It is important to know what are symptoms of tonsillitis as the problem can worsen if left untreated. Tonsillitis is a viral or bacterial infection of the tonsils, a pair of small oval organs that are located in the throat near the mouth. Tonsil infection generally happens to children, but can strike anyone. In younger ages the tonsils are responsible for fighting germs and infections that originate in the mouth by production of antibodies. As people age, the tonsils become less and less active.

The most common of tonsillitis symptoms is mild to severe throat irritation. In addition the infection may be manifested by other tonsillitis signs and symptoms. These reactions can include the following: difficulty in swallowing, high fevers, headaches, vomiting, stomach aches, loss of appetite, halitosis, or ear pains. With more severe throat irritation, a patient may have difficulty in both breathing and speaking. The appearance of tonsils may change during infection as well. They may develop a yellow or grayish-white coloration on parts of the tonsils or over the whole organ. Swollen lymph nodes and red coloration of the throat may also be tonsillitis signs and symptoms. If the infection spreads to other parts of the body, it can become an accumulation of pus, otherwise known as an abscess or quinsy. The viral or bacterial infection can also cause more serious issues such as lymph node, sinus, and middle ear infections as well as a type of kidney disease known as acute glomerulonephritis. The most troublesome complication from tonsillitis is rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is only encountered if the bacterial source is group a beta hemolytic streptococcus. While somewhat rare, the appearance of rheumatic fever is often experienced in conjunction with rheumatic heart disease.

Treatment of the condition is usually simple and involves administration of antibiotics. A rapid strep test may be done to rule out the possibility of rheumatic fever. These specific infections need to be treated with penicillin. Those cases that are caused by viral infections will have no benefit from antibiotic treatment. When a patient’s tonsils have become so inflamed that they cause breathing and swallowing difficulties or if the condition is persistent and causes multiple infections, a tonsillectomy may need to be performed. In this procedure the tonsils are removed entirely while the patient is under local anesthetic. Also, the adenoids may be removed if they are causing problems as well. For most patients, the procedure is a simple outpatient surgery with very rare complications.

As the infection is more common among younger children, it is imperative that parents are familiar with tonsillitis symptoms and are able to differentiate the condition from regular sore throats. If a child is suspected of having a tonsillitis infection, a local physician should be visited to determine the most effective treatment option. Parents who know what are symptoms of tonsillitis will be better prepared in the case that a child becomes stricken with the infection.