At the very back of your throat, above and behind the tongue, are two fleshy pads called tonsils. These balls of tissue are part of the immune system, filtering out bacteria and viruses and generating illness-fighting antibodies. But when an infection causes the tonsils to become red and inflamed, that’s called tonsillitis. This condition is particularly common among children.

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The usual signs of tonsillitis include a sore throat, fever, chills, loss of voice, and tender lymph glands in the jaw and neck. The tonsils also become swollen and covered in white patches; children may suffer from a stomachache as well. In the majority of cases, a virus is the culprit, and the infection will go away on its own in 4 days to 2 weeks. Gargling with warm salt water and taking ibuprofen can help ease the pain and soothe the throat.

If you suspect that your child has tonsillitis, he or she should see a physician for an examination and a throat culture to rule out strep throat and to determine whether the illness was brought on by another type of bacterial infection. In either case, a course of antibiotics is required. The surgical removal of the tonsils—called tonsillectomy— is seldom done in adults. But in children and adolescents, it may be recommended if the swollen tonsils interfere with breathing, the illness doesn’t improve with antibiotics, or the infections recur frequently (at least seven throat infections in a year; five or more per year over 2 years; or three or more serious cases per year over a 3-year span). It takes about 2 weeks to recover from the outpatient procedure. Tonsillectomy formerly was very common but now is less so, because the immune function of the tonsils is better appreciated.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. The first tonsillectomy was reportedly performed in AD 30 by the Roman medical writer Celsus.
  2. To make a saltwater solution, mix 1⁄4 teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water.