What is Tonsillitis ? :

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat — one tonsil on each side. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck.

Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by infection with a common virus, but bacterial infections also may cause tonsillitis.Because appropriate treatment for tonsillitis depends on the cause, it's important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis.

Symptoms of Tonsillitis :

Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between preschool ages and the midteenage years. Common signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include:

• Red, swollen tonsils
• White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils
• Sore throat
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Fever
• Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
• A scratchy, muffled or throaty voice
• Bad breath
• Stomachache
• Neck pain or stiff neck
• Headache

In young children who are unable to describe how they feel, signs of tonsillitis may include:

• Drooling due to difficult or painful swallowing
• Refusal to eat
• Unusual fussiness

Causes of Tonsillitis :

Tonsillitis is most often caused by common viruses, but bacterial infections also can be the cause.The most common bacterium causing tonsillitis is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), the bacterium that causes strep throat. Other strains of strep and other bacteria also may cause tonsillitis.

Risk Factor :

Risk factors for tonsillitis include:

• Young age. Tonsillitis most often affects children, and tonsillitis caused by bacteria is most common in children ages 5 to 15.
• Frequent exposure to germs. School-age children are in close contact with their peers and frequently exposed to viruses or bacteria that can cause tonsillitis.

Diagnosis :

Your doctor will do a physical exam. They’ll look at your tonsils to see if they’re red or swollen or have pus on them. They’ll also check for a fever. They may look in your ears and nose for signs of infection and feel the sides of your neck for swelling and pain.

You might need tests to find the cause of your tonsillitis. They include:

• A throat swab. Your doctor will test saliva and cells from your throat for strep bacteria. They’ll run a cotton swab along the back of your throat. This might be uncomfortable but won’t hurt. Results are usually ready in 10 or 15 minutes. Sometimes, your doctor will also want a lab test that takes a couple of days. If these tests are negative, a virus is what caused your tonsillitis.
• A blood test. Your doctor may call this a complete blood cell count (CBC). It looks for high and low numbers of blood cells to show whether a virus or bacteria caused your tonsillitis.
• Rash.Your doctor will check for scarlatina, a rash linked to strep throat infection.

Homeopathy for Tonsillitis :

Homeopathic medicines for tonsils stones are prescribed symptomatically for every individual case. These medicines are made of natural substances and cause no side effects. They help remove and dissolve the existing tonsil stones from the folds of the tonsils and also help reduce the body’s tendency to create tonsil stones. 

• Homeopathy offers excellent treatment for both acute and chronic tonsillitis. 
• Frequent attacks of tonsillitis suggest low immunity. Hence, internal immune correction is necessary which is possible with homeopathy.
• Since tonsillitis is common among children, homeopathy is very safe and highly effective in treating most cases of tonsillitis.
• Unnecessary surgical removal can be avoided by going for homeopathic medicines.
• Certain homeopathic remedies which are useful in tonsillitis are Belladonna, Calcarea carbonica, Mercurius solubilis, Hepar sulphuricum, Lachesis, and Tuberculinum. These medicines should not be taken without a prescription.
• The exact remedy is selected based on the individual case analysis