Having a sore throat is frustrating. It hurts to swallow, and it can cause other issues that are not fun to deal with and may be a sign of a larger problem. At Alpine ENT in Northern Colorado, we specialize in diagnosing and treating your ear, nose, and throat issues. Here are our tips for discovering whether or not your sore throat is tonsillitis! If you are having health troubles with your throat, reach out to us today!
As some of the best ENT doctors in Northern Colorado, we always advise that you find a medical professional to diagnose and treat your condition. If you are having health issues in your ears, nose, or throat, get treatment at Alpine ENT today!
What is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is simply defined as the inflammation of the two oval-shaped lymph nodes at the back of your throat. It has many causes from allergies to infection and can be a sign of a small problem that is treated with simple antibiotics or may require surgery. It is an uncomfortable condition and often requires a specialist for a specific diagnosis!
![Woman with hand on throat experiencing tonsilitis.](https://d1acgpjej78y3w.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/what-is-tonsilitis.jpg)
Symptoms of Tonsillitis
Some symptoms of tonsillitis include a sore throat, trouble swallowing, and tender lymph nodes. You may also experience pain in your ears, fatigue, fever, scratchy voice, congestion, or runny nose. Since it is commonly an infection, tonsillitis will often display cold-like symptoms in addition to a sore throat.
How To Differentiate
Tonsillitis can usually be differentiated from other conditions by feeling the neck for swollen lymph nodes around the bottom of the back part of the jaw and surrounding the trachea. You can also look into the back of the throat to see if those two lymph nodes are swollen.
Other Causes of a Sore Throat
There are numerous causes of a sore throat that do not involve tonsillitis. Some of these include the common cold, strep throat, pharyngitis, and many other conditions. If you are having a hard time with your sore throat, it’s best to call an ENT doctor like Alpine ENT to help diagnose and treat your sore throat!
As some of the best ENT doctors in Northern Colorado, we always advise that you find a medical professional to diagnose and treat your condition. If you are having health issues in your ears, nose, or throat, get treatment at Alpine ENT today!
Call Alpine Ear, Nose & Throat at for more information or to schedule an appointment.