Infected tonsils, especially with tonsil stones, often smell like rotten eggs, sulfur, or garbage, due to sulfur-producing bacteria releasing Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) from trapped debris. This odor is persistent bad breath (halitosis) and can come with a bad taste, making your breath smell foul even with good oral hygiene, sometimes described as sour or fishy.
Healthy tonsils should be pink and spot free, but infected ones are red, inflamed, can have white spots and smell terrible.
Excessive saliva, also frequently associated with pregnancy, or ptyalism gravidarum, 12 – 14 could be an additional contributing factor to increased tonsil stone formation. Furthermore, increases in other calcified body calculi, such as renal calculi or kidney stones, have also been shown to increase during pregnancy.
If your child has tonsillitis, they may have some of the following symptoms:
Infections in your nose, throat or lungs: Infections in your nose and throat can lead to foul-smelling fluid in the back of your throat.
Since it contains sulfur, people may liken the odor of these compounds to that of rotting eggs. Thus, bad breath. So, no matter how invested people may be in their oral care routine, this doesn't spare them from having persistent halitosis if their tonsils have stones within them.
The terms sore throat, strep throat, and tonsillitis often are used interchangeably, but they don't mean the same thing.
RED FLAGS:
Muffled speech. Torticollis (can occur in minor infections but potential sign of deep neck space infection) Severe respiratory distress. Haemodynamic instability / sepsis (may require urgent source control) or signs of toxic shock syndrome (shock, mucosal erythema, rash, GI symptoms)
Common symptoms of tonsillitis include:
ENT conditions like chronic sinusitis, allergies, ear infections, and tonsillitis can cause discomfort. If left untreated, they can potentially affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes.
Pregnancy hormones can affect your breath in other ways, too. Morning sickness, for example, can not only leave your breath smelling like vomit, but it can also cause dehydration and dry mouth. When you don't have enough saliva, odor-producing bacteria are able to thrive.
Tonsil stones happen when bits of food, dead cells and bacteria get stuck in the small pockets of your tonsils. Over time, this material can harden into small lumps. You may be more likely to develop tonsil stones if you have: poor oral hygiene.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
you have a severe sore throat that quickly gets worse. you have swelling inside the mouth and throat. you have difficulty speaking. you cannot swallow.
About quinsy
In quinsy, the abscess (a collection of pus) forms between one of your tonsils and the wall of your throat. This can happen when a bacterial infection spreads from an infected tonsil to the surrounding area. Quinsy can occur at any age, but most commonly affects teenagers and young adults.
There have been cases in which COVID-19 causes tonsillitis, although this doesn't happen frequently. Most cases of viral tonsillitis can be treated with at-home remedies.
For tonsillitis in pregnancy, prioritize rest, fluids, and home remedies like warm salt water gargles and soft foods, while Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) is preferred for pain/fever; avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen unless directed by a doctor. Bacterial tonsillitis requires doctor-prescribed antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, amoxicillin), but never self-medicate, as severe, untreated infections pose risks, but these safe antibiotics usually don't harm the baby. Always consult your healthcare provider for diagnosis and safe treatment options to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
Yes, most tonsillitis, especially viral cases (which are most common), will go away on its own with rest and home care, typically within a week, but bacterial tonsillitis (like strep throat) needs antibiotics to prevent serious complications like rheumatic fever. Treatment focuses on soothing symptoms with fluids, pain relievers, rest, and saltwater gargles; see a doctor to determine the cause and if antibiotics are needed.
When the mucous membranes around the tonsils become inflamed due to a bacterial infection, this can result in a nasty smell. Tonsil tissues that have an infection can also generate pus composed of bacteria and dead white blood cells. Active infections commonly include pus as a symptom.
Breath that smells fruity or like rotten apples, for example, can be a sign of diabetes that's not under control. Rarely, people can have bad breath because of organ failure. A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine.
Infections are a very common source of body odor and often lead to bad breath, foul-smelling skin, and sweat.
These small, calcified formations in your tonsils can lead to unpleasant odors and discomfort. “Anyone can get tonsil stones, but they are most common in people who have frequent tonsil infections or long-term inflammation of the tonsils,” says Brian Park, DO, a family medicine physician at Scripps Clinic Encinitas.
Mouthwash kills germs in your mouth which automatically helps prevent tonsil stones. The nonalcoholic variety of mouthwash can also help dislodge and remove whatever stones are currently in your tonsils. This method typically doesn't work as well as gargling in fully removing tonsil stones, but it can help loosen them.