If you have tonsillitis, it means your tonsils are infected. Tonsils are the two round lumps on either side of the back of your throat; you can see them when you open your mouth wide and look in the mirror. You can see them more clearly if you stick out your tongue.
Normally, your tonsils are small and hard to see, but when infected and enlarged, they can become easily visible and may even touch each other.
Learn more about the symptoms of tonsillitis and how to tell the difference between tonsillitis and a regular sore throat.
Common Tonsillitis Symptoms
Symptoms of tonsillitis can happen suddenly. Some symptoms of tonsillitis are similar to those of a regular sore throat, while others are more specific to tonsillitis.
The symptoms of tonsillitis may include:
- Sore throat. Your throat may feel very sore and scratchy.
- Swollen tonsils. Your tonsils are larger than normal for you. It will be easier to see them if you stick out your tongue and look at your throat in a mirror.
- Painful swallowing. It may hurt and feel difficult to swallow.
- Redness. Your tonsils, throat, and uvula will look redder and more inflamed than normal.
- White spots. You may see white spots on your tonsils.
- White, yellow, or gray coating. Your tonsils may appear to have a coating on them, and its color may vary.
- Fever. Your temperature may be above 100.4 F.
- Swollen lymph nodes. You may feel swollen lumps on the sides of your neck or below your ears. These are lymph nodes.
- Stomachache or vomiting. Stomach symptoms when you have tonsillitis are more likely in younger children.
- Stiff neck. Swelling in your throat and neck may make it harder to turn or bend your neck.
- Earache. The infection in your tonsils can affect your ears, too. When you have tonsillitis and pain in your throat you may feel it in your ears as well.
What is an early sign of tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis usually starts as a sore throat. If you have a sore throat that comes on suddenly or is severe, it's important to keep an eye on your tonsils for signs of tonsillitis.
Symptoms of viral tonsillitis vs. bacterial tonsillitis (strep throat)
Tonsillitis can result from infections with viruses or bacteria. When the cause is viral, your symptoms are likely to be milder. When you have a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, your symptoms may be more severe. Also, you are more likely to see white spots or pus on your tonsils with a bacterial infection such as strep.
Peritonsillar Abscess Symptoms
When you have tonsillitis, sometimes you can get a pus-filled pocket near one of your tonsils, known as a peritonsillar abscess. This can happen on its own but is often a complication of tonsillitis. If you have tonsillitis and a peritonsillar abscess, it may hurt a lot. You might find it hard to open your mouth.
Symptoms of tonsillar abscess include:
- Inflamed tonsils
- Severe pain and tenderness around the area of your soft palate and the roof of your mouth
- Difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing
- Distinctively muffled speech, as if speaking with a mouthful of mashed potatoes, due to swelling
The abscess usually appears on one side only. But it's possible you could have it on both sides.
If a peritonsillar abscess is severe, it could block your throat. It may make speaking, swallowing, and breathing hard. Without treatment, the infection also could spread to cause symptoms in your mouth, neck, chest, or lungs.
Lingual Tonsillitis Symptoms
Your lingual tonsils are on the back of your tongue. When these tonsils get infected, it's called lingual tonsillitis. Lingual tonsillitis is rare, but it happens more often in people who have had tonsils or adenoids removed. If you have this condition, you may have symptoms including:
- Severe sore throat
- Trouble swallowing
- Tenderness around your hyoid bone, where your chin and neck meet
Recognizing Tonsillitis Symptoms in Children
Signs of tonsillitis in kids are similar to those in adults. If your child has a sore throat, take a look at their tonsils. They may look irritated, red, and unusually large from swelling. You could see a coating on them or spots that may be yellow or white.
Your child may have other signs, including:
- Throat pain
- Fever
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Swollen glands or lymph nodes
- Trouble swallowing
- Stomachache
- Headache
- Earache
If your child has a sore throat and you think it may be tonsillitis, see a doctor.
When to Call Your Doctor About Tonsillitis
If you notice any of the following signs in your child, it's important to contact a doctor about their tonsillitis:
- Your child has symptoms of tonsillitis.
- Your child has trouble breathing at night, noisy breathing, or episodes of sleep apnea (brief pauses in breathing while asleep); these may indicate enlarged adenoids (another kind of tonsil on the upper-rear wall of the mouth cavity) or tonsils.
- Your child has frequent bouts of tonsillitis; surgery may be indicated.
- Your child is not responding to antibiotics and has fever or pain, as well as white spots or a discharge on the tonsils; this may indicate mononucleosis or another infection.
Anyone with tonsillitis who is drooling, unable to drink or swallow, or has any difficulty breathing should go to the emergency room for evaluation.
Takeaways
Tonsillitis can come with a wide range of symptoms, which may vary depending on whether it's caused by infection with a virus or bacteria. Sometimes, it can lead to complications, including an abscess. If you think you or your child may have symptoms of tonsillitis, see your doctor to find out.
Tonsillitis Symptoms FAQs
How do you know if you have tonsillitis?
Your doctor will diagnose tonsillitis mainly based on your symptoms. They may order tests to figure out if your tonsillitis is related to an infection with streptococcus bacteria.
What is the main cause of tonsillitis?
Most of the time, tonsillitis is caused by viral infections. But sometimes, bacteria also can cause it.
Can tonsillitis go away on its own?
Yes. If your tonsillitis is related to a virus, it should go away on its own. It could take about a week for you to get better.
How can I treat my tonsillitis and its symptoms?
If your tonsillitis is caused by a strep infection, you may need antibiotics. Other things that can help with tonsillitis symptoms include taking over-the-counter pain medicines, drinking warm liquids, gargling salt water, or sucking on throat lozenges. If you get tonsillitis a lot or if it's severe, you may need surgery to remove your tonsils (tonsillectomy).
