Sore throat and tonsillitis: people often interchange these two terms. Sore throat is the general feeling of pain brought about by inflammation and infection in the upper respiratory area. Tonsillitis, on the other hand, is a specific medical term for soreness in the throat due to infected tonsils. Tonsils are lumps of flesh at the back of the throat—one each by the left and right sides of the uvula.
In other words, your sore throat can be a symptom of tonsillitis or a variety of other infections such as laryngitis, strep throat, etc. And while these infections mostly affect young children, it may also occur in teenagers and adults.
How to know if its tonsillitis
Do a quick self-check or examine your child. Open the mouth wide with tongue out, point a light to the back of the throat, and say “AAAAHHH.” Check for the following visual symptoms:
- Swollen tonsils
- White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils (presence of pus)
Determine if you or your child feels or presents the usual tonsillitis symptoms:
- Difficulty or pain in swallowing
- Bad breath
- Fever
- Enlarged, tender lymph nodes (feels like a marble at the side of your neck, below your jaw)
- Earache
- Feeling tired
If you highly suspect tonsillitis, consult your doctor immediately as it is important to get instant, accurate diagnosis on the possible cause. Get emergency attention if you or your child:
- has difficulty breathing
- has a hard time eating or drinking due to excessive pain
After doing a physical exam to diagnose tonsillitis, your doctor may run tests to determine whether it is a bacterial or viral infection. Tests are important to determine tonsillitis treatment and medication.
A throat swab can check the presence of streptococcal bacteria, which causes strep throat. A negative result may indicate a viral infection, and a complete blood cell count is in order. This will determine the viral agent or further rule out a bacterial infection.
Tonsillitis treatment and care
If a bacterial infection is found to have caused your or your child’s tonsillitis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. It is important to diligently take all of the antibiotics over the prescribed time period, even if you or your child feels better. Otherwise, the infection might recur or worsen.
Being patient with the treatment is key as the body fights off the infection. So stay in to rest and recover, and follow these tonsillitis remedies at home:
- Gargle with a homemade antiseptic: a glass of warm water with half a teaspoon of salt. If a child will gargle the solution, make sure he/she is able to spit it out afterwards
- Drink plenty of fluids to keep the throat from getting dry and scratchy
- Avoid extremely cold or hot foods and drinks
- Go for soft, soothing foods such as warm soup, caffeine-free tea with honey, gelatin, or purees
Your doctor may also prescribe medication to manage flu symptoms associated with tonsillitis. This may be Paracetamol for adults or children. For pain management, you might be recommended Ibuprofen. Remember to follow your doctor’s advice to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time.
General disclaimer
Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.
Sources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378479
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20378483
- https://medlineplus.gov/tonsillitis.html
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sore-throat/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tonsillitis/https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sore-throat
- https://www.cosmo.ph/health/what-is-tonsillitis-a1321-20200312
