Tonsilitis is the inflammation of the tonsils; an oval shaped pad of tissue found at the back of the throat: one tonsil is found on each side of the throat.
It is mostly a viral infection but bacteria commonly Streptococcus pyrogenes can also cause it. It commonly affects children between the age of 5-15years and can be as a result of frequent exposure to germs.
Signs and symptoms include red and swollen tonsils, white or yellow patches on the tonsils, sore throat, difficult or painful swallowing, fever, enlarged tender glands in the neck, a scratchy, muffled or throaty voice, bad breath, stomachache, neck pain and/or headache.
A common question- Why do tonsils get infected?
The tonsils are the first line of defense of the immune system against pathogens that enter the mouth. This function make the tonsils vulnerable to infection and inflammation. Nevertheless, after puberty the tonsils' immune function wane , this is a factor that may account for the rare cases of tonsilitis in adults.
~ Dr. Favvy
Next topic: How to treat and prevent tonsilitis
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