A history and an examination by a skilled practitioner is usually sufficient for the diagnosis. Some patients will have frequent severe bouts of tonsillitis. A study by Bluestone, et al., looked at this reason. Other patients have a pattern of low-grade constant or very frequent sore throats. It may cause a low grade intermittent sore throat.
Antibiotics are only transiently helpful.
Some patients will use various mechanical picks and swabs to attempt removal. Unusual enlargement or appearance. Like any other tissue, the tonsils can be the site of benign or malignant tumors. An unusual or markedly enlarged tonsil is sometimes seen in this situation. Lymphoma is the most common tumor of the tonsil in children.