Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, usually due to a viral infection or, less commonly, a bacterial infection.
It is a common type of infection in children, although it can sometimes affect adults.
Symptoms of tonsillitis include:
Symptoms will usually pass within 3-4 days.
When to see your GP
Tonsillitis is not usually a serious condition so you only need to see your GP if you or your child:
- have symptoms lasting longer than four days that show no signs of improvement
- have more severe symptoms, such as being unable to eat or drink because of pain, or breathing difficulties
Treating tonsillitis
There is no specific treatment for tonsillitis, but there are several things that can help alleviate symptoms, such as:
- paracetamol or ibuprofen to help relieve pain
- plenty of bed rest
- encouraging your child to drink plenty of fluids
If tests show that a bacterial infection is the cause of tonsillitis, a short course of antibiotics may also be prescribed, although this is often not necessary.
Most cases of tonsillitis get better within a week. A small number of children and adults have tonsillitis for a long time or it keeps coming back. This is known as chronic tonsillitis and may require treatment with surgery.
However, surgery to remove the tonsils (tonsillectomy) is now usually only recommended if you or your child has several severe episodes of tonsillitis over a long period, or if repated episodes disrupt your normal activities.
Read more about treating tonsillitis.
What are tonsils?
The tonsils are two small glands found at the back of the throat behind the tongue. It is thought that they act as a barrier against infection in children whose immune system (the body’s defence against infection) is still developing.
The theory is that by becoming infected the tonsils isolate any infection and prevent it from spreading further into the body.
It is thought that the tonsils then lose this ability as the rest of the immune system fully develops. This may explain why tonsillitis is so common in children but relatively rare in adults.
What causes tonsillitis?
Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a viral infection, such as the viruses that can cause the common cold or influenza (flu virus).
Some cases can also be caused by a bacterial infection, typically a strain of bacteria called group A streptococcus bacteria.
These types of infections spread easily so it is important to try to avoid passing the infection on to others by:
- keeping your child away from school or nursery until your GP says it is safe for them to return (this is usually when their symptoms have passed)
- encouraging your child to cough and sneeze into a tissue and throw it in a bin
- encouraging your child to wash their hands before eating, after going to the toilet and, if possible, after coughing and sneezing
Read more about the causes of tonsillitis.
Who is affected
Tonsillitis is very common in children aged 5-15 years old. Almost all children will have at least one episode of tonsillitis as they grow up.
Although less common, adults can also develop tonsillitis. Tonsillitis in teens and young adults is usually the result of a type of infection known as glandular fever.
An average of around 45,000 to 50,000 tonsillectomies are carried out in England every year.
Complications
Complications of tonsillitis are rare and usually only occur if the condition is caused by a bacterial infection.
They are usually the result of the infection spreading into another part of the body, such as the middle ear (otitis media).
