| Do you have a sore throat that won't go away? | | | | filter - engulfing the offending organisms in white |
| Do you find it difficult or painful to swallow? Are | | | | blood cells. This may cause a low-grade infection in |
| you suffering from headache, fever and chills at | | | | your tonsils, which stimulates your immune |
| the same time? | | | | system to form antibodies against future |
| If you said "yes" to the above questions, you | | | | infections. But sometimes the tonsils are |
| probably have tonsilitis - a disease characterized | | | | overwhelmed by a bacterial or viral infection. The |
| by red, swollen tonsils. | | | | result is tonsillitis,' explained the Mayo Clinic. |
| The tonsils are collections of spongy tissues | | | | You can limit your chances of contracting tonsilitis |
| located on each side of the back of the throat. | | | | by staying away from an infected person. |
| Doctors once believed they served no useful | | | | Frequent hand washing is another effective |
| purpose and even tagged them as dangerous | | | | measure against tonsilitis. |
| sources of infection. Due to this mistaken belief, | | | | "Other common-sense precautions apply, too. |
| the golden age of tonsillectomy flourished and | | | | Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. |
| many children went through this unnecessary | | | | Don't share drinking glasses or eating utensils. |
| operation. | | | | Avoid close contact with anyone who's sick. Look |
| Today, we know that tonsils filter out mild | | | | for a child care setting with sound hygiene |
| infections and are the guardians of the gateways | | | | practices and clear policies about keeping sick |
| to the digestive and respiratory passages. Since | | | | children at home," said the Mayo Clinic. |
| the tonsils are part of the body's defense | | | | When should tonsillectomy be considered? The |
| systems, removing them is like throwing away | | | | late Dr. Morris Fishbein, the former editor of the |
| your sword and suit of armor while confronting a | | | | Journal of the American Medical Association, says |
| dragon. | | | | the time for surgery is ripe in the face of |
| In the course of their duties, however, the tonsils | | | | recurring ear infections or chronic enlargement of |
| get sick and become inflamed. This is known as | | | | the tonsils that interfere with breathing. |
| tonsilitis and is characterized by a sore throat, pain | | | | Dr. Marshall Stone, senior otolaryngologist at the |
| with swallowing, pus on the tonsils, fever, | | | | Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston, said |
| headache and nausea. | | | | surgery may be required if the enlarged tonsils |
| Tonsilitis may be caused by a viral or bacterial | | | | make breathing difficult. |
| infection. The latter can be deadly, especially in | | | | "Emergency surgery is necessary only rarely, |
| children since strep bacteria are responsible for | | | | when sudden blockage of the air to the lungs |
| many serious diseases like rheumatic fever, heart | | | | occurs or an abscess is not responding to medical |
| and kidney damage. Fortunately, strep bacteria | | | | management; otherwise, a tonsillectomy is an |
| can easily be crushed with today's antibiotics. | | | | elective procedure that should occur only after |
| "When bacteria and viruses enter your body | | | | careful evaluation of several issues," he said. |
| through your nose or mouth, your tonsils act as a | | | | |