Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsSwollen Tonsil CausesTreatmentComplicationsDiagnosisWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Swollen Tonsil Causes
Treatment
Complications
Diagnosis
When to See a Provider
Tonsilsare two oval-shaped masses of tissue in the back of the throat, one on each side. Aspart of the immune system, they help identify and fight infections. A viral or bacterial infection typically causes swollen tonsils. Infected tonsils are calledtonsillitis. The terms “swollen tonsils” and “tonsillitis” are often interchangeable.
This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of swollen tonsils and outline when to call a healthcare provider.
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Symptoms of Swollen Tonsils
Swollen, infected tonsils can cause symptoms such as:
Babies and young children with tonsillitis may:
Enlarged vs. Swollen Tonsils"Swollen" and “enlarged” mean that the tonsils are bigger than they should be. The terms are sometimes interchangeable, but there is a difference in the terminology, specifically:Swollen tonsils:Inflamed and infectedEnlarged tonsils:Bigger for a reason other than infection
Enlarged vs. Swollen Tonsils
“Swollen” and “enlarged” mean that the tonsils are bigger than they should be. The terms are sometimes interchangeable, but there is a difference in the terminology, specifically:Swollen tonsils:Inflamed and infectedEnlarged tonsils:Bigger for a reason other than infection
“Swollen” and “enlarged” mean that the tonsils are bigger than they should be. The terms are sometimes interchangeable, but there is a difference in the terminology, specifically:
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Causes of Swollen Tonsils
Swollen tonsils usually result from:
How to Get Rid of Tonsil Stones
Viral Infection
Viral infections are the most common cause of swollen tonsils. Viruses that are associated with swollen tonsils include:
Bacterial Infection
A bacterial dental infection, such as from gum disease or tooth decay, may also lead to swollen tonsils.
Tonsil Cancer
In adults,cancer of the tonsilsis a rare cause of swollen tonsils. This can be mistaken for bacterial or viral tonsillitis. It is important to treat this cancer early and aggressively.This type of cancer may be linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Types of TonsillitisTonsillitis can be classified as:Acute: Tonsils are swollen for a few days to two weeksRecurrent: Swollen tonsils happen several times a yearChronic: Tonsils that are swollen long-term and don’t resolve with regular treatment
Types of Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis can be classified as:Acute: Tonsils are swollen for a few days to two weeksRecurrent: Swollen tonsils happen several times a yearChronic: Tonsils that are swollen long-term and don’t resolve with regular treatment
Tonsillitis can be classified as:
How to Treat Swollen Tonsils
Treatment for swollentonsilsdepends on the cause of the infection and the severity of the symptoms.
Home Remedies
Swollen tonsils may not require medical treatment. Your healthcare provider may choose a wait-and-watch approach to see if your body clears the infection.
Whether or not you are receiving medical treatment, there are things you can do at home to feel better, such as:
15 Evidence-Based Home Remedies for Tonsillitis
Medication
Viral infections are not treated with antibiotics, but antiviral medications may be prescribed in some cases.
Medications such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) may help to lower fever and ease pain or discomfort from swollen tonsils. Never give an infant, child, or teenager aspirin because it may cause a rare but serious condition calledReye’s syndrome.
Surgery
Surgery to remove the tonsils (called atonsillectomy) is a last-resort treatment for swollen tonsils. It may be recommended if any of these guidelines are met:
Surgerymay also be considered in special circumstances such as:
Thesurgeryusually takes about 20–30 minutes. It is typically an outpatient procedure, but very young children or people who experience complications may stay overnight at the hospital.
The surgery is performed through the open mouth. The surgeon performs the procedure with a special tool that uses sound waves or heat to remove the tonsils and stop anybleeding.
Is Tonsillitis Contagious?Tonsillitis is not contagious, butviruses or bacteriathat cause it are contagious. To stop spreading germs, people with tonsillitis should avoid others and wash their hands frequently.
Is Tonsillitis Contagious?
Tonsillitis is not contagious, butviruses or bacteriathat cause it are contagious. To stop spreading germs, people with tonsillitis should avoid others and wash their hands frequently.
Complications Associated With Swollen Tonsils
Tonsillitis usually clears up on its own or with treatment, but in some cases,complicationscan arise. These include:
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Swollen Tonsils?
To determine the cause of swollen tonsils, a healthcare professional will:
Ifstrep throatis suspected, the healthcare provider may use an in-office rapid strep test, which shows results within minutes. The sample may also be sent to a lab for a throat culture if the rapid strep test is negative or as a way to confirm the results of the rapid test. The results of a lab test can take a few days.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Get emergency care right away if there is:
Contact your healthcare provider if:
Summary
Tonsillitis can cause symptoms such as a sore throat, fever, bad breath, yellow or white patches in the throat, pain or difficulty with swallowing, and/or sleep problems.
Swollen tonsils can heal independently, or they may need treatment such as medication orsurgery.
12 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.Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Enlarged tonsils.Penn Medicine.Tonsillitis.Otolaryngology Specialists of North Texas.Tonsil hypertrophy (enlarged tonsils).MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.Collin County Ear Nose and Throat.Swollen tonsils; tonsillitis causes & treatments.Balfour HH, Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA.Infectious mononucleosis.Clin & Trans Imm. 2015;4(2):e33. doi:10.1038/cti.2015.1Nemour KidsHealth.Measles.American Academy of Family Physicians.Tonsillitis.American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Tonsils and adenoids.Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537Nemours KidsHealth.Tonsillitis.Stanford Medicine.Tonsillitis.
12 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.Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Enlarged tonsils.Penn Medicine.Tonsillitis.Otolaryngology Specialists of North Texas.Tonsil hypertrophy (enlarged tonsils).MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.Collin County Ear Nose and Throat.Swollen tonsils; tonsillitis causes & treatments.Balfour HH, Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA.Infectious mononucleosis.Clin & Trans Imm. 2015;4(2):e33. doi:10.1038/cti.2015.1Nemour KidsHealth.Measles.American Academy of Family Physicians.Tonsillitis.American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Tonsils and adenoids.Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537Nemours KidsHealth.Tonsillitis.Stanford Medicine.Tonsillitis.
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.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Enlarged tonsils.Penn Medicine.Tonsillitis.Otolaryngology Specialists of North Texas.Tonsil hypertrophy (enlarged tonsils).MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.Collin County Ear Nose and Throat.Swollen tonsils; tonsillitis causes & treatments.Balfour HH, Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA.Infectious mononucleosis.Clin & Trans Imm. 2015;4(2):e33. doi:10.1038/cti.2015.1Nemour KidsHealth.Measles.American Academy of Family Physicians.Tonsillitis.American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Tonsils and adenoids.Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537Nemours KidsHealth.Tonsillitis.Stanford Medicine.Tonsillitis.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Enlarged tonsils.
Penn Medicine.Tonsillitis.
Otolaryngology Specialists of North Texas.Tonsil hypertrophy (enlarged tonsils).
MedlinePlus.Tonsillitis.
Collin County Ear Nose and Throat.Swollen tonsils; tonsillitis causes & treatments.
Balfour HH, Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA.Infectious mononucleosis.Clin & Trans Imm. 2015;4(2):e33. doi:10.1038/cti.2015.1
Nemour KidsHealth.Measles.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Tonsillitis.
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.Tonsils and adenoids.
Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537
Nemours KidsHealth.Tonsillitis.
Stanford Medicine.Tonsillitis.
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