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What are some conditions that affect tonsils?

There are a few different conditions that can affect your tonsils. The most common is tonsillitis — an infection of the tonsils. Bacteria and viruses can cause tonsillitis, and the infection can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). The most common tonsillitis symptoms include a sore throat and swollen tonsils.

Other conditions that can affect your tonsils include:

• Strep throat. Caused by a bacterium known as Streptococcus, strep throat can cause sore throat, neck pain and fever.
• Tonsil stones. Also called tonsilloliths, tonsil stones are small white or yellow lumps in your tonsils. They can lead to tonsil pain, bad breath or bad taste.
• Peritonsillar abscess. A pocket of infection that pushes your tonsil to the other side of your throat, a peritonsillar abscess can cause difficulty swallowing or breathing. (If this happens, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Prompt treatment is essential.)
• Mononucleosis. Caused by a herpes virus called Epstein-Barr, mononucleosis can result in swollen tonsils, sore throat, fatigue and skin rash.
• Enlarged (hypertrophic) tonsils. Larger-than-normal tonsils can block your airway, leading to snoring or sleep apnea.
• Tonsil cancer. The most common form of oropharyngeal cancer, tonsil cancer is often linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV). Symptoms include tonsil pain, a lump in your neck and blood in your saliva (spit).

Are there tests to check the health of my tonsils?

Yes. If your healthcare provider suspects an issue with your tonsils, they may recommend:

• A bacterial culture test. Your provider rubs a cotton swab on your throat and tonsils. Then, they send the sample to a lab for analysis. A throat culture can check for different bacterial infections, including tonsillitis, strep throat and pneumonia.
• Blood tests. If your provider thinks your tonsil pain is due to mononucleosis, they can request a monospot test. This blood test detects certain antibodies, which can help confirm your diagnosis. (If the monospot test comes back negative, they can check for Epstein-Barr antibodies in your blood. This can also help determine whether you have mononucleosis.)

What are common treatments for conditions affecting the tonsils?

Treatment for inflamed or infected tonsils depends on the underlying cause. For example:

• If you have a bacterial infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics.
• If you have a peritonsillar abscess, your provider will likely drain it so the infection doesn’t spread.
• If you have tonsil stones, your provider might try laser resurfacing. If that doesn’t work, they’ll likely recommend a tonsillectomy (tonsil removal).
• If you have chronic (repeated) tonsil infections, your provider may recommend a tonsillectomy.