If tonsillitis is left untreated, a complication can develop called a peritonsillar abscess. This is an area around the tonsils that's filled with bacteria, and it can cause these symptoms: Severe throat pain. Muffled voice.
Tonsillitis usually improves on its own after around a week. It's most often caused by a virus, so antibiotics won't help. Even if it's a bacterial infection, it will often settle without antibiotics. You can ease your symptoms with self-help measures and over-the-counter medicines.
If tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus or another strain of streptococcal bacteria isn't treated or if antibiotic treatment is incomplete, your child has an increased risk of rare disorders such as: Rheumatic fever, a serious inflammatory condition that can affect the heart, joints, nervous system and skin.
If your sore throat seems to keep getting worse (or has not improved after about three days), you're in a lot of pain when you eat or drink, or you have a fever of at least 101 degrees F, you'll want to see your doctor to get it checked out, Dr. Clark says.
Recurrent tonsil infections are a common problem for adults. This is often seen when patients have frequent “sore throats” that last for weeks to even months. This is commonly due to a bacterial biofilm often caused by streptococcus.
Tonsillitis Can Cause Peritonsillar Abscess
If strep throat or tonsillitis does not go away (either on their own or with tonsillitis treatment), either type of infection can progress into an infection called tonsillar cellulitis.
In most cases, tonsillitis symptoms go away in three to four days. But if symptoms last longer, you should schedule a visit with your healthcare provider to rule out other, more serious issues.
Patients with symptoms of tonsillitis should see their primary care provider or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist. To determine whether a patient has a viral or bacterial infection, a doctor will typically swab the tonsils or pharynx (rapid strep testing).
Antibiotics. If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most common antibiotic treatment prescribed for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus.
It is possible to have tonsillitis without ever getting strep throat. The confusion often stems from the fact that these two diseases can be caused by A Streptococcus bacteria. However, tonsillitis can also be caused by other viruses and bacteria.
But there is a risk of the infection spreading to nearby tissue in the throat and chest area or of septicemia (blood poisoning) developing. This can lead to serious complications, so it's very important to get treatment.
The terms sore throat, strep throat, and tonsillitis often are used interchangeably, but they don't mean the same thing. Strep throat is an infection caused by a specific type of bacteria, Streptococcus.
Smoking can make tonsillitis worse. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good. Use a vapourizer or humidifier to add moisture to your bedroom.
Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is another cause of sore throats and tonsillitis. With strep throat, the sore throat is often more severe and persists. Tonsillitis is a painful inflammation or infection of the tonsils, the tissue masses located at the back of the throat.
Call Your Doctor About Tonsillitis If:
Your child has recurrent bouts of tonsillitis; surgery may be indicated. Your child is not responding to antibiotics and has fever or pain, as well as white spots or a discharge on the tonsils; this may indicate mononucleosis or another infection.
A throat swab culture is a laboratory test that is done to identify germs that may cause infection in the throat. It is most often used to diagnose strep throat. Structures of the throat include the esophagus, trachea, epiglottis and tonsils.
The tonsils will probably be red and may have white spots on them. The lymph nodes in your child's jaw and neck may be swollen and tender to the touch. The doctor may test your child's blood for infection. If bacteria are the cause, your child will probably need to take antibiotics, either in a shot or in pill form.
While fever is a common symptom of strep throat, it is possible to have strep throat without a fever. When diagnosing you, a doctor may look for other common strep throat symptoms, such as a sore throat without a cough, swollen lymph nodes, white patches on the tonsils, and tiny red spots on the roof of your mouth.
If tonsillitis is left untreated, a complication can develop called a peritonsillar abscess. This is an area around the tonsils that's filled with bacteria, and it can cause these symptoms: Severe throat pain.
In most cases, tonsillitis gets better within a week. However, a small number of children and adults have tonsillitis for longer, or it keeps returning. This is known as chronic tonsillitis and surgical treatment may be needed.
Tonsillitis usually has to run its course. To help ease the symptoms you should: get plenty of rest.
Tonsillitis usually gets better with several days of self-care and rest at home. If it is not improving, it is getting worse, or the symptoms are so severe that the individual is not able to eat or drink as necessary, it is a good idea to see a doctor.