What should you know about tonsillitis causes symptoms and treatment?

Tonsillitis can cause a Sore Throat, painful swallowing, red or enlarged tonsils, Fever, swollen glands, tiredness and sometimes an Earache. A viral cause may occur with cough or runny nose, while bacterial Strep Throat may be considered when throat pain and fever are prominent without typical cold symptoms. These patterns guide assessment but do not diagnose the cause on their own.

A clinician may inspect the throat, feel the neck glands and consider a swab or other test. The aim is to match treatment to the likely cause and identify complications early.

Rest, drink regularly and choose soft foods while swallowing is painful. A pharmacist can recommend suitable pain relief based on age, allergies, pregnancy and other medicines. Antibiotics do not treat viral tonsillitis; they may be prescribed when a bacterial infection is suspected or confirmed. Take any prescribed course exactly as directed and do not use someone else’s medicine. A GP Consultation is appropriate when symptoms are severe, recurrent or not improving.

Get urgent help for trouble breathing, inability to swallow saliva, drooling, a muffled voice, rapidly increasing neck or throat swelling, severe one-sided pain, or inability to open the mouth normally. Seek prompt review for dehydration, worsening illness, or persistent fever. These signs can indicate a complication rather than uncomplicated tonsillitis.

Ask whether your symptoms fit a viral or bacterial illness, whether testing is needed, how to control swallowing pain, and how to recognise a complication. For repeated episodes, ask whether another condition or an ear, nose and throat review should be considered.