Associated symptoms
Almond pain does not usually occur as an isolated symptom. In most cases, a cold and the associated inflammation of the tonsils leads to tonsil pain. Accompanying symptoms include fever, aching limbs and fatigue.
In some cases, there is also a simultaneous inflammation of the middle ear, which can lead to earaches. In some forms of tonsillitis, in addition to aching tonsils, swallowing difficulties, slurred speech and possibly even impaired breathing occur. An example of this would be the Pfeiffer ́sche glandular fever caused by the Ebstein-Barr virus.
Almond pain is quite often accompanied by earache. This is due to the fact that the almonds are located on either side of a duct connecting the throat with the middle ear. This so-called Eustachian tube or tuba auditiva serves to equalize the pressure in the middle ear.
In the case of tonsillitis, in addition to the pain, the tonsils also swell up. This can block the Eustachian tube and lead to a feeling of pressure in the ear and possibly ear pain. There is also the danger that the middle ear also becomes inflamed by rising bacteria, which can lead to very pronounced ear pain.
People who suffer from amygdalaugh often complain about swallowing difficulties at the same time. The common cause of both symptoms is then usually an inflammation of the tonsils, which is accompanied by swelling. Since the tonsils are located directly on the throat, this causes pain and difficulty in swallowing. In addition, tonsillitis can also cause swelling of the cervical lymph nodes, which also impairs swallowing.
Unilateral almond pain
Almond pain that is only unilateral is rather rare and can be an indication of a rare special form of tonsillitis. This is the angina plaut-vincenti caused by special bacteria. Either only the left or only the right side can be affected.
All other forms of tonsillitis almost always lead to bilateral tonsillitis. In the case of pronounced unilateral tonsillitis, the family doctor or ear, nose and throat specialist should be consulted as soon as possible. Angina Plaut-Vincenti must be treated with a different antibiotic than the much more common tonsillitis caused by bacteria from the group of streptococci.
