Our Services ~ Throat

Every year many children are faced with chronic recurrent sore throats and infections. One of the reasons may be tonsillitis - one of the most common reasons that children see a physician. Most children will experience several bouts of tonsillitis, and the majority of tonsil infections are treated safely and easily with antibiotics.

The tonsils serve as place where the body begins it fight against infection that enters through the mouth. In response to infection, the tonsils swell and can become covered in pus. Symptoms may include fevers and pain, as well as body aches, chills and enlarged neck lymph nodes.

Viruses and bacteria are the most common causes of tonsillitis, with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, or Strep throat, being the most well known cause of tonsil infection. If untreated, Strep throat can cause heart or kidney problems in some patients. For this reason, antibiotic treatment is suggested for all strep throat infections. Other common tonsil infections include the virus that causes mono, the Epstein-Barr Virus.

Chronic tonsil infections can result in chronic sore throats, bad breath, tonsilloliths (white cheesy ball in the tonsils), or chronic neck lymph nodes (swollen glands). Tonsils can also enlarge to the point that they can cause an obstruction to ones breathing, especially at night. Enlarged tonsils can also cause difficulty with clear speech or normal swallowing.

Antibiotics can be helpful in some situations. However, some people suffer from recurrent tonsil infections, chronic infections that never resolve, or enlarged tonsils that do not respond to medical therapy. For these people, surgery is sometimes needed to resolve their symptoms.