Due to a bout of strep throat, I have severely swollen tonsils. An RPN
told me that these could persist for up to a year just on basis of the
strep... I may be an ineffective googler, but I haven't been able to
confirm that information elsewhere. I suppose my question is whether
that information is "true" or not... I know this isn't a medical
service, but I'm curious to know whether any information either
corroborating or invalidating the idea that my tonsils could remain
swollen for up to a full year is out there for me to consider (before
trekking back to the dr's office just for my own curiosity).

zeitgeist09-ga,

According to this website, the only one I found that gave a timeline,
it takes the tonsils several weeks to return to normal size.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/tonsillitis_p4.html

Once the tonsils have become infected, folds and crevices develop,
harboring bacteria that can cause a chronic inflammation. The lymph
tissue (and tonsils are lymph tissue) may become fibrosed, meaning the
tissue forms fibrous, string-like tissue, after an infection.You may
have no symptoms, other than enlarged tonsils,  as they are doing
their job of filtering out bacteria!
http://www.jdaross.cwc.net/lymphatics7.htm

“Chronic tonsillitis may occur despite adequate treatment of acute
infections. As a reaction to repeated infection, the surfaces of the
tonsils form deep indentations or crypts of infected tissue. Bacteria
can multiply in these crypts and remain inaccessible to antibiotics.”
http://www.entmds.com/throat/main_01.html


What is tonsilitis?
http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/common/tonsillitis.html

Chronically infected tonsils:
http://newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bio99/bio99757.htm

http://www.xtramsn.co.nz/health/0,,8065-1356807,00.html


About Step Throat
http://www.emedicine.com/aaem/topic420.htm

All about lymphadenopathy(including tonsils)
http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1333.htm


When I was a child, everyone had her/his tonsils removed after a bout
of tonsillitis. Today, the thinking is greatly changed. In 1959, 1.4
million tonsillectomies were performed.  In 1987, with a greatly
increased population, there were only 260,000 tonsillectomies
performed. The reasons for performing the surgery has changed as well.
Tonsillectomies were once performed, hoping to prevent further
infection. Today, we know that the tonsils are performing their job of
clearing the body of infection (and not necessarily causing the
infection, and are left in place. The primary reason for tonsillectomy
today is airway obstruction during sleep, and chronic tonsillitis.
http://merck.praxis.md/bhg/bhg.asp?page=BHG01ID19&section=report&ss=2

Chronic sinus problems can make the tonsils inflamed:
http://www.ofcn.org/cyber.serv/hwp/hwc/ent/news/ent096.html

While I only found one site that suggested tonsils return to normal
size in a given time, it certainly appears that each individual is
different. You didn’t say how long your tonsils have remained
enlarged, so they may still return to their normal size. It may  also
be that you have a chronic tonsillitis causing your tonsils to remain
enlarged.
 (From my own personal experience; my own grown daughters, both have
had chronically huge tonsils, for over 15 years! (I did not believe in
tonsillectomy when they were small). They may have them surgically
removed in the future, as they both snore!)

If any part of my answer is unclear, please don’t hesitate to ask for
an Answer Clarification before rating.

Regards,
crabcakes



Search strategies:
Chronic tonsil enlargement
Tonsillar hypertrophy
Duration swollen tonsils
Causes chronic tonsillar hypertrophy