Tonsillitis
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Tonsillitis: Essentials
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What are the symptoms of tonsillitis?

You may not be able to tell whether you have a sore throat or tonsillitis. The symptoms are very similar.

But if you have a severe infection, you may be so ill that you need to stay in bed.
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Management of sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network clinical guideline 34. 1999. Available at: http://www.sign.ac.uk (accessed on 16 June 2008).
 
 
 
 
 
1

Here are the symptoms you may get if you have tonsillitis:
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Management of sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network clinical guideline 34. 1999. Available at: http://www.sign.ac.uk (accessed on 16 June 2008).
 
 
 
 
 
1

  • A very sore throat that lasts more than three days
  • Pain when you swallow
  • A fever and chills
  • A headache
  • Red and swollen tonsils
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty carrying on with your normal routine
  • Patches of white pus on your tonsils
  • Lumps under your jaw and in your neck (these are swollen glands).
Children under 5 don't often say they have a sore throat, because they don't know where the pain is coming from. They may say they have stomachache.
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: tonsillitis.
January 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001043.htm (accessed on 16 June 2008).
 
 
 
 
 
2

If your symptoms are very bad or go on longer than two days, you should see your doctor.
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: tonsillitis.
January 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001043.htm (accessed on 16 June 2008).
 
 
 
 
 
2 He or she will want to look at your mouth and throat.

If your tonsils look inflamed, your doctor may wipe your tonsils with a cotton swab. This sample can be tested to find out if
 
 
 
 
 
bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.
 
 
 
 
 
bacteria are causing your infection.
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: tonsillitis.
January 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001043.htm (accessed on 16 June 2008).
 
 
 
 
 
2 The most common bacteria to test for is the Streptococcus (strep) bacteria. A strep test can give your doctor the results in about seven minutes. But your doctor may also send the swab to a laboratory to confirm the results. However, the results of these tests aren't always accurate.
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Management of sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network clinical guideline 34. 1999. Available at: http://www.sign.ac.uk (accessed on 16 June 2008).
 
 
 
 
 
1

Some doctors call all throat infections a sore throat, whether or not the tonsils are infected.
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Management of sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network clinical guideline 34. 1999. Available at: http://www.sign.ac.uk (accessed on 16 June 2008).
 
 
 
 
 
1

Sources for the information on this page:
  1. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.Management of sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy.Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network clinical guideline 34. 1999. Available at: http://www.sign.ac.uk (accessed on 16 June 2008).
  2. U.S. National Library of Medicine.Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: tonsillitis.January 2005. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001043.htm (accessed on 16 June 2008).
This information was last updated on Jul 01, 2008
BMJ Group
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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