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Tonsillitis is a condition in which the tonsils which are located in the back of the throat in bands on either side of the throat. They become inflamed and/or infected. Many different viruses and bacterial infections can occur. Anything from a simple sore throat to a more complex condition called Mono, or EBV. The tonsils always become enlarged and very sore when a patient, be it a child or adult has tonsillitis. This condition also causes a lot of discomfort when eating or swallowing.
Signs and Symptoms:
Hoarseness, sore throat, general fatigue, malaise, lethargy, fever up to 104, swollen glands in the neck and throat area, difficulty eating or swallowing, and may be accompanied by cold, flu or any other upper respiratory condition.
When do you find out if you have typical or atypical tonsillitis?
When you visit your physician depending on the symptoms he will usually do a “strep test” to assure the child does not have strep throat. A blood test may be done also to make sure there is no underlying illness such as EBV or Haemophilus Influenzae.
For typical tonsillitis without strep or underlying infection, rarely is an antibiotic given. Usually Tylenol, warm salt water gargles four times a day or as needed to calm the discomfort and plenty of fluids and chloraseptic throat spray to ease the discomfort.
Atypical or Bacterial infection of the throat a strict régime of antibiotics is given, and the patient is watched closely. Strep is contagious and the child will need to be home during the duration of the fever, rule of thumb is as long as the child is on antibiotic and 24 hours after cease of fever they are permitted to be allowed into school. Everyone that they are in contact with can possibly become infected with the same illness. It is passed through coughing, sneezing, saliva therefore once airborne it is possible to contract this.
When strep goes untreated, unnoticed the possibility of Rheumatic Fever sets in. This can impair a child for the duration of their life, affecting the heart and joints.
Guidelines for removal of tonsils.
Another rule of thumb is, when your child has six to nine recurrent infections of the tonsils in one year. The physician may then decide it is time for your child to have them removed and will send you to a specialist. Twenty years ago this procedure was done without thought and tonsils were removed even as precautionary measure. New studies show that leaving the tonsils in is just as beneficial. As we approach adulthood the tonsils begin to atrophy and “rot” away on their own. It is not uncommon however for an adult to get strep throat or tonsillitis and may even in adulthood have to have them removed, but the chances are few.
If the swollen tonsils, a peritonsillar abscess or other condition impairs breathing which is life threatening.
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