Does chronic tonsillitis cause fever?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on May 11, 2025
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Chronic tonsillitis is a relatively common ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) disease with various clinical symptoms. Most patients may experience enlarged tonsils, a sensation of a foreign body in the tonsils, and recurrent sore throat, though the pain generally isn't very severe. Patients with chronic tonsillitis usually do not have a fever. However, if an acute episode of chronic tonsillitis occurs, it may cause fever, primarily due to acute bacterial infection leading to fever. In terms of treatment, blood tests and laryngoscopic examinations are necessary to observe the extent of the inflammation. Generally, antibiotic treatment to fight the infection is considered, with a treatment period of about one week. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
1min 29sec home-news-image

How to completely cure chronic tonsillitis?

The definitive treatment for chronic tonsillitis mainly involves surgical removal. Before undertaking the surgery, doctors will conduct a strict assessment to see if there are indications for surgery. Common indications include repeated episodes of chronic tonsillitis, acute outbreaks, or the formation of a peritonsillar abscess, under which circumstances surgery is strongly recommended. Repeated episodes are defined as more than four occurrences per year, at which point surgery should be considered. Furthermore, if the tonsils are so large that they interfere with swallowing, speech, or breathing, such as causing snoring or unclear speech, surgery should also be considered. Moreover, chronic tonsillitis can lead to other diseases since the tonsils are an immune organ, and prolonged chronic inflammation might trigger certain immune-related diseases, such as chronic nephritis, skin diseases, and psoriasis. In such cases, the relevant departments will advise patients to first visit an otolaryngology (ENT) department to have the tonsils removed, which is beneficial for further treatment of the related diseases. Additionally, if the tonsils exhibit signs of benign growths with chronic inflammation leading to lymphatic tissue hyperplasia and cyst formation, surgical removal is recommended to achieve a definitive cure.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How many days of fever for chronic tonsillitis?

Chronic tonsillitis generally does not cause fever, but if chronic tonsillitis has an acute attack, it may cause fever. This situation is mainly due to an acute bacterial infection, with common symptoms including sudden sore throat, swollen tonsils, and pus formation, which may be accompanied by fever. Generally, the duration of the fever varies from person to person, typically around 3 days. During the acute episode, timely medicinal treatment should be considered, primarily with antibiotics. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, fever-reducing medications should be considered. It is also necessary to monitor the patient's blood routine and temperature fluctuations, with regular check-ups.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
49sec home-news-image

Does chronic tonsillitis cause fever?

Chronic tonsillitis is a relatively common ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) disease with various clinical symptoms. Most patients may experience enlarged tonsils, a sensation of a foreign body in the tonsils, and recurrent sore throat, though the pain generally isn't very severe. Patients with chronic tonsillitis usually do not have a fever. However, if an acute episode of chronic tonsillitis occurs, it may cause fever, primarily due to acute bacterial infection leading to fever. In terms of treatment, blood tests and laryngoscopic examinations are necessary to observe the extent of the inflammation. Generally, antibiotic treatment to fight the infection is considered, with a treatment period of about one week. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Does chronic tonsillitis hurt?

Chronic tonsillitis can lead to throat pain. Chronic tonsillitis typically results from repeated bouts of acute tonsillitis or persistent, unresolved inflammation, leading to chronic inflammation of the tonsils. It can cause continuous dryness, itching, pain, a sensation of a foreign body, obstruction, and burning in the throat area. In severe cases, it may lead to hoarseness and irritative cough. Upon examination, both tonsils are seen to be swollen and congested, with visible crypts on the surface, and yellowish-white abnormal secretions may be expressed from these crypts when the tonsils are compressed. In terms of treatment, if the tonsils are repeatedly inflamed and accompanied by fever, the patient may need to undergo a bilateral tonsillectomy. The surgery requires hospitalization, general anesthesia, and postoperative use of antibiotics to prevent local infection. Recovery and hospital discharge can typically occur about a week after the procedure. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Symptoms of acute tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis is an acute infectious disease of the tonsils, primarily caused by bacterial infection. Clinically, it mainly manifests as pain in the throat area, and sometimes the pain is very severe, even radiating to the base of the ears and down to the jaw. Additionally, there might be systemic symptoms such as loss of appetite, overall lethargy, weakness in the limbs, fever, night sweats, and chills. Generally, the presence of systemic symptoms indicates a severe infection of tonsillitis, requiring treatment through intravenous fluids. Clinical examinations can reveal enlarged tonsils, congested surfaces, and the presence of pin-point-like gray or white purulent secretions.