Bacterial causes may need treatment with antibiotics, while fungal causes are effectively resolved with antifungals.
Other conditions are allowed to run their course, using saltwater gargles and pain relievers to help ease symptoms.
Severe or recurrent tonsillitis may require atonsillectomy.
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They function likelymph nodes, filtering out bacteria and other germs to prevent infection.
The condition may beacute(sudden and severe) orchronic(persistent).
In rare cases, tonsillitis can also be sparked by sexually transmitted infections likechlamydia,gonorrhea, andherpes.
Some cases can lead to the breakout of a sandpaper-like rash calledscarlet fever.
The fungus normally resides inmucus membranesbut is usually well-controlled by theimmune system.
It is only when the immune system is suppressed thatC.
albicanscan suddenly overgrow, causing whitish plaque in the mouth and back of the throat.
For this reason, oral thrush is considered anopportunistic infectionrather than something you “catch.”
Most people are exposed to EBV as children during which the infection produces few, if any, symptoms.
During an infection, debris can become trapped in the crevices of the swollen tonsils.
Over time, the debris can accumulate and stick together, forming hardened stones.
In some cases, a tonsil stone can provide a haven for bacteria, leading to a throat infection.
(Tonsil infections commonly cause swollen lymph nodes; tonsil stones generally do not.)
The cells may also becultured(grown in the lab) to make a positive identification.
Blood tests can also be performed to identify viruses like EBV or HIV.
Some conditions need no treatment and only require the management of symptoms.
Other conditions need medical intervention and, in severe cases, surgery.
Pain management is generally the first course of treatment for tonsillitis.
If pain is severe, prescriptioncorticosteroids (steroids)may be prescribed to reduce inflammation quickly.
Viral causes are generally not treated and are allowed to run their course.
When tonsillitis is severe or recurs frequently, atonsillectomymay be recommended to remove both tonsils.
Strep throat is treated in much the same way as tonsillitis, with home remedies and OTC pain relievers.
Most cases of strep throat will resolve on their own without treatment within a few days.
Not all cases need to be treated.
If medications are the cause, a change of treatment may be advised.
Mononucleosis due to EBV is a self-limiting disease that is usually allowed to run its course.
The focus of treatment is on symptom relief similar to that of tonsillitis.
Furthermore, they can cause unpleasant side effects and increase the risk of antiviral resistance.
If tonsil stones are causing no symptoms, medical intervention is usually not needed.
The stones can often be dislodged with gargling, a WaterPik, or a cotton swab.
Larger stones may need to be removed by a healthcare provider.
Stones that cannot be manually dislodged may requirelaser cryptolysis.
This is a procedure performed underlocal anesthesiathat vaporizes the stone with a carbon dioxide laser.
Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat bacterial infections, while antifungals can usually clear oral thrush.
Most viral infections are allowed to run their courses.
Severe or recurrent tonsillitis may require a tonsillectomy to remove your tonsils.
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