Lingual Tonsillitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

There are two sets of tonsils in the body. The palatine tonsils are the ones you can see in the throat while lingual tonsils are located at the back of the tongue and are not visible. While tonsillitis most often affects the palatine tonsils, in some cases the lingual tonsils become infected as well.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of tonsillitis include a severe sore throat, fever and problems with swallowing. When the lingual tonsils are involved, swollen lymph nodes are also common.

Types

• Lingual tonsillitis can be acute, subacute and chronic. While the symptoms are not as severe in the subacute and chronic forms, they can linger up to three months according to University of Illinois Medical Center.

Causes

• Tonsillitis can be caused by either bacteria or a virus. A common bacterial cause is streptococci while the Epstein-Barr virus can be the culprit.

Cure

• Antibiotics will be required to cure bacterial tonsillitis. Viral tonsillitis will resolve on its own but fluids and pain medication can assist with discomfort.

Prevention/Solution

• The best way to prevent tonsillitis is to avoid contact with people with strep throat because if left untreated, strep can turn into tonsillitis.