Sore throats often involve the tonsils. These are the pair of rounded tissues on either side of the back of the throat. The tonsils help fight infections, but they can become infected themselves. Acute tonsillitis goes along with many throat infections, including strep throat. It is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 10. It usually lasts 4 to 6 days. However, tonsillitis can become a chronic, or a recurring problem in children or adults.

Acute tonsillitis begins with a mild to severe sore throat. Other symptoms may include:
* fever,
* swollen, tender neck,
* headache,
* muscle and joint pain,
* loss of appetite,
* ear ache,
* breathing through the mouth, and
* nausea or vomiting.

A person with tonsillitis should go to a healthcare provider for a throat culture to check for strep throat. This is especially important for children. Cases of strep throat require antibiotics. It is very important to finish all antibiotic pills, even if symptoms go away. For children, use medication other than aspirin to relieve pain or reduce fever. Get plenty of bed rest. Drink plenty of liquids, even though it hurts. Eat soft foods, such as ice cream, soup, or pudding. It helps to gargle with warm salt water. Most cases will heal by themselves within a few days.

Chronic tonsillitis produces recurrent sore throats. There are often small plugs of pus that emerge from small dents in the tonsils. These may be the size of rice, have a foul odor, and may occur with no other symptoms. Sometimes, the person coughs them out without realizing they are from the tonsils. In severe cases, an abscess develops or the tonsils become quite large. The only effective treatment is removing the tonsils by surgery. This is a relatively simple procedure, requiring only a short general anesthesia. However, it may require a week or more of recovery.

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