bacterial and viral tonsilitis?
353829
only your doctor can tell you if it is viral or bacterial, either way you should see him/her.  If it is bacterial, you need to be prescribed an antibiotic.  You don't want it to get worse, especially if it is strep throat.  Untreated, strep throat can cause all kinds of ugly problems.  \nViral illnesses cannot be treated with antibiotics, but you can probably find something over the counter to help with the symptoms while you ride it out.  Hope you feel better, and call a doctor. (p.s. usually strep throat comes with swollen tonsils, white patches on the back of the throat, and bad breath.)
268045
Upper respiratory infections are common infections and include pharyngitis, sinusitis, epiglottitis, laryngotracheitis, and the common cold. Viruses play a significant role in the pathogenesis of many of these infections. Bacteria and other organisms also are responsible.\n\nPharyngitis is an inflammatory process of the pharynx, hypopharynx, uvula, and tonsils that can be caused by viral or bacterial infection and, occasionally, both. Distinguishing between these infections is important because rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis may complicate untreated group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections (GAS), but they usually can be prevented by appropriate antibiotic treatment.\n\nSinusitis is an inflammatory process involving the paranasal sinuses (maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid). It usually is a bacterial complication of a viral upper respiratory infection.\n\nEpiglottitis is a life-threatening disease observed most frequently in children aged 1-6 years, often during the fall and winter. Although less common, it also can affect adults.\n\nLaryngotracheitis usually is the result of viral infection. The subglottic area and trachea are involved, whereas the area above the true vocal cords is spared. When children younger than 5 years have the infection, it is called croup.\n\nThe common cold is a mild, self-limited, catarrhal syndrome caused, for the most part, by members of 5 families of viruses. A small proportion of colds are complicated by bacterial infections of the paranasal sinuses and the middle ear, which require antimicrobial therapy.
930608
http://www.homeoint.org/hompath/articles/619.html\nhttp://www.ehealthmd.com/library/tonsillitis/TON_whatis.html\nhttp://www.tonsilfacts.com/wt/page/options\nHere are a few sites of interest. Research this thoroughly before having this procedure please.
201979
This sounds like a simple question but in practice it can be very difficult to know if a person is suffering from a viral or bacterial infection.  \n\nPharyngitis (sore throat) for instance is more likely to be bacterial if the person has pus on their tonsils, swollen, tender glands, and a fever over 100 F.  With those three symptoms the likelihood that it is strep throat is about 75%.  There is a quick strep test that can be used to further establish whether group-A strep is present in about five minutes.  These tests are supposedly 90-95% certain.  Finally a sample can be taken and cultured and in three days the results available (but by then the person has had strep throat for three days!).  Therefore, sometimes instead of delaying testing you make a judgement about how sick the person looks and sometimes there is a distinctive smell to strep throat - and you treat with antibiotics based on your knowledge and judgement.  \n\nEvery illness has its own presentation and your medical provider can determine if your illness is likely to be viral or bacterial.  You might feel awful with some illness but there might be good indications the illness is viral and an antibiotic is not going to be helpful (as antibiotics only kill bacteria).  The flu for instance is viral and does not require antibiotics.
37326
Could be strep throat! \n\nLook at your tounsils- are they inflamed? Is there a foriegn substance coming from them?\n\nI had mono and strep throat all at one time- it was horrible.\n\nHope you feel better! Take Care...Danae
18934
Infectious mononucleosis (often called simply "mono") is a common viral infection that causes fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes. The most common complaint is a sore throat. Mono is commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, but other viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), can also cause mono. Mono is most frequently diagnosed in teenagers and young adults.\n\nThe illness generally goes away without medical help. However, it may last from weeks to months. Treatment is mainly to ease symptoms, usually at home, with plenty of rest and fluids.\n\nBy adulthood, 90-95% of men and women have been infected. Mono usually occurs in people aged 15-25 years. Mono is highly contagious. Not surprisingly, 1-3% of college students contract mono each year. Infection spreads through exposure to body fluids containing the virus. It is most often transmitted via saliva (hence the name "kissing disease"). However, mono can also be spread through blood and genital secretions.\n\nSerious complications rarely occur.
31658
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by a bacteria called streptococcus.  While treating this infection with an antibiotic will speed the recovery from this infection, it is not necessary.  A relatively healthy person's immunce system can fight off this infection.
485670
It could be seasonal allergies if you do have them.  Sometimes, though, a week isn't long enough to kill some infections such as tonsillitis, you need 10-14 days.  I would just watch your throat and take it easy over the long weekend and see how you feel come Tuesday.  If you do get a fever or the spots return, call the ER or an emergency clinic and be seen.  Tonsils can abscess if they aren't treated in a timely manner.
391945
I was constantly in the doctor's for my tonsils. I had strep throat at least 4 or 5 times a year. After years of this I finally ended up in the hospital for a few days after developing sacs of puss called abscesses. It was NASTY. A month later I got them removed. I haven't had any problems since. I would definitely go to your doctor and at least have him/her look at them. It might be nothing, but you don't want it to become something real serious either. Good luck.
