Causes and Treatment of Tonsillitis

Causes and Treatment of Tonsillitis


We often think of tonsillitis as one of those rites of passages that children go through alongside chickenpox and braces. While the condition does commonly occur during the preschool to middle-teen years, it can happen at any time in life, for a variety of reasons.
common causes of tonsillitis

Understanding Tonsillitis

Your tonsils are a part of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for eliminating toxins and harmful microorganisms (including viruses and bacteria) from your body. Your tonsils work by trapping inhaled particles and delivering them to the lymphatic system to be neutralized.
There are three pairs of tonsils in your body:
  • Pharyngeal tonsils, also known as adenoids, located at the roof of your mouth near where your nose connects to your throat
  • Lingual tonsils located behind the tongue
  • Palatine tonsils located at the back of the throat

  • Causes

    The majority of cases of tonsillitis are caused by a virus, while anywhere from five percent to 40 percent are believed to be caused by bacteria.
    Some of the more common viral causes include:
    The most common bacterial causes include:

    Treatments

    The symptoms of tonsillitis tend to be more annoying than serious and usually require little medical intervention.
    • If you have viral tonsillitis, the treatment will be focused on relieving pain and fever with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen). Prescription drugs, including antivirals, are typically not prescribed.
    • By contrast, bacterial tonsillitis is commonly treated with antibiotics. Penicillin and amoxicillin are the standard, first-line choices, although erythromycin and newer antibiotics like linezolid may be used in cases of drug resistance. Tonsillitis symptoms usually go away within a few 24 hours of starting treatment.

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