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kidneys. But, the kidneys aren't the only place. The tonsils are another location where hard,
and sometimes, painful stones may develop in certain people.
Bad breath. One of the prime indicators of a tonsil stone is exceedingly bad breath,
or halitosis, that accompanies a tonsil infection. One study of patients with a form of
chronic tonsillitis used a special test to see if volatile sulfur compounds were
contained in the subjects' breath. The presence of these foul-smelling compounds
provides evidence of bad breath. The researchers found that 75% of the people who
had abnormally high concentrations of these compounds also had tonsil stones. Other
researchers have suggested that tonsil stones be considered in situations when the
cause of bad breath is in question.
Sore throat. When a tonsil stone and tonsillitis occur together, it can be difficult to
determine whether the pain in your throat is caused by your infection or the tonsil
stone. The presence of a tonsil stone itself, though, may cause you to feel pain or
discomfort in the area where it is lodged.
White debris. Some tonsil stones are visible in the back of the throat as a lump of
solid white material. This is not always the case. Often they are hidden in the folds of
the tonsils. In these instances, they may only be detectable with the help of noninvasive scanning techniques, such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging.
Difficulty swallowing. Depending on the location or size of the tonsil stone, it may be
difficult or painful to swallow foods or liquids.
Ear pain. Tonsil stones can develop anywhere in the tonsil. Because of shared nerve
pathways, they may cause a person to feel pain in the ear, even though the stone itself
is not touching the ear.
Tonsil swelling. When collected debris hardens and a tonsil stone forms,
inflammation from infection (if present) and the tonsil stone itself may cause a tonsil
to swell or become larger.