Where is tonsil pain

Your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy to surgically remove your tonsils if you have chronic tonsillitis. As with chronic tonsillitis, a standard treatment for recurrent tonsillitis is a tonsillectomy. Recurrent tonsillitis is often defined as:. Research from suggests that chronic and recurrent tonsillitis may be caused by biofilms in the folds of the tonsils.

Biofilms are communities of microorganisms with increased antibiotic resistance that can cause repeated infections. A study examined the tonsils of children who had recurrent tonsillitis. The study found that genetics may cause a poor immune response to group A streptococcus bacteria, which causes strep throat and tonsillitis. Learn more about the genetics behind recurrent tonsillitis.

In rare cases, tonsillitis can cause the throat to swell so much that it causes trouble breathing. If this happens, seek immediate medical attention. If you have tonsillitis, you may be contagious 24 to 48 hours before you develop any symptoms. If you take antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis, you should stop being contagious after 24 hours. You can develop tonsillitis if someone with the infection coughs or sneezes near you and you breathe in the droplets.

If you touch a contaminated object, like a doorknob, and then touch your nose or mouth, you may also develop tonsillitis. Being in contact with many people increases the risk of being exposed to tonsillitis. This is why school-age children often get the illness. It typically takes 2 to 4 days to develop symptoms after being exposed to someone with tonsillitis. Find out how to reduce your risk of getting or spreading tonsillitis.

Tonsils are your first line of defense against illness. They produce white blood cells that help your body fight infection. The tonsils combat bacteria and viruses that enter your body through your mouth and nose. However, tonsils are also vulnerable to infection from these invaders. Tonsillitis can be caused by a virus, such as the common cold , or by a bacterial infection, such as strep throat. Viruses are the most common cause of tonsillitis. The viruses that cause the common cold are often the source of tonsillitis, but other viruses can also cause it.

These include:. Since the Epstein-Barr virus can cause both mononucleosis and tonsillitis, sometimes people with mono will develop tonsillitis as a secondary infection. If you have viral tonsillitis, your symptoms may include coughing or a stuffy nose.

Around 15 to 30 percent of tonsillitis cases result from bacteria. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial tonsillitis, though they may not be necessary. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Kliegman RM, et al. Acute pharyngitis. Mitchell RB, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Tonsillectomy in children update.

Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. DOI: Paradise JL. Messner AH. Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy in children: Postoperative care and complications. Healthy habits to prevent the spread of flu. Orvidas LJ expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Related Inflamed tonsils. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and stir until it has dissolved.

Gargle with the salty water do not swallow it , then spit it out. Repeat as often as you like. Young children should not gargle with salty water. Find a pharmacy. Some people find that gargling with a mild antiseptic solution can also relieve a sore throat. Alternatively, you could try gargling with warm, salty water. Mix half a teaspoon of salt 2. It's important not to swallow the water, so this method may not be suitable for younger children.

Antibiotics may not be prescribed, even if tests confirm your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection. The two main reasons for this are:. In these circumstances, a day course of penicillin is usually recommended. If you or your child is known to be allergic to penicillin, an alternative antibiotic, such as erythromycin, can be used. Hospital treatment may be required for particularly severe or persistent cases of bacterial tonsillitis that don't respond to oral antibiotics.

In these cases, intravenous antibiotics given directly into a vein may be needed. Antibiotics sometimes cause mild side effects, such as an upset stomach, diarrhoea or a rash. For children with mild sore throats, watchful waiting is recommended rather than a tonsillectomy. A tonsillectomy is only considered for a recurrent sore throat if certain criteria are met. You must have:. Tonsillectomies are carried out under general anaesthetic , which means you'll be asleep during the procedure.

Your mouth will be held open to allow the surgeon to see your tonsils and no cuts will be made in your skin. Each of these techniques is relatively similar in terms of safety, results and recovery, so the type of surgery used will depend on the expertise and training of the surgeon.

After surgery, it's likely you'll experience some pain at the site of the operation. This can last for up to a week. Painkillers can help to relieve the pain. Children who have had a tonsillectomy should be kept off school for two weeks.

This is to reduce their risk of picking up an infection from another child that will make them feel more uncomfortable. Swallowing will probably be difficult after having a tonsillectomy. However, it's important to eat solid foods, because it will help your throat to heal more quickly.

Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid acidic drinks, such as orange juice, because they'll sting. Ensuring good oral hygiene by regularly brushing your teeth and using mouthwash can help prevent infection in the mouth. The pain usually gets worse during the first week after having a tonsillectomy, before gradually improving during the second week.

Earache is common with tonsillectomies, but isn't a cause for concern. Bleeding at the site where the tonsils were removed is a fairly common complication of a tonsillectomy. This can occur during the first 24 hours following surgery or up to 10 days afterwards.

It's estimated that around 1 in children and 1 in 30 adults will experience post-operative bleeding after having a tonsillectomy.

Minor bleeding isn't usually a cause for concern, because in most cases it resolves by itself. Gargling with cold water can often help stem the bleeding, because the cold helps to contract the blood vessels.

Occasionally, the bleeding can be more severe, causing people to cough up blood. Seek immediate medical advice if this happens.

You should be given an emergency contact number before you're discharged from hospital. Alternatively, you can call NHS 24's '' service.