Duration
Mostly almond pain occurs acutely with tonsillitis and goes back within a few days to a few weeks. In some cases, however, it can also lead to a persistent or even chronic inflammation of the tonsils. The pain is usually less pronounced, but can still be permanent. In the case of long-standing or recurring tonsil pain, the doctor may recommend surgical removal of the tonsils.
Causes
The cause of tonsil pain is usually tonsillitis, which is caused by an infection. Usually the pathogens are viruses or bacteria.In some cases, some pathogens cause a very specific clinical picture, which can be used to initiate targeted treatment. For example, tonsillitis caused by bacteria of the streptococcus group leads to typical purulent coatings, so-called stippling, on the tonsils.
In this case, antibiotic therapy should be started. An infection with the Ebstein-Barr virus, on the other hand, leads to Pfeiffer ́schen glandular fever with severely swollen almonds and consequently pronounced swallowing difficulties. If this illness is the cause of the almond pain, antibiotics do not help but even lead to a skin rash.
The treatment is limited to physical protection and relief of the symptoms. If tonsillitis occurs more frequently, a weakness of the immune system or a predispositional susceptibility may also be the cause. If necessary, further diagnostics should then be carried out by the doctor.
The doctor can usually make a suspicion about the cause by asking specific questions about the type and course of the tonsillitis. The diagnosis is often made based on the examination. This means that the doctor can see the throat and the tonsils through the patient’s wide open mouth.
Depending on how the tonsils look, a diagnosis can often already be made. In the case of inflammation caused by viruses, the tonsils are usually only reddened and enlarged. In the case of an infection by bacteria, purulent coatings, so-called stippling, often appear.
In this case treatment with an antibiotic should be carried out. A diagnosis that goes beyond the medical consultation and examination of the throat is usually not necessary. Only if the amygdala pain does not improve or recurs very often, further methods of diagnosis can be considered. An ear, nose and throat specialist, for example, has special optical examination instruments at his disposal. A blood test can also help to make a diagnosis.
