Swollen Tonsils with no Sore Throat

Sore throat is a bacterial or viral infection that attacks the upper respiratory tract of the body. Sore throat can cause irritation in body parts like mouth, nose and throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection which causes inflammation of tonsils and makes it difficult to swallow. Tonsils are a part of the immune system in the body and help protect the body against infection. When any bacteria or virus tries to enter the body through the nose or mouth, the tonsils absorb these micro-organisms, and on many occasions, get infected themselves. So, in cases of allergy, bacterial or viral infectious diseases like sinus, strep or sore throat, the tonsils may also get infected. This infection of tonsils is called 'tonsillitis'. So, swollen tonsils with no sore throat is very much possible. Here are the causes, symptoms and treatment for tonsillitis.

Causes of Swollen Tonsils with no Sore Throat
A person might either get sore throat swollen tonsils or suffer from swollen tonsils due to allergies, sinus infections, etc. There are several other causative factors of swollen tonsils.

• Viral or bacterial infection caused due to contact with an infected person can cause swollen tonsils.
• Many a times, small children get chronic tonsillitis due to common cold or flu virus.
• Adult and teenagers mostly get swollen tonsils due to bacterial infection or strep throat.
• In rare cases, bacteria causing diseases like scarlet fever or diphtheria, might also result in swollen tonsils.
• Food allergies may also cause swollen tonsils.

Symptoms of Swollen Tonsils with no Sore Throat
Given below is a list of symptoms which are observed in a person suffering from swollen tonsils with no sore throat.

• Mild to severe throat infection which differs from severe sore throat
• White or yellow coloring on tonsils
• Swelling of the tonsils
• Fever and chills
• Harshness of voice
• Difficulty while speaking
• Bad breath
• Swelling of lymph glands in the neck
• Redness of the throat
• Cough
• Muscle pain
• Difficulty in swallowing and breathing can be experienced, if the size of the tonsils becomes double its normal size

If you are suffering from swollen tonsils with white spots, then you are probably suffering from tonsil stones, which are small pieces of calcareous matter that form in the tonsils.

Treatment for Swollen Tonsils with no Sore Throat
Here are some home and medical remedies for curing swollen tonsils. However, the most effective and permanent treatment for swollen tonsils is an operation.

Home Remedies: Home remedies include salt and water gargling. Gargling is a swollen tonsils remedy which is very effective in case of any swollen tonsils without a sore throat or with a sore throat. One has to be very careful and avoid eating any spicy, oily, sour or cold foodstuff. Catching any further infections can aggravate the problem, therefore avoid going out in cold weather. Drink a lot of fluids and water when suffering from tonsillitis.

Medical Treatment: If you have fever and are experiencing difficulty in swallowing, seek medical attention. The doctor may prescribe some anti-inflammatory pills and antibiotics. In emergency cases, where it becomes impossible to swallow food, one can be hospitalized and intravenous fluids may be given.

Surgery: I had my tonsils removed 5 years ago. After the procedure, though my throat was not painful, it felt raw. With a 2 weeks dosage of antibiotics, I was fine and able to eat normally. Surgery of tonsils is not that painful, but since tonsils are a part of the immune system, removing them through surgery should be the last resort. Tonsillectomy, that is removal of tonsils by operation, is a permanent solution. However, it should be performed only if the patient has been suffering from recurring bouts of tonsillitis.

I hope this article has cleared your doubts about swollen tonsils with no sore throat. So whenever you are suffering from sore throat swollen tonsils or any other type of swollen tonsils, meet your doctor and get proper treatment.