Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, tissue that sits on both sides of the back of the throat. They help in the immune system to protect the body from infections that may enter the body through the mouth. When the tonsils become infected they become enlarged and red, and have a yellow or white coating. Tonsil infections may be contagious, and can spread from person to person by contact with the mouth, throat, or mucous of someone who is infected. Tonsillitis symptoms include a sore throat, fever, swollen glands in the neck, and trouble swallowing.

Because most attacks of tonsillitis are caused by viruses, most of the treatment is aimed at helping to relieve the symptoms such as pain and fever. Paracetamol can help and the person should rest. Most children with tonsillitis do not feel well and it hurts them to swallow. Try cool drinks (cold drinks can hurt), ice blocks and ice cream. Tonsillitis in humans can be monitored and controlled to some extent with a rigorous reporting and testing system, an option that requires a good interaction between the public health sector and the corresponding veterinary sector.