Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Swollen And Purple Tonsils?

My symptoms started as a very sore throat, specifically tonsils. Swallowing, yawning, and opening my mouth hurt. Within the next day I had stiffness and aches throughout my body, lethargy, and suffered with mild fever and chills. This lasted for a couple of days before subsiding, to be replaced with a mucus-filled cough and voice loss, both of which are subsiding, but it's been nearly a week and I'm wondering if I should go to a clinic. It seems to be progressing by itself ok, but I looked at the back of my throat today and my tonsils are almost purple, swollen and seem pitted.
posted on Tue, 17 Feb 2015
Twitter Tue, 24 Feb 2015 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 25 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Swollen,purple tonsils with other symptoms like sore throat, cough,bodyaches etc are acute tonsillitis which is mostly due to viral infection
(adenovirus,rhinovirus)or some times bacterial
( streptococcus, staphylococcus etc) or spitocheatas etc.
The treatment is mainly antibiotics ( macrolides or quinolones or amoxycillin etc) with analgesic, antiinflammatories and antihistamines with mast cell stabilizers and other symptomatics for 7 to 10 days.
If there is chronic infection of tonsils then surgical removal should be done.(tonsillectomy)
So,consult ENT specialist for full course treatment.
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Swollen And Purple Tonsils?

Hi, Swollen,purple tonsils with other symptoms like sore throat, cough,bodyaches etc are acute tonsillitis which is mostly due to viral infection (adenovirus,rhinovirus)or some times bacterial ( streptococcus, staphylococcus etc) or spitocheatas etc. The treatment is mainly antibiotics ( macrolides or quinolones or amoxycillin etc) with analgesic, antiinflammatories and antihistamines with mast cell stabilizers and other symptomatics for 7 to 10 days. If there is chronic infection of tonsils then surgical removal should be done.(tonsillectomy) So,consult ENT specialist for full course treatment.