Have you ever opened your mouth wide and seen the two large ball-like masses in the back of your throat? These are known as your tonsils and they are designed to act as a sort of filtration system for your body. Your tonsils are designed to keep germs from entering and resulting in infections. However, if your body is exposed to a large amount of viruses and infections, you can be at risk of tonsillitis. So what exactly causes tonsillitis and is it actually contagious?
The answers to these common questions can be learned by reading the tonsillitis information below:
What Is Tonsillitis?
Although your tonsils are designed to keep germs, viruses and infections from entering your airways they can sometimes be overwhelmed by the amount. When they are contacted by large amounts of viruses and bacteria, your tonsils will swell due to inflammation. This condition is very normal and is common among children of a young age. However, tonsillitis is often reoccurring and can come back frequently.
What Causes Tonsillitis?
There are two main causes of tonsillitis and they are known as bacterial or viral infections. Streptococcus is the most prevalent bacteria cause of tonsillitis and the influenza virus is a very common viral infection. Other causes include adenoviruses, herpes simplex virus and Epstein-Barr virus.
Is Tonsillitis Contagious?
The answer to this common question is a bit tricky. Tonsillitis is contagious, but not in all types. This means that tonsillitis caused by viruses is not always contagious. Tonsillitis is only contagious when it is caused by a viral infection that you have not been exposed to before. This is due to the fact that viruses can be spread from one person to another inn droplets from the nose and throat.
If you have a viral type of tonsillitis it is possible to give that infection to another person. Bacterial types of tonsillitis are also contagious and strep throat is a form that can be passed from one person to another at high rates. However, if you have a chronic type of tonsillitis, you most likely are not contagious. The cause is due to adenoids and this can’t be passed to others.
Get Diagnosed
If you have inflamed tonsils or are experiencing pain, you should get diagnosed by your doctor. This will allow you to determine if your type of tonsillitis is contagious or not. You can then take the precautions necessary.
