| Tonsillitis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A culture positive case of Streptococcal pharyngitis with typical tonsillar exudate | |
| Pronunciation | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Sore throat, fever, enlargement of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, large lymph nodes around the neck[1] |
| Complications | Peritonsillar abscess[2] |
| Duration | ~ 1 week[3] |
| Causes | Viral infection, bacterial infection[4][5] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, throat swab, rapid strep test[4] |
| Medication | Paracetamol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen, penicillin[4] |
| Frequency | 7.5% (in any given 3 months)[6] |
Tonsillitisisinflammation of the tonsils, typically of rapid onset.[1] It is a type of pharyngitis.[7] Symptoms may include sore throat, fever, enlargement of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, and large lymph nodes around the neck.[1] Complications include peritonsillar abscess.[2]
Tonsillitis is most commonly caused by a viral infection, with about 5% to 40% of cases caused by a bacterial infection.[4][5] When caused by the bacterium group A streptococcus, it is referred to as strep throat.[8] Rarely bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, or Haemophilus influenzae may be the cause.[4] Typically the infection is spread between people through the air.[5] A scoring system, such as the Centor score, may help separate possible causes.[4] Confirmation may be by a throat swaborrapid strep test.[4]
Treatment efforts involve improving symptoms and decreasing complications.[4] Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen may be used to help with pain.[4] If strep throat is present the antibiotic penicillin by mouth is generally recommended.[4] In those who are allergic to penicillin, cephalosporinsormacrolides may be used.[4] In children with frequent episodes of tonsillitis, tonsillectomy modestly decreases the risk of future episodes.[9]
About 7.5% of people have a sore throat in any three-month period and 2% of people visit a doctor for tonsillitis each year.[6] It is most common in school aged children and typically occurs in the fall and winter months.[4][5] The majority of people recover with or without medication.[4] In 40% of people, symptoms resolve within three days, and in 80% symptoms resolve within one week, regardless of whether streptococcus is present or not.[3] Antibiotics decrease symptom duration by approximately 16 hours.[3]
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