Sore throat with white spots on tonsils without fever

Tonsils are the two fleshy bumps at the back of your mouth - there’s one on the left and one on the right. They are responsible for trapping and killing germs, and helping prevent throat and lung infections.

But sometimes the tonsils themselves can become infected, and this may cause white spots to appear at the back of your throat.

There are many reasons for getting white spots on your tonsils. This article explains five possible causes.

White spots on tonsils caused by strep throat

Strep throat is a contagious bacterial infection. As well as white patches on your tonsils, symptoms may include:

  • a fever
  • a red and sore throat
  • a headache
  • chills
  • difficulty swallowing
  • swollen lymph nodes or glands in your neck
  • loss of appetite

You will usually need antibiotics to treat strep throat, but once treatment begins symptoms usually resolve in about a week.

When to worry

Speak to a doctor if you experience:

  • symptoms of strep throat
  • difficulty breathing
  • a sore throat that lasts longer than two days
  • a sore throat with a fine, sand-paper like pink rash on the skin
  • difficulty swallowing

White spots on tonsils caused by tonsillitis

If you have white spots on your tonsils it could be a sign of

. Tonsillitis is usually a viral infection, and symptoms tend to go away after a week.

Other symptoms of tonsillitis include:

  • a cough
  • a fever
  • a headache
  • nausea
  • fatigue
  • swollen neck glands
  • red and swollen tonsils

When to worry

Visit your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve after three to four days, or if they are severe.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you have:

  • difficulty breathing, swallowing saliva, or opening your mouth
  • severe pain
  • a constant high temperature
  • severe symptoms, in particular having pain on just one side of your throat

White spots on tonsils caused by oral thrush

Oral thrush is a fungal infection which can occur in the mouth, and it causes white spots on the tonsils. The white spots can develop on other parts of your mouth too, and sometimes they join together to form larger spots, called ‘plaques’.

Oral thrush is not usually serious or contagious, and in most cases it will resolve without treatment.

As well as white spots, oral thrush can cause:

  • sore, red patches around your mouth
  • pain when eating or drinking
  • red and sore mouth
  • temporary changes to your taste buds

You can treat

with a mouth gel from a pharmacy, and treatment usually takes seven days.

When to worry

You should see your doctor if:

  • your symptoms don’t improve after one week of treatment
  • you are struggling to breath
  • it hurts to swallow

White spots on tonsils caused by infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever)

Infectious mononucleosis or

is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and one of the symptoms is severe tonsillitis, which causes white spots on your tonsils.

It’s a self-limiting disease, and most people recover in about two weeks, but you may feel tired for a few weeks after your symptoms have subsided.

As well as white spots on tonsils it can cause:

  • a
  • swelling around the eyes
  • intense tiredness
  • mild pain in the upper left abdomen (due to a swollen spleen)
  • flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, muscle aches, and headaches
  • swollen glands

When to worry

Go to a doctor if you have any symptoms of glandular fever.

Get immediate medical help if you:

  • are having trouble swallowing
  • are struggling to breathe
  • have severe stomach pain

White spots on tonsils caused by tonsil stones

Tonsil stones are a build up of debris at the back of your throat. Usually they are nothing to be concerned about, but they can cause unpleasant symptoms, such as:

  • bad breath
  • a
  • a
  • an
  • problems swallowing

Conclusion

There are a number of reasons you could have white spots on your tonsils. Most likely the cause isn’t serious, but see a doctor if you have any of the worrying symptoms mentioned above.

You can also try our

to get more information about what could be causing the white spots on your tonsils.

Sore throat with white spots on tonsils without fever

Every second person suffers from a sore throat. Some people are a bit less fortunate when it comes to the cure. What is the reason?

Tonsillitis affects almost 60% of the world population, making it one of the most common ailments. There are various symptoms of tonsillitis. The most visible one is white spots on the tonsils.

Fortunately, there are ways to treat these white patches that are visible on the throat. Read more to know about the common causes for white spots on tonsils, home remedies that can cure these white spots on tonsils and its prevention. 

  • What are The Common Causes for White Spots on Tonsils?
      • Strep Throat 
      • Oral Thrush 
      • Tonsil Stones 
      • Mononucleosis
      • Oral and Genital Herpes
  • Symptoms that occur other than White Spots in the Throat?
  • What is the proper diagnosis for White Spots on Tonsils?
  • How to Treat White Spots on the Throat?
      • Home Remedies to get rid of white patches in the throat-
  • What about surgery for white spots in tonsils?
  • How to prevent White Spots in the throat?

What are The Common Causes for White Spots on Tonsils?

White spots on the tonsils are one of the most common symptoms of an infection in the throat. The throat can be infected by bacteria, fungi or viruses.

Moreover, people with weakened immunity are at a higher risk of developing white spots in the throat.

Some of the infections that can develop are-

  • Strep Throat 

Children are at a greater risk of developing strep throat. This is a type of bacterial infection that leads to sore throat, swelling of glands in the neck, fever or headache. This bacterial infection often causes white spots on the throat.

  • Oral Thrush 

Oral thrush is another reason due to which a person can have white patches on the throat. This is for a fungal attack. White spots may also appear on cheeks or tongue. It makes it difficult to swallow food while causing pain and loss of taste.

