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A 19-year-old female asked:
can smoking cause tonsillitis ?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Nestor Del rosario answered
Addiction Medicine 34 years experience
Tonsillitis: When we say this, we specifically mean an inflammation of the tonsil due to infection. So smoking on its own does not cause it. Can it contribute? With all the bad things that it does including its effect on blood flow, yes. But it is not causing your tonsillitis per se.
4430 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Creighton Wright commented
General Surgery 56 years experience
Causes lip, tongue, pharyngeal and lung cancers!
Feb 20, 2014
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
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CA
A 25-year-old member asked:
Can tonsillitis be fatal?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Patrick Melder answered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 27 years experience
Ask George Washingto: It is rare to dies from tonsillitis. This could occur with acute airway obstruction... Unlikely, or spread of the infection or abscess formation. George washington actually died from complications from a "quinsy tonsillectomy." a surgical procedure to drain an abscessed tonsil...
6280 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 24-year-old member asked:
Does tonsillitis ever spread?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Anifat Balogun answered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 29 years experience
Tonsillitis spread: Yes, tonsil infections can "spread" to include pus accumulation in the areas next to the tonsils called the peritonsillar space to cause a peritonsillar abscess. Lymph nodes in the neck can get infected as well.
Untreated tonsillitis has the potential to lead to blood poisoning or sepsis. Streptococcal tonsillitis can be complicated by inflammation of the kidneys.
6128 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Pablo Arango commented
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 24 years experience
It can also "spread" because it is contagious through your saliva
Nov 12, 2012
CA
A 25-year-old member asked:
Is tonsillitis caused by a pathogen?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mark Diamond answered
Pediatrics 46 years experience
Often Can Be: Many cases of tonsillitis are caused by infectious agsnets whic are pathogenic, such as strep or ebv(mono). See your doctor for correct therapy to prevent possible serious complications.
6262 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
CA
A 25-year-old member asked:
Is tonsillitis viral?
2 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Rishi Kumar answered
Anesthesiology 8 years experience
Viral and Bacterial: While viruses (adenovirus, influenza, and even epstein-barr) account for most acute cases of tonsillitis, there are well known bacterial causes too - "strep throat" being a good example. Tonsillitis' course and appropriate treatments are based on the etiology - antibiotics for bacterial causes, symptomatic relief and time for viral.
6274 viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Gregg Alexander commented
Pediatrics 33 years experience
Viral tonsillitis is most common and no antibiotic will help, but the only way to know for sure is to get it tested. (It could "look" bacterial and be viral, or "look" viral and be bacterial.) Testing is the only way to know for sure.
Oct 23, 2011
CA
A 23-year-old member asked:
What will you do if you have tonsillitis?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mark Diamond answered
Pediatrics 46 years experience
Depends: If caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics are needed. If caused by a viral infection, time improves. Other causes such such as allergies or trauma require specific interventions. See your doctor.
6262 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Dec 5, 2020
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