Throat Condition

Tonsillitis — when sore throats keep coming back.

The tonsils sit at the back of the throat and trap incoming germs. Occasional inflammation is part of normal childhood. Repeated tonsillitis — many episodes a year, missed school, antibiotics every few months — is a different story, and one a tonsillectomy reliably solves.

Medical name Tonsillitis

Category Throat Condition

Common treatment Antibiotics · Surgery

Throat Condition · Dr. Naseer's ENT

Overview

Most acute tonsillitis is viral and settles in a few days with fluids, paracetamol, and rest. Bacterial tonsillitis (Streptococcus the usual culprit) needs antibiotics and an awareness of complications.

Chronic or recurrent tonsillitis — by widely-used Paradise criteria, seven episodes in one year, five per year for two years, or three per year for three years — is the most common reason we recommend tonsillectomy.

Symptoms

A severe sore throat, often more painful on one side
Difficulty or pain when swallowing
Visibly red, swollen tonsils with white or yellow patches
Fever, tender lymph nodes in the neck, bad breath
Muffled voice or, in children, refusal to eat

Common Causes

Viral infections — adenovirus, influenza, EBV
Bacterial infections — Group A Streptococcus most commonly
Recurrent low-grade infection trapped within tonsillar crypts
Smoke, pollution, or reflux as contributing irritants
Immunological factors in some children

Treatment Options

Symptom relief — fluids, paracetamol, salt-water gargles
Antibiotics when bacterial infection is confirmed (or strongly suspected)
Steroid in severe cases of swelling with breathing concerns
Tonsillectomy for recurrent episodes meeting clinical criteria
Coblation tonsillectomy — less pain, faster recovery (where appropriate)

When to See an ENT

See an ENT for any difficulty breathing, drooling, severe one-sided swelling (suggesting a peritonsillar abscess), or repeated episodes that disrupt school or work. We also see adults with chronic bad breath traced to deep tonsillar crypts.

At Dr. Naseer's ENT, we use coblation in tonsillectomies when suitable — patients usually return to soft food within 24 hours and to normal activity within a week.