What is Tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is an inflammation or infection of the tonsils. Acute tonsillitis is a severe form of tonsillitis that develops all of a sudden and not over time.

Tonsillitis is usually an acute infective condition. The common causative organisms are viruses. There are different forms of Tonsillitis and they are:

– Acute Tonsillitis
– Adult Tonsillitis
– Viral Tonsillitis
– Chronic Tonsillitis
– Cryptic Tonsillitis
– Chronic Cryptic Tonsillitis

We are going to take a look at the primary causes of acute tonsillitis further.

Streptococcus Bacteria

Streptococcus is a bacterium that is commonly present on the skin or throat of a human. Often, people carry these bacteria. Acute tonsillitis is caused when a foreign streptococcus enters into any part of the body where the bacteria are not usually present. This can be spread from one person to another by kissing or via physical contacts with the affected person’s mucus through sneezing or coughing.  The streptococcus bacteria will reproduce and cause inflammation. Acute tonsillitis can be cured by Penicillin and other antibiotics.

Haemophilus Bacteria

Haemophilus is a bacteria that commonly cause ear infections and pneumonia. It mostly affects children and usually spreads at schools through coughing and sneezing. Vaccines and improved health care helps in the reaction of occurrence of Haemophilus tonsillitis to one in every 100,000 children. The bacteria multiply upon the tonsils, causing inflammation and infection. Like streptococcus tonsillitis, haemophilus tonsillitis is also cured with antibiotics.

Adenovirus

Another common cause of acute tonsillitis is adenovirus. It grows in the lining of digestive, respiratory urinary systems, including lymph tissue which tonsillitis is formed. Antibiotics have no effect upon this virus. Humidifier and prescription steroids can be used to feel better.

Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis or mono is commonly called as The Kissing Disease. It is another cause of acute tonsillitis. The Epstein-Barr virus is contagious through kissing, coughing and sneezing. It will affect the immune system and it is common in young adults and teenagers. Mononucleosis basically infects the throat and spreads to the tonsils. The treatment is to drink a lot of fluids and take rest, but steroids may be prescribed occasionally.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is also an infectious disease that results in formation of thick, dark gray membrane in the respiratory tract and tonsils and may result in acute tonsillitis. This will result in swelling of infected area and makes breathing tough. Although this disease is largely controlled in United States through vaccines it is considered to be a very deadly disease. Treatment of the disease is by taking anti-toxic shots and intravenous drugs.