Recognizing Tonsillitis

Tonsilitis means inflammation of the tonsils. While one episode of it can happen from an infection, it's important to get treatment for a child or yourself if there are recurring bouts. You may even benefit from treatment for a single episode since a bacterial infection in the tonsils can linger without treatment. At Northside ENT, serving Carmel, IN, and the nearby region, Dr. Robert Youkillis, Dr. Jeffrey Beach, and Dr. Seth Bruggers can all assist, but you must first recognize the symptoms.

Fever

You might develop a fever if your tonsils are swollen as a result of an infection. A fever is part of your body's way of trying to fight it off. 

Enlarged Lymph Nodes

Feel the sides of your neck. You may have tonsillitis if you have swollen lymph nodes there. This occurs because more blood cells are in there preparing to fight off the invader. We'll check this in our Carmel, IN, office.  

Red Tonsils

In the back of the throat, there are two ovular pieces of tissue, one on the left and one on the right. If you or your child has tonsillitis, these may appear red and swollen. 

Yellow or White Patches

You or your child may have white or yellow patches on the throat. This is the pus remaining from your body's battle with germs. In some cases, these are tonsil stones. They occur from bacteria but are particularly from recurring tonsil infections. 

Sore Throat

Tonsilitis will cause a sore throat, which can cause difficulty swallowing. 

Voice Changes

You may notice you have voice changes, such as a scratchy voice or hoarseness. Your voice might sound muffled. 

Bad Breath

An infection in the tonsils can cause you to have bad breath. This is due to the bacteria that caused the germs releasing a waste product with a foul odor. 

Fussiness 

While you, as an adult, might not feel well, a child is less able to contend with the pain and other unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, he or she may be fussier than usual. 

Headache

A headache may occur along with your sore throat if an infection triggers the tonsilitis. In some cases, tonsillitis is from allergies. In this case, you could have a sinus headache in addition to a sore throat. 

Trouble Sleeping

The discomfort can interrupt a person's sleep, particularly this happens in children. 

While tonsillitis is mainly an issue that affects children, Northside ENT in Carmel, IN, can treat adults with this problem as well. We can prescribe medication to treat an infection if it's a recurring issue, Dr. Youkillis, Dr. Beach, or Dr. Bruggers can perform a tonsillectomy and remove the tonsils to stop it from recurring.

Call (317) 844-5656 today.