How bad can tonsils get infected?

When left untreated, bacterial infections, such as strep, can cause serious complications. When tonsillitis recurs often and is severe, a tonsillectomy may be recommended. In some instances, swollen tonsils may signal tonsil cancer. Unusual symptoms, such as asymmetrically sized tonsils, should be checked by a doctor.

How do you know if your tonsil is cancerous?

Signs and symptoms of tonsil cancer include: Difficulty swallowing. A sensation that something is caught in the back of your throat. Swelling and pain in the neck.

Is bacterial tonsillitis rare?

Bacterial infections cause tonsillitis between 15 to 30 percent of the time. The bacteria responsible for strep throat, known as Streptococcus pyogenes, is the most common cause of bacterial tonsillitis. While tonsillitis itself isn’t always contagious, the germs that can cause it are.

Can you get sepsis from tonsillitis?

Complications from strep throat Aside from the infection possibly triggering sepsis, untreated strep throat could lead to: Scarlet fever. Poststreptococcal glomurolenephritis, which is inflammation in the kidney. Rheumatic fever.

What is the best antibiotic for tonsillitis?

Antibiotics. If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most common antibiotic treatment prescribed for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus.

What does it mean when your tonsils are inflamed?

Tonsillitis means that your tonsils are inflamed. Both bacteria and viruses can cause tonsillitis. These are usually easily passed from one person to another. Tonsillitis caused by a virus is treated differently from tonsillitis caused by bacteria.

Can a child get tonsillitis and can an adult get it?

Tonsillitis is more common in children, but adults can also develop the condition. If you develop tonsillitis, a viral infection is the most likely culprit, but it could also be caused by a bacterial infection. Many cases of tonsillitis will get better on their own, usually within a week.

What kind of bacteria can cause tonsillitis?

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. Why do tonsils get infected? The tonsils are the immune system’s first line of defense against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth.

Can you get strep throat if you have tonsillitis?

(1) When the tonsils become inflamed and infected, the condition is known as tonsillitis. Tonsillitis can be caused by a viral infection or bacterial infection (like strep throat), and most of the time it goes away in a week or less. Still, there can be complications from tonsillitis that require medical attention.