Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

What likely causes very swollen tonsils that are of normal color?

1. Bacterial infection

2. Allergic reaction

3. Viral infection

4. Fungal infection

The correct answer is: Viral infection

The presence of very swollen tonsils that maintain a normal color suggests a viral infection as the likely cause. In cases of viral infections, such as those caused by the common cold or infectious mononucleosis, swelling of the tonsils is a typical response to the viral pathogens. Unlike bacterial infections, which often present with redness, white patches, or exudates on the tonsils, viral infections tend to cause swelling without significant color changes, leading to an appearance of normality despite the inflammation. While allergic reactions can lead to swelling due to inflammation, they typically present with other symptoms such as nasal congestion or sneezing, and the tonsils might not be significantly affected. Fungal infections are less common in the tonsils and typically produce white lesions or patches, indicating that the normal appearance of the tonsils is not aligned with this diagnosis. Bacterial infections, on the other hand, usually cause more pronounced changes in color and the presence of pus, which aren't seen with normal-colored swollen tonsils. Thus, the characteristics of the tonsils strongly point toward a viral etiology.