Tonsillitis usually comes on quickly, and common symptoms include a sore throat, fever, painful swallowing, and fatigue.
This article will provide an overview of tonsillitis, including the common symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
What Is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis refers to the swelling of the tonsils. It is caused by an infection that starts with either bacteria or a virus. Tonsillitis is common in school-age children and adolescents. In the United States, most children experience tonsillitis at least once. It tends to peak at age 7 or 8.
How It Spreads
The infections that cause tonsillitis are spread through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or sharing food or drinks. Close contact with a sick individual raises the risk of tonsillitis. Viral and bacterial tonsillitis are very contagious.
Incubation Period for Tonsillitis
The incubation period is the time between exposure to an infection and developing symptoms. The incubation period for the bacterial infection that causes tonsillitis is two to five days.
How Long You Are Contagious
People with tonsillitis are likely contagious about one to two days before they develop symptoms. Individuals with viral tonsillitis are contagious until their symptoms resolve. Individuals with bacterial tonsillitis are contagious until they have been on antibiotic treatment for 12 to 24 hours.
Symptoms and Causes
Common symptoms of tonsillitis include:
Sore throat Fever Swollen lymph nodes Painful swallowing Red and swollen tonsils White patches on the tonsils Bad breath Mouth breathing and snoring Dehydration Fatigue
An infection of the tonsils causes tonsillitis. It’s estimated that about 70% of tonsillitis cases are caused by a virus. Viruses that may lead to tonsillitis include:
Adenoviruses (cold-like symptoms, fever, sore throat, etc. ) Influenza viruses (flu) Parainfluenza viruses (upper and lower respiratory infections) Enteroviruses (can lead to polio, meningitis, and encephalitis) Mycoplasma (walking pneumonia)
Less common causes of viral tonsillitis include:
Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes mononucleosis) Herpes simplex virus (a sexually transmitted infection) Cytomegalovirus (a common virus that spreads through bodily fluids) Measles
A bacterial infection causes about 15% to 30% of tonsillitis cases. Bacterial tonsillitis is known as strep throat and is usually caused by the virus Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS).
Treatment
Treatment for tonsillitis depends on the underlying cause. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend a rapid strep test to determine if your illness has a viral or bacterial cause. If this test comes back positive, the infection is bacterial. Your healthcare provider may recommend a throat culture if it comes back negative.
Sore throat for longer than two days Trouble swallowing Excessive drooling
With the rapid strep test, there is a risk of a false negative. During a throat culture, your healthcare provider will swab the back of the throat and the tonsils, then send the specimen to the lab for testing. Results usually come back within 24 hours.
Viral tonsillitis usually resolves on its own and does not require medical treatment. Tonsillitis can lead to dehydration because of painful swallowing. For this reason, hydration and pain relief are important when recovering from tonsillitis. Home remedies for viral tonsillitis include:
Rest Drinking fluids Over-the-counter pain medicine such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) Eating soft foods Trying cold food such as popsicles Avoiding cigarette smoke Gargling with salt water
Bacterial tonsillitis is often treated with antibiotics to shorten the duration and prevent complications. A possible complication of bacterial tonsillitis is rheumatic fever. Antibiotics used to treat bacterial tonsillitis include:
Penicillins Cephalosporins Macrolides Clindamycin
Tips to Prevent Tonsillitis
The viruses and bacteria that cause tonsillitis are very contagious. While it may not always be possible to prevent infection, lower your risk with these steps:
Seven episodes of tonsillitis in one year Five episodes of tonsillitis per year for two years Three episodes of tonsillitis per year for three years
Wash your hands frequently. Avoid close contact with individuals who have symptoms of tonsillitis. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
Summary
Tonsillitis refers to the inflammation of the tonsils, two small glands located at the back of the throat. A bacterial or viral infection causes tonsillitis. Common symptoms usually include a sore throat, fever, painful swallowing, and fatigue. Tonsillitis is most common in school-age children and adolescents. Viral tonsillitis usually resolves independently, and bacterial tonsillitis may require treatment with antibiotics.
A Word From Verywell
While inflammation of the tonsils is not contagious, the viruses and bacteria that cause tonsillitis are contagious. To lower your risk of getting tonsillitis, take precautions. Wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with individuals who are sick. It’s also important to avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
