Red tonsils are a common symptom of a condition calledtonsillitis, which is inflammation of the tonsils.
Thetonsilsare twolymph nodesin the back of the throat.
Their job is to prevent infection by filtering germs.
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Red tonsils usually are accompanied by swelling and pain.
Viruses and bacteria are the two most common causes of red tonsils.
This article will cover the symptoms, causes, and treatment of red tonsils.
It will also discuss the complications and risk factors.
These symptoms include:
These symptoms come about when the tonsils are swollen and red from an infection.
If at any time breathing becomes difficult, contact a healthcare provider.
Causes
Red tonsils are typically triggered by either a virus or a bacterium.
When one of these germs infects the tonsils, it creates an immune response to help fight the infection.
This results in tonsil redness, swelling, and pain.
However, someone can have strep throat without having tonsillitis.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Red Tonsils?
There are two main ways that a healthcare provider will diagnose the cause of red tonsils.
The first is through a physical exam.
A healthcare provider will look in the patient’s throat to view the tonsils.
They will be looking for redness, swelling, and other changes that could be resulting from an infection.
If the healthcare provider suspects the red tonsils are triggered by a strep infection, astrep testmay be used.
A rapid strep test can provide results in minutes.
A strepculturewill take a few days to receive results.
How to Treat Red Tonsils
Treatment depends on the cause of the red tonsils.
However, if the cause is abacterial infection, then antibiotics will be prescribed.
Penicillinor a penicillin-related antibiotic is typically used to treat strep throat.
It can come in a pill or liquid form and is taken for 10 days.
If someone isallergic to penicillin, a different antibiotic will be prescribed.
When red tonsils and tonsillitis are due to a virus, home treatment can help ease the symptoms.
Do not stop taking your medication even when symptoms go away.
Instead, take it for the full length of time prescribed.
If the illness worsens despite taking antibiotics, contact a healthcare provider.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Red tonsils are one of the symptoms of tonsillitis.
The leading cause of tonsillitis is a strep infection, which needs to be treated withantibiotics.
If astrep infectionis causing your red tonsils, leaving it untreated can cause serious complications.
Summary
Red tonsils are a symptom of a condition called tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis can be brought on by a bacterial or viral infection.
If the red tonsils are sparked by bacteria, then antibiotic treatment may be used.
It is often accompanied by tonsil swelling and a sore throat.
If you experience these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
The most common cause of tonsillitis is strep throat, which will need to be treated with an antibiotic.
If strep throat is left untreated it can lead to serious illnesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red tonsils are usually because of an infection and will go away.
If the infection is viral (such as adenovirus or Epstein-Barr virus), then home treatment is recommended.
Tonsils can be red when they are inflamed due to an infection.
The redness is the body’s response to the infection.
This allows more blood to reach the tissue, causing it to turn red.
Several different viruses and bacteria can cause red tonsils.
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