  • Viral Tonsillitis 

Tonsillitis that occurs due to a viral infection is known as viral tonsillitis. Some of the symptoms that people experiences after developing a viral infection are- Swelling of tonsils, excessive pain while swallowing food, fever, and nasal congestion.

Tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils, is a common disease that makes up to approximately 1.3% of outpatient visits.*

*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544342/

  • Tonsil Stones 

At times on the tonsils, materials can get trapped in the cracks and crevices of tonsils. These can solidify over time due to the buildup of food particles, mucus, and bacteria. 

  • Mononucleosis

Commonly known as the mono, this is an infection caused by viruses. Apart from white patches on the tonsils, some other symptoms of mononucleosis are fever, large tonsils, sore throat, etc. 

  • Oral and Genital Herpes

This is another reason due to which white spots on the throat can develop. This can easily spread from one person to another. 

Some uncommon causes that can lead to white spots on the throat are discussed below-

  • Leukoplakia
  • Oral herpes

Symptoms that occur other than White Spots in the Throat?

The white patches that are visible when you open the mouth are actually on your throat. Discoloration can occur on the tonsils, around the tonsils or throughout the mouth. People having such white spots on the throat often report of irritation and pain in the throat. Moreover, the pain can be severe sometimes that swallowing foods also becomes difficult. 

Some other symptoms that people suffering from white spots on the throat experience are-

  • Soreness in the throat
  • Cough
  • Running a fever
  • Congestion of the nasal airways
  • Pressure around the eyes
  • Pain in the whole body
  • Difficulty in swallowing

What is the proper diagnosis for White Spots on Tonsils?

Doctors suggest some blood tests that can identify the infection-causing bacteria and viruses. In addition to blood tests, they can also recommend throat culture.

In this diagnostic test, tissue samples are collected from the tonsils using cotton swabs and sent to laboratories for diagnosis. The throat culture helps confirm the type of infection that is causing white spots on the throat.

How to Treat White Spots on the Throat?

The treatment of getting rid of white spots in the throat depends on what’s causing it. The spots may be confined to your tonsils only while you may find them throughout your mouth as well. 

Home Remedies to get rid of white patches in the throat-

Sore throat with white spots on tonsils without fever

  • The hands-on treatment till you can reach out to the doctor is simple- gargling warm salty water several times during the day.
  • Antibiotics are the most common treatment prescribed by the doctors for white spots due to infection from viruses.
  • Sipping warm liquids continuously to get relief from throat pain.
  • Taking plenty of rest helps. The reason being when you are asleep, the body fights off the infection.
  • Taking throat lozenges can soothe out the discomfort associated with the condition.

In any case, when they do not seem to go away in a few days even after following these DIY remedies, you need to see the ENT doctor.

However, situations may get worse due to untimely identification, delaying treatment or lack of awareness. This at times calls for a surgery that simply removes the tonsils. 

What about surgery for white spots in tonsils?

Along with recurrent tonsils with white spots on them, if you have enlarged tonsils, then you can opt for Tonsillectomy Surgery. The damaged tonsils are removed using the plasma rays. The surgery might last up to 30 -45 minutes. This involves the total elimination of the infected tonsils.

You may recover from the surgery in a week or ten days. You may experience internal ear pain following the surgery – but do not worry! Your ears are simply safe.

How to prevent White Spots in the throat?

Sore throat with white spots on tonsils without fever

In order to prevent the infection that is causing the white spots on tonsils, you can follow some simple measures.

  • First, you can prevent the spread of infection by washing hands properly. You can focus on building a strong immune system.
  • Also, cover nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid contact with people who are already sick.
  • Don’t share food, drink or utensils.
  • Don’t put your hands on the eyes and face.
  • Eat a balanced diet.
  • Drink at least 1.5-2 liters of fluids daily.
  • Take ample rest. 

Take good care of the throat and embrace all seasons. Moreover, if you are susceptible to developing white spots in the throat, you can visit Pristyn Care clinics for treatment. 

Also Read: Something Stuck in my Throat Remedy

*Disclaimer: The content is written and reviewed as per the expertise and knowledge of the author and reviewer. For a final call related to ailment, we highly recommend people to Consult with a Specialized Doctor and take necessary decisions as per the Doctor’s suggestions.

Can you have white spots on tonsils and not be sick?

White spots can occur on the tonsils for various reasons, including infections, tonsil stones, and oral thrush. Sometimes other symptoms occur, such as a sore throat, bad breath, or difficulty swallowing.

Do white spots on throat always mean strep?

You might see white dots or patches in the back of your throat. Your tonsils -- the bumps on either side at the back of your throat -- might be red and swollen, too. These could be signs of bacterial infection like strep throat or oral thrush, or a viral infection like oral herpes or mononucleosis.

Can you have white spots on your throat and it not be strep?

Infectious mononucleosis 一 often called mono 一 is another cause of white spots in your throat. Unlike strep, mono is a viral infection. In addition to your sore throat and white spots, mono is notorious for causing fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and a swollen spleen.

Can you have a tonsil infection without fever?

While fever is a common symptom of strep throat, it is possible to have strep throat without a fever. When diagnosing you, a doctor may look for other common strep throat symptoms, such as a sore throat without a cough, swollen lymph nodes, white patches on the tonsils, and tiny red spots on the roof of your mouth.