Causes for Tonsillitis

The commonest cause of tonsillitis is infection of the tonsils by micro-organisms. Certain bacteria (most common being the streptococcal group of bacteria), viruses, and allergens are known to produce tonsillitis. Allergens are usually in the form of certain food articles. Common food articles that can trigger tonsillitis are artificially colored sweets, sour fruits, bananas, preservatives added to certain drinks, cold food or drinks, ice-creams, etc. Environmental factors that may trigger an attack of tonsillitis are exposure to excessive cold weather, damp climate or change of weather. It must be borne in mind that bacteria and viruses tend to flourish in crowded areas and hence patients who are prone to tonsillitis can easily catch the infection in schools, parks, theatres, etc. All these factors contribute to lowering the immunity of the body and thus the tonsils fall prey to infection by the micro-organisms.

Another causative factor that can be of importance in the diagnosis of recurrent tonsillitis or chronic tonsillitis is genetic tendency. Recurrent tonsillitis is frequent in patients whose parents have also suffered from the same condition during childhood or adolescence.

Thus it is not just one, but multiple factors that combine together to lower the immunity of the body and this in turn causes recurrent and chronic tonsillitis in patients.