Typical Symptoms

Tonsils are a pair of lymphatic tissue present on either side of the oropharynx. The main function is protective and act as sentinals at the passage of air and food. They are larger in school going children and gets smaller with age.

Tonsillitis can be acute or chronic tonsillitis.

Acute tonsillitis is common in chidren of school going age and rare in adults above 50 yrs of age. It is mainly caused by beta hemolutic streptococcus.
Main symptoms of tomsillits are

• sore throat
• fever
• Ear ache
• Constitutional symtoms like malaise, heache, body ache etc.

Examination of throat shows inflammation of the tonsils as well as enlarged jugulodigastric node of the neck.
Chronic tonsillitis can occur as a complication of acute tonsillitis or from long standing subclinical infections.

Treatment

• Rest
• Plenty of fluids
• Antimicrobial Therapy- appropriate antibiotics for 7-10 days depending on the severity of the infection
• In chronic tonsillitis, if the conservative measures and treatment of other co-morbidities fail, then tinsillectomy is indicated.