Swollen Throat or Swollen Tonsils? Differences, Treatments, and Remedies

The key to effectively treating your condition is properly identifying where the inflammation actually is and finding out the underlying issue that’s causing it.

Are you experiencing pain in your throat and having difficulty swallowing? You may think it’s a sore or swollen throat, but it could actually be swollen tonsils—and knowing which one is the key to treating your condition.

Today, we’ll look at how you can accurately identify what’s causing your symptoms and go over the treatments and remedies for a swollen throat and swollen tonsils.

The Differences

While both conditions share some symptoms, there are distinct differences in what causes each one and how they're treated.

Swollen Throat

As the name suggests, this condition is characterized by swelling in the throat area, usually affecting the tissues around the lymph nodes, pharynx, and tonsils. It is primarily a symptom of an underlying condition such as:

• Pharyngitis — Often caused by bacterial infections, pharyngitis is characterized by pain, swelling, and scratchiness in the throat ¹  
• Laryngitis — Characterized by the swelling of the larynx² or voice box from overuse, irritation or infection. This condition also normally causes hoarseness, a tickling or raw sensation in the throat, and dry cough.
• Anaphylaxis — A severe allergic reaction to certain foods, medication, and insect stings, this condition is characterized by a combination of symptoms—including throat swelling—caused by the immune system releasing excess amounts of histamine³ to try and fight the allergen.

Swollen Tonsils

Just like a swelling in the throat, inflamed tonsils are primarily a symptom of a condition, such as:

• Tonsillitis — This condition causes the swelling of the tonsils⁴ along with other symptoms, such as a sore throat, a fever over 38°C, fatigue, and even a headache.
• Strep throat — Just like tonsillitis, strep throat also causes the swelling of the tonsils. However, its symptoms also include streaks of pus or white patches on the tonsils⁵, swelling of the lymph nodes, and petechiae, which are small red spots on the roof of the mouth.
• Flu — Aside from a cough, a sore throat, a fever, and body aches, a flu may also cause swollen tonsils.⁶
• Epstein-Barr virus infection — Known to spread via the exchange of bodily fluids, this condition can cause a wide range of symptoms⁶, including inflammation of the tonsils, fatigue, fever, and skin rashes.

The way each condition is treated may also vary depending on their cause and severity.

Swollen Throat

If the cause of your swollen throat is a viral or bacterial infection, your doctor may recommend prescription drugs along with specific treatments designed to address the type of infection that’s causing your condition. Talk to your doctor for more information.

In addition to prescription medication, you can also take over-the-counter medication like Flurbiprofen (Strepsils) MaxPro. Clinically proven effective against the pain, inflammation, and difficulty swallowing⁷ caused by severe sore throat, Flurbiprofen (Strepsils) MaxPro can help provide fast relief from your swollen throat symptoms.

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Some people also swear by home remedies for a swollen throat such as:

• Honey — Known for its anti-inflammatory properties⁹, honey may help alleviate your symptoms.
• Saltwater gargle — Potentially as effective as a chlorhexidine mouth rinse¹⁰ in fighting inflammation, a saltwater gargle may also help reduce the swelling in your throat.
• Ginger tea — Just like honey, ginger is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties.¹¹

Please note, however, that the results from these home remedies vary from person to person. Please consult your doctor for more information.

Swollen Throat

Just like a swollen throat, the treatment and medication required for swelling in the tonsils would depend on the condition that’s causing it. If the inflammation is due to tonsillitis, for example, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and over-the-counter pain relievers depending on the cause and severity of your condition.

You can also take Flurbiprofen (Strepsils) MaxPro, regardless of the cause of your swollen tonsils, for fast relief from your symptoms.

As for home remedies for swollen tonsils, people typically just use the same ones they would for a swollen throat: honey, saltwater gargles, and ginger tea.

The Bottom Line: Knowing Your Condition Is Key

Accurately identifying whether it’s your throat or tonsils that are swollen—as well as what’s causing the inflammation—is crucial to figuring out what types of treatment, medication, and remedies you need. Please talk to your doctor for more information.

References:

1. Pharyngitis - sore throat, available at https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/pharyngitis-sore-throat. Accessed on 6 November 2024.
2. Laryngitis, available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/laryngitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20374262. Accessed on 6 November 2024.
3. Anaphylaxis, available at https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/anaphylaxis/. Accessed on 6 November 2024.
4. Overview: Tonsillitis, available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK401249/. Accessed on 7 November 2024.
5. About Strep Throat, https://www.cdc.gov/group-a-strep/about/strep-throat.html. Accessed on 7 November 2024.
6. What causes swollen tonsils?, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/swollen-tonsils. Accessed on 7 November 2024.
7. Efficacy of flurbiprofen 8.75 mg lozenge in patients with a swollen and inflamed sore throat, available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27146963/. Accessed on 6 November 2024.
8. What is Epinephrine?, available at https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/anaphylaxis/what-is-epinephrine/. Accessed on 6 November 2024.
9. Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value, available at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7807510/. Accessed on 6 November 2024.
10. Anti-inflammatory effect of salt water and chlorhexidine 0.12% mouthrinse after periodontal surgery: a randomized prospective clinical study, available athttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33389135/. Accessed on 6 November 2024.
11. How Does Ginger Help a Sore Throat?, available at https://www.healthline.com/health/ginger-for-sore-throat. Accessed on 6 November 2024.