468289
YES\n\nThe medical term for a "sore throat" is pharyngitis. We owe the word "pharyngitis" to gifts from the Greeks: "pharynx" meaning "the throat" + the suffix"-itis" denoting inflammation. So pharyngitis literally means inflammation of the pharynx. \n\nLike the thigh bone, the pharynx is connected not to the hip bone, but to a remarkable number of other structures including the mouth and nose, the esophagus and larynx, and (via the Eustachian tubes) the ears. That is why sore throats so often involve these other structures. \n\nAnd that's not all. The pharynx has additional neighbors of renown, namely the nubbins of lymphatic tissue in the back of the pharynx called the "tonsils"and the rings of like tissue higher up in the nasal portion of the pharynx called the "adenoids". \n\nInflammation of the pharynx causes it to redden and swell which may make breathing and swallowing more difficult. Another features may be an "exudate" or whitish-yellow covering, especially pronounced on the tonsils. The exudate contains dead cells and bacteria or viruses. \n\nThe most common cause of pharyngitis is infection by a virus, especially one of the viruses that can cause the common cold. A number of viruses including those blamed for influenza ("flu") and infectious mononucleosis ("mono") and a class of viruses called adenoviruses can cause particularly severe inflammation of the pharynx. \n\nThe notorious "strep throat" is due to a bacterial infection of the pharynx. The offending bacteria is the streptococcus. \n\nIt is crucial that the diagnosis of strep throat be made because of the many complications that can ensue, among them rheumatic fever with inflammation of the joints and heart valves, glomerulonephritis with sometimes serious disease of the kidneys, and scarlet fever. \n\nA strep throat can closely mimic a viral sore throat (and vice versa). Throat culture has been the gold standard for telling the difference. The throat culture proves the diagnosis of a strep. New tests have been developed which give quicker results. \n\nTreatment of strep throat with antibiotics may not always significantly shorten the course of the disease. What antibiotics do is to kill the bacteria and cut down the risk of the dreaded complications. \n\nOther bacteria such as the one responsible for diphtheria also cause pharyngitis. So can microorganisms like the yeast Candida. Thus a "simple" sore throat, may not always be so simple! \n\nFor more MedicineNet.com information read the following articles: Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis & Tonsils & Adenoids.
569864
They are part of the lymphatic system (which is connected to the circulatory system) which play a huge role in immunological defenses against diseases.\n\nThere are two kinds of tonsils in our throats: \n\npharyngeal and palatine tonsils\n\nBoth pairs are filter-protective regions of the body that help to collect bacteria and other pathogens from entering the body. When they are all clogged up from a huge onslaught of germs, like in tonsilitis, then they may or may not be able to filter and protect the body, and may actually be a place that harbors streptococcus microbes and contibute to re-infection.  \n\nTonsillectomies used to be done a lot more than they are now, but tonsillectomy may help reduce the number of ear-nose-throat infections if aggressive antibiotic treatments have not been affective. Chronic strept throat can infect the heart and cause endocarditis and rheumatic heart disease.  So when your tonsils are WORKING, they do help protect the heart and other parts of the body that may be vulnerable to the microbes being transported around in the circulatory system.\n\nAlways throw out your tooth brush after strept throat or soak brush in hydrogen peroxide of alcohol before each use. This might help reduce the chances of reinfection.
612781
Cold or sinus infection.  Also could be allergies.
734894
Hi there !\nDo you have any symptoms suggesting  chronic infections of Ear Nose or Throat...or sinuses ?\nMild amounts of mucus strands attached to "here and there" of the buccal cavity if normal..!\nYour history is so vague that ..nothing can be inferred..\nBetter why dont you consult a GOOD  ENT consultant ?\nBest wishes ...
43249
It's your tonsil's fault.  Those things are kinda like boogers, which is dirt that your nose traps.  Well these yellow things are bacteria, and food that your tonsils trap.  It helps you from getting sick, but it does end up giving you sore throats, and discomfort.  The most you can do is gargle with warm salted water, or Listerine.  If it becomes a real big problem, then you should go see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor.
1042103
it sounds like tonsillitus or possibly a yeast infection in the throat.  When you get a really bad infection in the throat sometimes it doesn't all clear up and abscesses and keeps recurring.  If it is tonsils, you'd need them out.  If it's a yeast infection you have antibiotics will not help, you need to have some sort of treatment like mycostin mouth gargle, diflucan, and possibly mycelex troches.  Have them do a throat culture so they know what they are dealing with, see a ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist.
350764
Hi, Cherry - You probably mean 'tonsillar pharyngitis'.  Pharyngitis literally means inflammation of the pharynx (or throat).  Basically, this is your common throat infection which is most often caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold.  In some cases, the infection may be from a bacteria such as streptococcus - this is what we call 'strep throat'.  When the tonsils are involved, some people may use the term 'tonsillitis' or 'tonsillar pharyngitis'.  The typical symptoms are fever, sore throat, whitish pus on the tonsils, or swollen glands in the neck.  Not all pharyngitises need to be treated with antibiotics, but you would have to see a doctor to determine if yours does or does not.
610415
Lots of people get their tonsils removed without harmful immune effects. I'd think you'd be in more danger of problems by allowing something chronically infected sit right at the base of your brain. Yank 'em if they are causing problems.