Tonsillitis - Diagnosing tonsillitis
- Introduction
- Symptoms of tonsillitis
- Causes of tonsillitis
- Diagnosing tonsillitis
- Treating tonsillitis
- Complications of tonsillitis
- "For us, the benefits of tonsillectomy far outweighed the risks"
See your GP if you think you or your child has tonsillitis.
Your GP will examine your or your child's throat and ask some questions about the symptoms.
There are four main signs which indicate that tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection rather than a viral infection. They are:
- a high temperature
- white pus-filled spots on the tonsils
- no cough
- swollen and tender lymph glands
If two of the above signs are present, further testing may be recommended (see below).
If three or more signs are present, it's highly likely that you have bacterial tonsillitis and antibiotics may be prescribed.
Further testing
If a more detailed diagnosis is needed, a swab sample can be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results can take a few days to return.
Laboratory tests are mainly used for patients in high-risk groups, such as those with weakened immune systems, or if previous treatment has failed.
If you develop tonsillitis as a teenager or adult and you also have additional symptoms, such as a very painful throat and swollen lymph glands, your GP may recommend that you have a blood test to find out whether you have glandular fever.
Read more about the diagnosis of glandular fever.
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