With back-to-school season upon us, illness cases tend to spike. The classroom allows children to spread illnesses to others very easily. This means that it is important to be able to identify early signs of an illness so that you can treat it before the symptoms become severe and spread to others. Swollen tonsils are a common early symptom of illnesses. Most commonly, symptoms that affect the throat like swollen tonsils indicate the presence of strep throat. Strep throat is a common bacterial infection that can easily spread from person to person and requires antibiotics to treat. If you notice your child has swollen tonsils, walk into AFC Urgent Care Southcenter for same-day care. Our walk-in clinic offers treatment for strep throat on a walk-in basis with short wait times.
Why Do We Get Swollen Tonsils?
Tonsils are small fleshy lumps located on either side of the back of your throat. Everyone has two tonsils which serve as part of the lymphatic system. Your tonsils detect any pathogens like viruses or bacteria and help filter them out of your body fluids. Just like your lymph nodes, your tonsils can become swollen when your body is fighting off an infection. As a result, your tonsils can swell up and make it hard to swallow. Your tonsils can create antibodies to fight off infection, which is why if you have an infection that leads to a sore throat, you may experience enlarged tonsils. In many cases, having swollen tonsils may be your first indication that you’re getting sick, as your tonsils kick into overdrive to fight off an infection before you even experience symptoms. Your swollen tonsils can also linger longer than your other illness symptoms as your body takes time to regulate itself and recover.
Symptoms of Strep Throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that mainly affects your throat. It is highly contagious from person to person through exchanging saliva. This often occurs in school settings where children may be sharing food and drinks. It also can spread quickly on sports teams and at home. Because it is caused by a bacterial infection, strep throat treatment usually requires prescription antibiotics. This means that if you notice any symptoms of strep throat, or think you may have been exposed, you should seek immediate medical care for diagnosis and treatment before your symptoms worsen. Swollen tonsils often are one of the first signs of strep throat.
Common symptoms of strep throat:
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Swollen tonsils
- Pain while swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
Same-Day Strep Throat Treatment in Kent, WA
If you notice that your child comes home from school and is experiencing swollen tonsils, it is a good idea to bring them to urgent care. A medical professional will be able to diagnose the cause of your child’s symptoms so that they can begin treatment early. Not only will this speed up their recovery, but it will also help manage their symptoms faster and ensure that they cannot spread their infection to others.
When you visit urgent care for strep throat diagnosis and treatment, your medical provider will examine your throat for signs of swollen tonsils and a sore throat. Based on their evaluation, they may choose to swab your throat to look for strep throat bacteria. If they find strep throat, they will prescribe antibiotics and provide guidance on how to manage symptoms during the healing process.
Walk Into AFC Southcenter for Prompt Diagnosis & Treatment for Swollen Tonsils
If you’re experiencing swollen tonsils, it likely is an indication that you’re getting sick. Strep throat is a common illness that causes strep throat and it requires medical diagnosis and treatment. At AFC Urgent Care Southcenter, our walk-in urgent care clinic offers same-day care for strep throat symptoms like swollen tonsils. Simply walk into the clinic, we are open Monday through Saturday and have short wait times for care.
