What causes acute tonsillitis?

The germs spread through respiratory droplets, close contact and contaminated hands or shared items. The cause cannot always be identified from the look of the tonsils alone because redness, swelling and white coating can occur in different infections.

Viral tonsillitis may occur alongside a cough, runny nose, hoarse voice or irritated eyes. Bacterial tonsillitis, including strep throat, can present with a sudden sore throat, fever, painful swallowing and swollen neck glands. These patterns guide assessment but do not prove which germ is responsible.

Exposure to someone with a respiratory or throat infection raises the chance of catching the organism. Poor sleep or stress can make a person feel worse, but they do not directly create an infectious case of tonsillitis.

Wash hands, cover coughs and sneezes, avoid sharing cups or cutlery, and limit close contact while feverish or clearly unwell. Regular drinks, rest and soft foods can make swallowing easier.

Arrange a GP assessment when symptoms are severe, keep returning or are not settling. A clinician may examine the throat and neck and decide whether a swab or rapid test is useful. Antibiotic treatment is reserved for an appropriate bacterial infection rather than a viral cause.

Seek urgent help for noisy or difficult breathing, drooling, inability to swallow fluids, a muffled voice, severe swelling mainly on one side, difficulty opening the mouth, neck stiffness, confusion or unusual sleepiness. Reduced urination, a very dry mouth and dizziness can indicate dehydration.

A child who is struggling to breathe, is hard to wake or cannot drink needs immediate medical attention. Urgency comes from these warning signs, regardless of whether the infection is viral or bacterial.

Ask which examination findings help distinguish the likely cause, whether a throat test is needed, what symptom relief is suitable, how to reduce transmission at home, and which change should trigger reassessment.