The symptoms of tonsillitis include:. If necessary, your GP will examine your throat and ask you some questions about your symptoms. If needed, a throat swab can be taken to confirm the diagnosis. The results usually take a few days to return. If your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, they may prescribe antibiotics.
Typical signs of a bacterial infection include white pus-filled spots on the tonsils, no cough and swollen or tender lymph glands. If you develop severe tonsillitis as a teenager or adult, your GP may recommend a blood test for glandular fever. The tonsils are two small glands that sit on either side of the throat.
In young children, they help to fight germs and act as a barrier against infection. When the tonsils become infected, they isolate the infection and stop it spreading further into the body. As a child's immune system develops and gets stronger, the tonsils become less important and usually shrink.
In most people, the body is able to fight infection without the tonsils. Removal of the tonsils is usually only recommended if they're causing problems, such as severe or repeated episodes of tonsillitis see below.
Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a viral infection, such as the viruses that cause the common cold or flu virus influenza.
Some cases can also be caused by a bacterial infection, typically a strain of bacteria called group A streptococcus bacteria. These types of infections spread easily, so it's important to try to avoid passing the infection on to others by:. Read more about the causes of tonsillitis.
If test results show that your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, a short course of oral antibiotics may be prescribed. If oral antibiotics aren't effective at treating bacterial tonsillitis, intravenous antibiotics given directly into a vein may be needed in hospital. In most cases, tonsillitis gets better within a week. However, a small number of children and adults have tonsillitis for longer, or it keeps returning. This is known as chronic tonsillitis and surgical treatment may be needed.
Read more about treating tonsillitis. Complications of tonsillitis are rare and usually only occur if it's caused by a bacterial infection. They're usually the result of the infection spreading to another part of the body. Other complications of tonsillitis are very rare and usually only occur if an underlying bacterial infection is left untreated.
They include:. The main symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat. Your tonsils will be red and swollen, and your throat may be very painful, making swallowing difficult. If you have tonsillitis that's caused by a viral infection, such as the common cold or flu , your symptoms may be milder. If your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, such as a streptococcal infection, your symptoms will usually be more severe and you may also have bad breath. It's difficult to tell just by looking at a person's throat whether they have tonsillitis as a result of a virus or a bacterial infection.
Tests are needed to confirm this. Antibiotics may be recommended if test results show that your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection. In rare cases, tonsillitis can also be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever. If this is the case, you'll probably feel very ill. You'll have a sore throat and the lymph glands in your throat may be swollen. You may also have a fever and feel very tired. Bacterial tonsillitis can be caused by a number of different bacteria, but it's usually due to group A streptococcus bacteria.
In the past, serious bacterial infections, such as diphtheria and rheumatic fever, have been linked with tonsillitis. However, this is now rare, because these conditions are vaccinated against and treatment for them has greatly improved.
Viruses, such as those that cause colds and flu, are spread through coming into close contact with someone who's infected. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of their nose and mouth. You can become infected by breathing in the contaminated droplets. This is known as direct contact. You can also become infected if you touch a surface or object that the droplets have landed on and then touch your face.
This is known as indirect contact. There's no specific treatment for tonsillitis and most cases get better within a week without treatment. While waiting for the infection to clear up, there are a number of things you can do to help relieve your symptoms see below. If your child has tonsillitis, make sure they have plenty to eat and drink, even if they find it painful to swallow. A viral infection is the most common cause of tonsillitis. The most common types of virus that infect the tonsils include:.
The most common type of bacteria to infect the tonsils is Streptococcus pyogenes. However, less often, other species can cause tonsillitis, including:. Different types of tonsillitis may occur. Doctors define them by their symptoms and recovery period. People often confuse tonsillitis with strep throat.
However, there are important differences. A specific type of bacteria called group A Streptococcus causes strep throat. Symptoms are often more severe. Streptococcus can also infect other parts of the throat. Bacterial tonsillitis can lead to complications. However, this is rare and usually occurs in young children. Viral tonsillitis does not usually lead to complications.
The infection may spread to other parts of the body and cause complications, including:. The tonsils and adenoids play a role in helping the body fight infection, but they can become enlarged and require treatment. Learn more.
Tonsil cysts may cause no symptoms and are generally no cause for concern. But a doctor should rule out other, similar health issues. Learn more here. Tonsil stones are hard stones that form in the tonsils. They do not always produce symptoms, but some people may experience bad breath, a sore throat…. Bacteria and viruses usually cause swollen tonsils. Learn more about treatments and home remedies that reduce pain and swelling when the tonsils…. While tonsillitis may be a very common condition in children, it can also affect adults.
Learn what causes tonsillitis in adults and how to treat it…. All you need to know about tonsillitis. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Tonsillitis is a common infection of the tonsils. Accessed Oct. Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Merck Manual Professional Version. Mattke AC, ed.
Common illnesses and concerns. Mayo Clinic; McInerny TK, et al. Pharyngitis and tonsillitis. American Academy of Pediatrics; Infectious mononucleosis.
Sore throat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drutz JE. Acute pharyngitis in children and adolescents: Symptomatic treatment. Reye's syndrome information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Kliegman RM, et al. Acute pharyngitis. Mitchell RB, et al.
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