Should I Take Antibiotics for Acute Tonsilitis?

How to tell the difference

Tonsilitis is an acute inflammation of the palatine tonsils. The main symptoms are a sore throat, which intensifies when swallowing and a high temperature, sometimes up to 100.4–102.2 °F. However, these symptoms can be caused not only by bacteria but also by viruses. Treatment depends on whether it is bacterial or viral.

Some signs are more characteristic of a viral infection — for example, ===in addition to a sore throat and fever, there may be a runny nose, conjunctivitis, hoarseness, cough, vomiting, or diarrhea. Local manifestations of the disease (within the palatine tonsils and oropharyngeal mucosa) are indicative of bacterial infection, but often there are ...