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Glite Dictionary
tonsillitis

tonsillitis

4 4.3
The tonsils at the back of the throat become swollen and painful and cause a sore throat
  • noun
  • /tɑnˈsɪlˌaɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : amigdalitis
  • The doctor diagnosed her with tonsillitis, explaining that it causes a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
  • recurrent tonsillitis
  • chronic tonsillitis
  • history of tonsillitis

Examples

  • An otherwise healthy 11-year-old boy underwent an uncomplicated tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The most common primary indications for surgery were chronic tonsillitis (49%), obstructive symptoms (24%), and recurrent infection (13%).

    Academic text (2004)

  • Both patients were older than 50 years, and neither had a history of recurrent tonsillitis.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The most common indication for surgery was chronic tonsillitis.

    Academic text (2001)

  • The patient had no history of recurrent tonsillitis and no other suspicious clinical features.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The indication for surgery was the treatment of either recurrent tonsillitis or sleep apnea.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Children with scarlet fever have tonsillitis or occasionally impetigo.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Concomitant streptococcal tonsillitis is reported to occur in 10-19% of patients.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Twenty-four of these patients had a history of recurrent tonsillitis, and they were chosen to undergo adenotonsillectomy.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Tonsillectomy has been shown to be quite effective in reducing the clinical burden of chronic tonsillitis and pharyngitis in adults.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

strep throat
vstonsillitis
8 3.0

An infection in the throat caused by bacteria, often with fever and swollen tonsils

is focused on tonsil inflammation rather than general sore throat
throat infection
vstonsillitis
  • Specialized
1 2.3

Illness in the throat that makes it sore and hard to swallow

is limited to inflammation of the tonsils rather than whole throat
streptococcus tonsillitis
vstonsillitis
  • Specialized
6.1

Bacteria called streptococcus infect the tonsils and throat and make them sore

is inflammation of the tonsils without specifying a bacterial cause
streptococcal sore throat
vstonsillitis
  • Specialized
3.3

An infection in the throat that causes a sudden sore throat and fever

is specific to tonsil swelling rather than general throat disease
septic sore throat
vstonsillitis
  • Specialized
4.8

Strep bacteria infect the throat and tonsils and cause a severe, painful infection often with fever

is about any tonsil inflammation, not necessarily severe or bacterial

Compounds

streptococcus tonsillitis
  • Specialized
6.1

Bacteria called streptococcus infect the tonsils and throat and make them sore

How Inflamed

peritonsillar abscess
  • Specialized
1 8.9
tonsillitis
  • Specialized
4 4.3

Surface Forms

tonsillitis singular
tonsillitides plural
tonsillitis plural

Morphology

tonsillitis = tonsil (semi-transparent) = tonsill + itis

The connection to 'tonsil' is clear, but '-itis' is a medical suffix meaning 'inflammation' that may be unfamiliar to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word tonsillitis comes from tonsil (the small gland at the back of the throat) plus the medical ending -itis, which means 'inflammation' and appears in words like arthritis and bronchitis. So, tonsillitis literally means 'inflammation of the tonsils', which is why it causes a sore throat.