Tonsillitis, an infection in one or both tonsils, can cause the following symptoms:

• swelling of the tonsils
• redder than normal tonsils
• a white or yellow coating on the tonsils
• a slight voice change due to swelling
• uncomfortable or painful swallowing
• swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
• fever
• bad breath
• sore throat*

* Some doctors like to differentiate between strep sore throats and non-strep sore throats. However, we feel that if a patient is having recurrent sore throats adversely affecting quality of life, he or she should consider having the tonsils removed, which greatly reduces the frequency and severity of sore throats.