Tonsillitis Week 1* Day 1

​Tonsillitis Week 1: Day 1

By Elizabeth Hodges

Have you ever opened your mouth and looked at the back of your throat? For most of us, we see our tonsils. Tonsils are part of our immune system. They are lumps of tissues. They help keep bacteria and viruses out of your airway. YOur tonsils have a very important job.
Tonsils are helpful for the body, but there are times when your tonsils can cause problems. Strep throat and other infections of the tonsils are common illnesses in kids. The illnesses are called tonsillitis, which means an infection in the tonsils.
When a child has tonsillitis, they might have a sore throat, fever, bad breath, and difficulty swallowing. They might also have swollen glands in the neck, a headache, or even a stomachache. The symptoms are often different from person to person.
Infected tonsils are caused when a virus or bacteria enter the body. THe tonsils keep these viruses and bacteria out of the airway. Bacteria and viruses that stay on the tonsils for a long time could cause an infection. This is usually common in kids form ages five to fifteen and can be very contagious. .THe viruses and bacteria are easily passed when you sneeze or caught around others. It can also be passed by touching things that a sick person has touched. Washing your hands is important to prevent the bacteria and viruses from spreading.
Tonsillitis is usually easy to spot the tonsils are often much larger than normal in some, cases, the tonsils are so large that they touch in the back of a person's mouth. This can make breathing difficult. The color of the tonsils often changes. They could look red, yellow, or white. NO matter the color, they look inflamed and irritated.
If you or someone you know has a sore throat, you need to visit a doctor. THe doctor will ask about your symptoms. THey will look in the back of your throat. IF they believe you have tonsillitis, they will swab the back of your mouth with a soft cotton swab. This takes a sample of the bacteria and or virus that is in your throat. The sample can be tested and give an answer in minutes.
Tonsillitis is treated differently depending on if it is a virus or a bacterial . Viral infections do not require medicine. THe body's immune system will fight the infection on its own. YOu might need to take a pain reliever to treat the soreness. Bacterial infections are treated with an antibiotic. Usually, symptoms are better within a few days of taking an antibiotic.

​Tonsillitis