Sometimes, your pediatrician might recommend a nose spray to try to shrink the tonsils or refer them to an ENT specialist when it is possible your child may need surgery to remove them, called a tonsillectomy. Remember, enlarged tonsils are common. Treatment depends on the size of the tonsils and whether or not they interfere with eating, sleeping, or breathing. Announcer: Have a question about a medical procedure?
Want to learn more about a health condition? With over 2, interviews with our physicians and specialists, there's a pretty good chance you'll find what you want to know. Check it out at thescoperadio. Subscribe to Our e-Newsletter. Find a doctor or location close to you so you can get the health care you need, when you need it. Sleep Apnea Some kids with enlarged tonsils have obstructive sleep apnea , where they stop breathing for a few seconds and then snort loudly to restart breathing.
Strep Then there's strep, the dreaded infection parents worry about with large tonsils and a sore throat. For Patients Find a doctor or location close to you so you can get the health care you need, when you need it. Subscribe to The Scope Radio. A person with tonsillitis may be able to feel the swollen glands in their neck. Other symptoms of tonsillitis include:. Strep throat is a form of tonsillitis.
This infection of the throat and tonsils more commonly occurs in children. A person gets strep throat by coming into contact with group A Streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat is infectious and passed on through the germs in coughs and sneezes.
Mono is infectious and is most common in young adults, including teenagers, and particularly college students. The most common cause of infectious mononucleosis is the transmission of the Epstein-Barr virus EBV from person to person. However, some other virus types may also cause it.
If a person does not practice good oral hygiene, a buildup of bacteria could cause an infection in the tonsils. Tonsil stones can occur when debris, such as food, dead cells, or bacteria, become trapped in the holes in the tonsils and calcify, forming hard stones. People with chronic inflammation in their tonsils or those who experience reoccurring bouts of tonsillitis may be more likely to develop tonsil stones.
Sometimes, tonsil stones can grow, making holes in the tonsils larger and possibly prolonging an infection. While a doctor will not treat the holes in the tonsils, they may need to address the underlying cause of any symptoms. A person with tonsillitis does not necessarily need treatment, as the body can sometimes fight off the infection by itself. A doctor may recommend drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking over-the-counter OTC pain relievers to minimize discomfort.
If symptoms persist beyond 3 to 4 days or get increasingly severe, a person should see a doctor. The doctor may also test for a strep infection and prescribe antibiotics or other medications, as needed.
Treatment for mono may vary depending on its severity. Doctors do not recommend treating mono with penicillin antibiotics, such as ampicillin or amoxicillin. Taking part in strenuous exercise could cause the spleen to rupture. Treatment for tonsil stones will depend on how large the stones are, and whether or not they are causing any symptoms. Smaller stones can often be dislodged by gargling salt water.
Often, the first sign of a peritonsillar abscess is a sore throat. As the abscess develops, other symptoms start, such as:. An abscess that's not treated quickly can lead to serious problems — for example, the infection may go into the jaw and neck. If the abscess pops, the infection may spread to the chest and lead to pneumonia. Call your doctor if you have a sore throat with a fever or any of the other problems that can be caused by a peritonsillar abscess.
It's rare that an abscess will get in the way of your breathing, but if it does, you may need to go to the emergency room right away. The doctor will examine your mouth, throat, and neck. He or she also may take a throat culture and a blood test. On rare occasions, a doctor may order a CT scan or ultrasound. The usual treatment for a peritonsillar abscess involves having a doctor drain the abscess.
The doctor does this either by withdrawing the pus with a needle called aspiration or making a small cut in the abscess with a scalpel so the pus can drain out. If this doesn't work, a patient's tonsils might have to be removed in a procedure called a tonsillectomy.
This is especially true for people who have had tonsillitis a lot or who have had a peritonsillar abscess in the past. If it's hard to eat or drink, patients may need IV intravenous, given into a vein fluids for hydration.
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