Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, which are lumpy tissues on each side of the back of the throat. It can be caused by infection either due to viruses or bacteria.

The tonsils may have white patches and the throat will be sore, making it hard to swallow. You may also notice that:

• Your tonsils look very red
• Your voice sounds different
• Your glands in your neck are swollen
• You have a fever
• You have bad breath

Acute tonsillitis, meaning tonsillitis that is caused by an upper respiratory infection, is usually treated with antibiotics and improves within a few days. Even though your throat may feel better, you must always complete the medication for the full time it was prescribed. The antibiotics are what clear the tonsils of bacteria.

If you have repeated infections, your tonsils may form deep grooves where the bacteria can hide and antibiotics will not be as effective. In this case tonsillitis is referred to as chronic tonsillitis. Usually, the tonsils must be removed (called a tonsillectomy). The procedure will be done in a hospital under general anesthesia. It usually takes about two weeks to recover.

Treatment

Dr. Alexander offers a new surgical technique for tonsillectomy that uses the Harmonic Knife for better comfort and faster healing. Harmonic Knife details...