Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
This article will cover the symptoms, causes, and treatment of red tonsils. It will also discuss the complications and risk factors.
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Symptoms of Red Tonsils
These symptoms come about when the tonsils are swollen and red from an infection. When someone has tonsillitis, throat pain can be severe, but tonsillitis shouldn’t make it difficult to breathe. If at any time breathing becomes difficult, contact a healthcare provider.
Red tonsils are a sign that the tonsils are infected. When one of these germs infects the tonsils, it creates an immune response to help fight the infection. This results in tonsil redness, swelling, and pain.
Tonsillitis vs. Strep: How To Tell the Difference
Red Tonsils and Strep Throat
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Red Tonsils?
How to Treat Red Tonsils
Treatment depends on the cause of the red tonsils. If they are due to a virus, treatment typically focuses on alleviating symptoms while your immune system works to fight off the virus. However, if the cause is abacterial infection, then antibiotics will be prescribed.
Penicillinor a penicillin-related antibiotic is typically used to treat strep throat. It can come in a pill or liquid form and is taken for 10 days. If someone isallergic to penicillin, a different antibiotic will be prescribed. If symptoms don’t begin to improve or if they worsen after three days of antibiotics, contact a healthcare provider.
Signs of a Bacterial or Viral Infection
To prevent complications, make sure to take antibiotics as prescribed. Do not stop taking your medication even when symptoms go away. Instead, take it for the full length of time prescribed. If the illness worsens despite taking antibiotics, contact a healthcare provider.
Red tonsils are one of the symptoms of tonsillitis. The leading cause of tonsillitis is a strep infection, which needs to be treated withantibiotics.
If someone suspects they have red tonsils, they should contact a healthcare provider to determine the right course of treatment. If astrep infectionis causing your red tonsils, leaving it untreated can cause serious complications.
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Tonsils can be red when they are inflamed due to an infection. The redness is the body’s response to the infection. When your immune system detects an infection, your body releases substances called inflammatory mediators that cause the small blood vessels to dilate. This allows more blood to reach the tissue, causing it to turn red. Several different viruses and bacteria can cause red tonsils.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.UpToDate.Patient education: sore throat in adults (beyond the basics).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Strep throat: all you need to know.National Library of Medicine. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.InformedHealth.What is an inflammation?
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.UpToDate.Patient education: sore throat in adults (beyond the basics).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Strep throat: all you need to know.National Library of Medicine. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.InformedHealth.What is an inflammation?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.UpToDate.Patient education: sore throat in adults (beyond the basics).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Strep throat: all you need to know.National Library of Medicine. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.InformedHealth.What is an inflammation?
MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.
UpToDate.Patient education: sore throat in adults (beyond the basics).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Strep throat: all you need to know.
National Library of Medicine. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.InformedHealth.What is an inflammation?
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