Tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils (tonsils), often causes a sore throat, especially in children and young adults. Tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus and goes away on its own. However, sometimes (with a chance of about 15-30%) this disease can appear due to a bacterial infection so it needs to be treated using antibiotics. While you can't say for sure whether tonsillitis is caused by a virus or bacteria without seeing your doctor, recognizing the common symptoms can help determine when it's time to see a doctor.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Recognizing Common Symptoms of Viral Tonsillitis
Step 1. Check for a runny nose
If tonsillitis is caused by a virus, you may have a runny or runny nose. Tonsillitis caused by viruses and bacteria will usually leave you feeling unwell and having a fever, but the fever temperature is usually lower (around 38°C) if the illness is viral, than if it is caused by bacteria (around 39°C).
Step 2. Watch for coughs
Tonsillitis caused by bacteria and viruses will cause coughing, but a hoarse cough is usually caused by a virus. Coughing and a change in voice can be caused by laryngitis, a viral disease that occurs with tonsillitis.
Step 3. See if the condition of the body improves in a few days
Tonsillitis caused by a virus usually resolves or at least begins to improve within 3-4 days. Therefore, if you feel better after 3-4 days, the tonsillitis may be caused by a virus. Tonsillitis caused by bacteria can last much longer, or even need to be treated with medication.
- See a doctor if you don't get better after 4 days. You may have bacterial tonsillitis and need antibiotics.
- However, viral tonsillitis can last up to two weeks. So, the duration of the disease is not an absolute sign of the cause of tonsillitis.
Step 4. Get tested for the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) if you continue to feel tired
EBV is a common cause of mononucleosis, or "mono". Mono is a common cause of tonsillitis in adolescents and young adults. Mono can last for weeks, and is often associated with fatigue, sore throat and tonsillitis, fever, swollen lymph nodes (lymph nodes) in the neck and armpits, and headaches.
Mono will go away on its own and usually doesn't need treatment. However, you should still confirm the diagnosis of the disease, which often requires only a simple blood test
Step 5. Check for a rash on the roof of the mouth
Some people who get mono also have a red rash and spots on the roof of their mouth. Open your mouth wide and look at the roof of your mouth. Red spots can indicate the presence of mono.
- Mono can occur with or without a rash.
- While looking into the mouth, also examine the membranes that line the tonsils. This membrane is also a symptom of mono.
Step 6. Feel the sensitivity to pain in the spleen
Gently feel the area of your spleen, which is under the ribs, above the abdomen, on the left side of the torso. People with mono may experience swelling of the spleen and pain to the touch. You MUST touch gently! If it's too hard, the swollen spleen can burst!
Method 2 of 3: Identifying Complications of Bacterial Tonsillitis
Step 1. Check for white dots on the tonsils
Tonsils are glands located at the back of the mouth on either side of the esophagus. Bacterial tonsillitis can cause small, white, pus-filled dots on the tonsils. Look in the mirror, open your mouth wide, and look closely at the tissue on both sides of the esophagus at the back of the mouth. If it's too difficult, ask a family member to look at it and try shining a black light in your mouth.
Tonsillitis caused by a virus usually makes the tonsils look red and swollen, while bacteria cause small white, pus-filled dots to appear on the tonsils
Step 2. Feel for swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Use your index and middle fingers to gently press along the sides of the neck, on the esophagus under the slanted part of the chin, and behind the ears. Feel the hard bump that is sensitive to pain and is about the size of your little fingernail. These bulges may be swollen lymph nodes. Although lymph nodes can swell when the body is fighting an infection, this is usually common in bacterial infections.
Step 3. Check for infection in the ear
Sometimes, bacteria from an esophageal infection can spread to the fluid in the middle ear, causing an infection there (also known as otitis media). Symptoms of a middle ear infection include hearing loss, balance problems, discharge from the ear, and fever.
Step 4. Watch for abscesses in the tonsils
A peritonsillar abscess, also known as a quinsy, is a fairly strong symptom of bacterial tonsillitis. An abscess is a collection of pus and usually occurs on one side between the tonsil and the wall of the esophagus. Watch for the following signs of a peritonsillar abscess, and visit your doctor immediately if these symptoms occur to you:
- Sore throat that gets worse on one side.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Voice change. Your vocals sound muffled.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Big red swelling on one side of the tonsil.
- Difficulty opening mouth.
- Bad breath that wasn't there before.
- The uvula, which is the tissue that hangs down the back of the esophagus, looks like it's been pushed to the healthy side (no longer in the middle).
Step 5. Watch for the development of a rash on the skin
Some complications of bacterial tonsillitis include rheumatic fever and scarlet fever, which usually occur if the infection is not treated. If you notice a new rash while having a sore throat, consider the possibility of a bacterial infection and see a doctor immediately.
Rheumatic fever can also cause widespread joint pain
Method 3 of 3: Getting a Diagnosis from a Professional
Step 1. Take a rapid test at the doctor's clinic
A rapid strep test can be done quickly in a doctor's office using a throat swab to test for the streptococcus bacteria that causes strep throat. The test is not always accurate, and a third of the results give an inaccurate negative result.
This test is good for the first test, but a throat culture is often necessary for an accurate diagnosis
Step 2. Wait for the throat culture results to come out of the laboratory
The most accurate way to determine the cause of tonsillitis is to ask your doctor for a throat culture. This is done by sending a throat swab to a laboratory, and the lab technician determines what bacteria are in your tonsils. Then, the doctor can prescribe appropriate antibiotics to treat the cause of the tonsillitis.
Step 3. Get blood test results to check for mono virus
Mono can only be diagnosed with a blood test. Because mono is caused by a virus, this disease will go away on its own. You only need to meet the needs of body fluids and plenty of rest. However, you should still see a doctor if you experience symptoms of mono because this disease can cause an enlarged spleen, which can rupture if you do activities that are too burdensome for the body. The doctor will explain what needs to be done to maintain safety and cure the disease.
Tips
- The ONLY way to accurately diagnose tonsillitis is to have a tonsil exam done at a doctor's office. The article above is a guide only.
- Tonsillitis is a contagious disease so make sure you wash your hands, and don't share food with sick people. If you have tonsillitis, always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands frequently, and rest at home until you recover.
- Since young children cannot explain the symptoms they are experiencing, pay attention to their behavior. Symptoms of tonsillitis in children usually include not wanting to eat or being unnaturally fussy. Get emergency help right away if your child continues to drool, has difficulty breathing, or has a very hard time swallowing.
Warning
- Tonsillitis caused by bacteria can occur as a complication of viral tonsillitis.
- If your symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your ability to eat, drink, or breathe properly, see a doctor immediately.
