Powered by BarnOS™
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, the two soft tissue masses at the back of the throat, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It causes a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen and red tonsils sometimes with white patches, and often fever and swollen neck glands.
Reviewed against NICE NG84 sore-throat guidance and NHS respiratory infection guidance.
Public health education article
Self-care advice — See your GP if symptoms are severe, persistent beyond a week, or you have difficulty swallowing or breathing.
HIGH CONFIDENCE
CHECK — Consider appropriate assessment if symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily life.
Recognise uncomplicated tonsillitis while identifying quinsy and other airway or systemic complications and using antibiotics appropriately.
Status: PENDING
Health Intelligence supports health literacy and editorial transparency. It does not diagnose conditions or replace individual professional assessment.
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, the two soft tissue masses at the back of the throat, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It causes a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen and red tonsils sometimes with white patches, and often fever and swollen neck glands.
Recognise uncomplicated tonsillitis while identifying quinsy and other airway or systemic complications and using antibiotics appropriately.
Symptoms are severe or not improving after a week
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, the two soft tissue masses at the back of the throat, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It causes a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen and red tonsils sometimes with white patches, and often fever and swollen neck glands.
Most cases are caused by viruses and clear up within a week to ten days with simple self-care, though a bacterial infection may sometimes need antibiotic treatment.
See your GP if symptoms are severe, persistent beyond a week, or you have difficulty swallowing or breathing.
These measures can help ease symptoms, support recovery, and reduce the chance of things worsening — but they don't replace medical advice if symptoms are severe or persistent.
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
Most tonsillitis is caused by a virus and settles within a week to ten days with rest, fluids, and simple pain relief.
Not every sore throat needs antibiotics — most tonsillitis is viral and improves on its own with supportive care.