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Tonsillitis

Overview

Open all pages about Tonsillitis

Symptoms of tonsillitis include red, swollen tonsils, a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.

To help symptoms of tonsillitis, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen, get plenty of rest and gargle with warm, salty water.

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and look in your throat to see if you have tonsillitis. They may also do a swab and blood test.

Treatment for tonsillitis depends on what caused it. A GP may prescribe antibiotics if it's caused by bacteria.

Tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus, but it can also be due to a bacterial infection.

Complications of tonsillitis are very rare but sometimes you can get quinsy, which is an abscess between your tonsils and throat.

Tonsillitis is when the tonsils at the sides of your throat become swollen. It's caused by an infection.

Page last reviewed: 08/03/2024
Next review due: 08/03/2027