Examination by a physician is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis of a bacterial tonsillar infection. Ear, nose and throat surgeons typically use fairly standard guidelines to help determine if tonsillectomy is warranted on the basis of recurring tonsil infections. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids can also cause problems even if they do not get infected. Sometimes they are so large that children have problems breathing or, less commonly, eating. Indications of adenotonsillar enlargement that is interfering with normal processes include chronic mouth breathing, excessive snoring struggling to breathe or gasping to breathe especially while sleeping.
Surgery is the only effective treatment for enlarged tonsils and adenoids that are causing symptoms.
While most URI's are caused by viruses, other causes are sometimes encountered. Viral upper respiratory infections, common colds, are seen very frequently. While the symptoms impart considerable misery, the infections are not serious and are self-limiting in normal people. Much research has been done on the common cold but there is no curative treatment. These infections run their course in 5-10 days.