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Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

My tonsils/ throat

02/06/2006

Question:

For a few months now I`ve had a tonsillith on my left tonsil. I went to my doctor, not knowing what it was and he says it`s a tonsilith and it`ll eventually go away and not to worry. But, since then, if feels as if my throat glands may be swollen. That`s my only symptom. Is it normal for my glands to swell because of a tonsillith? Thanks.

Answer:

It is not unusual for your throat to feel swollen because of the tonsillolith, which often feels like a lump and can cause some surrounding inflammation.  If you have deep pits or pockets in your tonsils, these can continue to form.  Self cleaning with a Q-tip or gargling can sometimes help keep it under control, but oftentimes having the tonsils removed is the only definitive treatment.

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Response by:

University of Cincinnati Allen M Seiden, MD
Professor of Otolaryngology
Department of Otolaryngology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Allen M Seiden, MD