Causes

A person might either get swollen tonsils due to a sore throat or suffer from swollen tonsils due to allergies, sinus infections, etc. There are several other causative factors of swollen tonsils.

• Viral or bacterial infection caused due to contact with an infected person can cause swollen tonsils.
• Many times, small children get chronic tonsillitis due to common cold or flu virus.
• Adult and teenagers mostly get swollen tonsils due to bacterial infection or strep throat.
• In rare cases, bacteria causing diseases like scarlet fever or diphtheria, might also lead to swollen tonsils.
• Food allergies may also cause swollen tonsils.

Symptoms

Given below is a list of symptoms which are observed in a person suffering from this condition.

• Mild to severe throat infection which differs from severe sore throat
• White or yellow coloring on tonsils
• Swelling of the tonsils
• Fever and chills
• Harshness of voice
• Difficulty while speaking
• Bad breath
• Swelling of lymph glands in the neck
• Redness of the throat
• Cough
• Muscle pain
• Difficulty in swallowing and breathing can be experienced if the size of the tonsils become double its normal size

If you are suffering from swollen tonsils with white spots, then you are probably suffering from tonsil stones, which are small pieces of calcareous matter that form in the tonsils.

Treatment

Here are some home and medical remedies for curing swollen tonsils. However, the most effective and permanent treatment for swollen tonsils is surgery. Salt-water Gargling: Gargling is very effective for both swollen tonsils without a sore throat or with a sore throat. This remedy is recommended by doctors as well. In a pot take one glass water, and add a teaspoon of salt to it. Boil the water, take the pot off the stove, and let it come down to lukewarm temperature. Then use this water to gargle your throat. Repeat this remedy at least 2 times a day to reduce the infection and get relief. Milk and Turmeric: You can also have a cup of warm milk with a pinch of turmeric in it, before going to bed. This will help you sleep better, and turmeric in the milk will reduce the infection. Honey and Ginger: In a bowl take a tablespoon of honey and few pieces of ginger in it. Eat this mix slowly. Honey will coat the throat and soothe it, and ginger will help fight the infection. Avoid Spicy, Oily Foods: One should avoid eating any spicy, oily, sour, or cold foodstuff. Eat foods which are easy to swallow and lukewarm like chicken and vegetable soup. You can also have green tea or chamomile tea with a dash of lemon. More Tips: Catching any further infections can aggravate the problem, therefore avoid going out in cold weather. Drink a lot of fluids and water when suffering from tonsillitis. Also, eat foods which are rich in vitamin C. You can also keep having chewable vitamin C tablets to boost your immunity and fight the infection better. If you are experiencing throat pain, then consider taking an OTC pain pill. Take adequate rest, and avoid talking. Practice good hygiene by washing hands and avoid sharing your personal items with others. If you have fever and are experiencing difficulty in swallowing, seek medical attention. The doctor may prescribe some anti-inflammatory pills and antibiotics. In emergency cases, where it becomes impossible to swallow food, one can be hospitalized and intravenous fluids may be given. I had my tonsils removed 7 years ago. After the procedure, though my throat was not painful, it felt raw. With a 2 weeks dosage of antibiotics and pain pills, I was fine and able to eat normally. Surgery of tonsils is not that painful, but since tonsils are a part of the immune system, removing them through surgery should be the last resort. Tonsillectomy, that is removal of tonsils by operation, is a permanent solution. However, it should be performed only if the patient has been suffering from recurring bouts of tonsillitis.