Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is frequent with younger adults and is caused by either virus or bacteria. Far the most common cause of tonsillitis is virus. Only one in every fifth case of tonsillitis with adults is caused by bacteria and should be treated with penicillin.

Mono (mononucleosis or glandular fever) that is caused by a virus is a more rare form of tonsillitis. You can only have mono once in a lifetime. The illness cannot be treated with antibiotics.

Viruses that cause tonsillitis occur especially during the winter. First the throat becomes irritated. Then, light pains in connection with swallowing, rise in temperature to around 38,0ºC, closeness in the nose and possibly the nose runs with a thin secrete together with a cough. It appears as a common cold with a sore throat. Your throat becomes red and on the outside of the throat small sore lumps appear. Sometimes you will be able to see white spots on the tonsils. There is no treatment for the illness and antibiotics do not help. The illness passes by itself after some days but can possibly be relieved by painkilling medication bought over the counter.

If bacteria cause the tonsillitis, the nuisances are worse. Often, the temperature is high, meaning more than 38.5ºC (see Fever). You become more ill and prefers to stay in bed. The pains in the throat are aching that worsen when you swallow. Usually, there is no running nose or cough. Your throat becomes crimson red and the tonsils increase heavily in size with greyish spots. It can be hard to distinguish between a viral and a bacterial attack. By a grafting from your throat and/or a blood sample, your doctor can quickly determine whether bacteria cause the tonsillitis and you should be treated with antibiotics.

Scarlet fever is tonsillitis caused by a certain bacteria that causes a rash. The rash begins in the face and later spreads to neck, chest and arms. The rash looks like ‘goose pimples’ but is completely red. You can feel the ‘goose pimples’. Scarlet fever can be treated with antibiotics. After you have taken antibiotics for 2 days, you will be free of fever and feel much better.

Mono (mononucleosis or glandular fever) is a type of tonsillitis that especially occurs with larger children and teenagers. The first signs of mono is tiredness, muscle pain and headache for a couple of weeks. Hereafter, there is fever, pains in connection with swallowing and swelling on the neck. The tonsils are heavily increased in size with thick, white confluent spots. The illness lasts around 2 to 4 weeks. Most often, mono is discovered by the tonsillitis not improving after around a week. With a blood test, your general practitioner can determine whether you have mono. There is no treatment for mono.