Tonsillitis

Tonsils are the two round pads you see in the back of your mouth on either side of the throat. They are usually visible in children with the help of a light.  The purpose of tonsils is to help fight infections when a child is first born, as part of your body’s lymphatic system. When the tonsils become inflamed from a viral or bacterial infection, it is known as tonsillitis.  If the lymphoid tissue behind the nose also becomes inflamed this is known as adenoiditis. 

Tonsillitis Symptoms

Symptoms of tonsillitis can vary depending on the cause of the infection and can occur suddenly or gradually.  Below are the most common symptoms of tonsillitis.  Keep in mind that every individual may experience symptoms differently.

• Sore Throat
• Fever
• Headache
• Decreased appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach aches
• Painful swallowing
• Bad breath
• Skin rash
• Visible redness in the throat

Treatment of Tonsillitis

When there are repeated cases of tonsillitis a tonsillectomy is used to remove the tonsils. Removing the tonsils will help to alleviate further complications such as:

• Sleep apnea
• Trouble swallowing
• Tumor in the throat or nasal passage
• Bleeding from the tonsils that cannot be stopped
• Blockage of the nasal passage or uncomfortable breathing

Get More Information
For more information on tonsillitis surgery, or if you would like to learn more about other procedures we perform at Northeast Georgia ENT, please contact us today. We also have information on post-op care for this procedure.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.