Tonsils can become swollen and painful due to viral or bacterial infections, allergies, or environmental irritants. Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial infections, while viral infections require rest and pain relief. In severe cases, a tonsillectomy may be recommended.
Tonsils are small masses of tissue found on either side of the throat. While normally, the tonsils help the body keep unwanted infections at bay, sometimes they become swollen and painful. Common causes of swollen tonsils include viral infections such as colds and bacterial infections such as strep throat. Less commonly, enlarged tonsils can be caused by allergies or exposure to an environmental irritant. If an individual’s tonsils become infected on a regular basis, a doctor may recommend their removal.
Perhaps the most common cause of swollen tonsils is infection, also known as tonsillitis. Along with enlarged tonsils, tonsillitis can also cause symptoms such as sore throat, fever, and fatigue. Despite the fact that the symptoms of tonsillitis tend to be quite similar from case to case, these symptoms can be caused by different types of infections.
Many times, enlarged tonsils are caused by a viral infection. Common culprits include colds, flu, and mononucleosis. Unfortunately, viral infections typically don’t respond to antibiotic treatment. Therefore, those suffering from swollen tonsils caused by a virus usually simply have to wait for the virus to leave the body. Over-the-counter pain relievers and warm liquids like tea and broth can help make the discomfort of a viral tonsil infection more bearable.
Another fairly common cause of swollen tonsils is bacterial infection. One of the most common types of bacterial tonsillitis is sore throat. This type of infection, caused by streptococcus bacteria, is highly contagious and can be extremely painful. If a doctor identifies strep throat as the cause of a patient’s swollen tonsils, he or she may prescribe antibiotics to shorten the duration of the infection and curb the spread.
Less commonly, enlarged tonsils can be caused by allergies or exposure to an environmental irritant such as cigarette smoke. In this case, moving away from the source of the reaction may be all that is needed to put an end to the swelling. If your tonsils are swollen enough to inhibit your breathing, however, you should see a doctor right away to rule out a serious allergic response.
Some individuals appear to be particularly sensitive to swollen tonsils. If a patient regularly develops throat infections, their doctor may recommend that their tonsils be removed surgically, an outpatient procedure known as a tonsillectomy. By removing the tonsils, a tonsillectomy can significantly reduce the occurrence of throat infections, as well as the unpleasant symptoms that usually accompany them.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
