by : Sharon Bell

Do you have a sore throat that won't go away? Do you find it difficult or painful to swallow? Are you suffering from headache, fever and chills at the same time?

If you said "yes" to the above questions, you probably have tonsilitis - a disease characterized by red, swollen tonsils.

The tonsils are collections of spongy tissues located on each side of the back of the throat. Doctors once believed they served no useful purpose and even tagged them as dangerous sources of infection. Due to this mistaken belief, the golden age of tonsillectomy flourished and many children went through this unnecessary operation.

Today, we know that tonsils filter out mild infections and are the guardians of the gateways to the digestive and respiratory passages. Since the tonsils are part of the body's defense systems, removing them is like throwing away your sword and suit of armor while confronting a dragon.

In the course of their duties, however, the tonsils get sick and become inflamed. This is known as tonsilitis and is characterized by a sore throat, pain with swallowing, pus on the tonsils, fever, headache and nausea.

Tonsilitis may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. The latter can be deadly, especially in children since strep bacteria are responsible for many serious diseases like rheumatic fever, heart and kidney damage. Fortunately, strep bacteria can easily be crushed with today's antibiotics.

"When bacteria and viruses enter your body through your nose or mouth, your tonsils act as a filter - engulfing the offending organisms in white blood cells. This may cause a low-grade infection in your tonsils, which stimulates your immune system to form antibodies against future infections. But sometimes the tonsils are overwhelmed by a bacterial or viral infection. The result is tonsillitis,' explained the Mayo Clinic.

You can limit your chances of contracting tonsilitis by staying away from an infected person. Frequent hand washing is another effective measure against tonsilitis.

"Other common-sense precautions apply, too. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Don't share drinking glasses or eating utensils. Avoid close contact with anyone who's sick. Look for a child care setting with sound hygiene practices and clear policies about keeping sick children at home," said the Mayo Clinic.

When should tonsillectomy be considered? The late Dr. Morris Fishbein, the former editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, says the time for surgery is ripe in the face of recurring ear infections or chronic enlargement of the tonsils that interfere with breathing.

Dr. Marshall Stone, senior otolaryngologist at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston, said surgery may be required if the enlarged tonsils make breathing difficult.

"Emergency surgery is necessary only rarely, when sudden blockage of the air to the lungs occurs or an abscess is not responding to medical management; otherwise, a tonsillectomy is an elective procedure that should occur only after careful evaluation of several issues," he said.

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