Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It commonly causes sore throat and painful swallowing.

Palatine tonsils: Paired masses of lymphoid tissue at the sides of the throat, between the palatal arches. These are the tonsils most often inflamed in tonsillitis.
Antibiotic: A medicine that kills bacteria or inhibits their growth. Antibiotics can treat confirmed or strongly suspected bacterial tonsillitis, but not viral cases.
Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx, the passage connecting the nose and mouth to the larynx and esophagus. Tonsillitis is localized to the tonsils; pharyngitis affects the broader throat.
Waldeyer's tonsillar ring: A ring of lymphoid tissue around the entrance to the throat, including the tonsils and adenoids. The palatine tonsils are one part of this larger immune tissue system.
Streptococcal pharyngitis: A throat infection caused by group A Streptococcus, often producing fever and painful swallowing. It can resemble tonsillitis, but identifying it matters because antibiotics can treat it.
Penicillin: A beta-lactam antibiotic used to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria. It is a standard treatment for group A streptococcal throat infection.
Adenoiditis: Inflammation of the adenoids, lymphoid tissue behind the nose and above the soft palate. It affects nearby lymphoid tissue rather than the visible palatine tonsils.
Lymphoid tissue: Tissue containing immune cells that help detect and respond to infections. Tonsils are lymphoid tissue positioned to encounter inhaled or swallowed pathogens.
Rapid antigen detection test: A quick test that detects group A Streptococcus antigens in a throat sample. It helps confirm a bacterial cause when examination alone cannot distinguish it from viral illness.
Analgesic: A medicine that relieves pain without necessarily treating its underlying cause. Pain relief can make swallowing more manageable while tonsillitis resolves.

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