When you have a sore throat or strep throat, you may find that there are some white spots or patches at the back of the tongue. Those spots you see are actually pockets of pus, and they are usually nature’s way of the body to fight infections. Pus is a protein-rich fluid that appears whitish, yellow, or brow-yellow – it accumulates in the body or site of an infection. The fluid is referred to as liquor puris. So when you notice white pus in throat, you may want to find out what is causing it and the best treatment.
White Spots vs White Pus in Throat
When you see white spots forming on your tonsil you begin to be worried, and there is every reason to feel that way. In many cases however, it is something that can easily be treated to avoid damage to the tonsils. The presence of white spots on tonsils indicates that you have an infection.
The white spots contain pus in small amounts.. The white discoloration may be seen occurring only on the tonsils, sometimes the discoloration may appear around the tonsils. Again, you may have the white spots forming throughout the mouth.
Symptoms Accompanying White Pus in Tonsils
Apart from the pus forming on or around the tonsils, a patient may have tonsils that feel scratchy. They may have difficulties in swallowing and other symptoms such as:
- A stuffy nose
- A sore throat
- Sneezing
- A fever
- A headache
- Painful swallowing
- Body aches
- Bad breath
- Throat discomfort
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Coughing
If the tonsils are too much enlarged or swollen such that they partially block the airway, you may have difficulty breathing.
Causes of White Pus in Throat
Different things can cause white pus in throat:
Strep throat: When you have strep throat one of the symptoms you may have is white spots containing pus. Streptococcal pharyngitis or strep throat is a contagious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. While this infection commonly affects infants and children, it may as well occur in teenagers and adults. The infection causes white spots or streaks among other symptoms like:
- A headache
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling and inflammation of the throat
- A fever
- And, flu-like symptoms
Infectious mononucleosis: This is an infection caused by a virus called Epstein-Barr virus. Sometimes, infectious mononucleosis is referred to as “the kissing disease” because it mainly spreads through saliva. Patients having mono or infectious mononucleosis experience symptoms like white patches containing pus, and the patches form around the tonsils. Other symptoms of the infection include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Body rashes
- Headaches
- Flu-like symptoms
- Swollen lymph nodes
Oral thrush: This is a yeast infection occurring in a patient’s mouth, the common cause is believed to be a fungus known as Candida albicans. People who have weakened immune system tend to have a higher risk of having yeast infection in their mouth. Also, people who take antibiotics and those having uncontrolled diabetes may also have increased risk of getting oral thrush infection. White patches may appear on the individual’s tongue, inside the cheeks, and on the mouth’s roof.
Tonsillitis: When you talk of tonsillitis, it’s a generalized term referring to an infection affecting the tonsils. While mostly this infection is caused by S. pyogenes, it may also occur due to a virus or other bacteria. As the tonsils fight the infection, you may find that they swell and release white pus. A patient having tonsillitis may show other symptoms including:
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A fever
- Difficulty swallowing
Tonsil stones: A person with tonsil stones or tonsiliths may have symptoms that include white or yellow spots forming on the tonsils. Tonsiliths are calcium deposits occurring within small cracks in your tonsils. The calcium deposits occur because of accumulation of mucus, food particles, and bacteria. Other symptoms of tonsil stones are such as a sore throat, bad breath, and earaches.
If you see white pus occurring in form of white spots on the throat or tonsils, you may want to see a doctor because it could indicate a more serious condition. Though less common, white spots may be as a result of:
- Oral cancer
- Leukoplakia, a precancerous condition
- HIV and AIDS
Treatment of White Pus in Throat
The kind of treatment you get largely depends on what’s causing the white pus in throat. If infectious mononucleosis is the culprit, a doctor may prescribe medications such as corticosteroids to treat severe inflammation. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen may also help treat the symptoms of the infection. You need to have plenty of rests and take fluids as you manage and treat the infection.
In case of strep throat, you need to take antibiotics to fight the bacteria causing the infection. OTC medications like Motrin IB and Advil or ibuprofen may also help to reduce pain and swelling.
In treating oral thrush, a patient will be prescribed antifungal medications. He or she may need to gargle salt water and rinse the mouth using water so that the yeast is put under control and doesn’t spread beyond the mouth area.
In case of tonsil stones, a patient may not need treatment unless the stones are causing extreme discomfort. The body can eliminate the stone naturally, however, at-home treatment such as spraying salt water to help clean the deposits and eating crunchy foods or crackers may as well help to clean up those deposits.
