Where is tonsils

National Library of Medicine. Bacterial tonsillitis may be treated with antibiotics from a medical professional. Strep throat happens when the tonsils are infected by bacteria called Streptococcus , usually classified by two different strains, A and B. Strep is usually a problem that affects children, though adults can get strep throat, too.

During this infection, the tonsils are usually very inflamed, and the person may have white pustules on their tonsils, along with white, stringy pus gathering in the throat. If strep goes untreated, it can cause scarlet fever impetigo, cellulitis, toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis flesh-eating disease , according to the National Institutes of Health.

Rheumatic fever may also occur from an untreated strep infection. Many patients don't remember having the initial sore throat. Rheumatic fever can be mild or very serious causing permanent damage to the heart," Dr. The treatment for strep is fairly simple. Typically, doctors will prescribe antibiotics, such as Augmentin , to rid the body of the bacteria.

Tonsil stones are a typical affliction of the throat area, as well. Gargling with salt water can help. She can also take over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for her pain and fever. Tonsillitis usually improves two or three days after treatment starts.

The infection usually goes away too, but some people may need to take antibiotics for longer. If your child has a great many repeated infections, surgery may be recommended to remove her tonsils, but this is no longer a common reason to have the tonsils out.

The tonsils are lymph nodes in the back of the mouth and top of the throat. They help to filter out bacteria and other germs to prevent infection in the body. The infection may also be seen in other parts of the throat. One such infection is called pharyngitis. A rapid strep test can be done in most providers' offices. However, this test may be normal, and you can still have strep. Your provider may send the throat swab to a laboratory for a strep culture.

Test results can take a few days. Swollen tonsils that are not painful or do not cause other problems do not need to be treated. Your provider may not give you antibiotics. You may be asked to come back for a checkup later. If tests show you do have strep, your provider will give you antibiotics.

It is important to finish all of your antibiotics as directed, even if you feel better. If you do not take them all, the infection can return. Some people who have repeated infections may need surgery to remove the tonsils tonsillectomy. Tonsillitis symptoms due to strep will often get better within 2 or 3 days after you start the antibiotics. Children with strep throat should be kept home from school or day care until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. This helps reduce the spread of illness.

Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children update - executive summary. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 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. The tonsils are the immune system's first line of defense against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth.

This function may make the tonsils particularly vulnerable to infection and inflammation. However, the tonsil's immune system function declines after puberty — a factor that may account for the rare cases of tonsillitis in adults. Inflammation or swelling of the tonsils from frequent or ongoing chronic tonsillitis can cause complications such as:. If tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus or another strain of streptococcal bacteria isn't treated or if antibiotic treatment is incomplete, your child has an increased risk of rare disorders such as:.

The germs that cause viral and bacterial tonsillitis are contagious. Therefore, the best prevention is to practice good hygiene. Teach your child to:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Inflamed tonsils Open pop-up dialog box Close.

Inflamed tonsils Tonsils are fleshy pads located at each side of the back of the throat. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kliegman RM, et al. Tonsils and adenoids.