🙂
Since having my tonsils removed 5 years ago, I’ve had a couple minor colds, but that’s about it. NO strep. NO tonsillitis, NO infections, and NO tonsil stones! Hooray!!
How old were you and do you know the procedure he used on you?