Tonsillitis: symptoms, causes and which doctor to see

For tonsillitis you can first see: Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) or Family Medicine or Pediatrics. If you are not sure, a family doctor (general practitioner) can assess you first and refer you to the right specialist.

Common symptoms: a very sore throat and pain on swallowing; fever; red, swollen tonsils with white spots; painful glands in the neck; bad breath; abdominal pain in children. Symptoms vary from person to person; a doctor’s examination is needed for a diagnosis.

The most common causes: viruses (most common); group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus (strep throat); spread by droplets. Only a doctor’s examination can determine the exact cause.

Viral tonsillitis goes away on its own in 5–7 days. With strep throat, symptoms ease within 1–2 days on antibiotics, but the course must be completed as your doctor says.

With a rapid antigen test or a throat culture from a throat swab.

Surgery is considered for people with 7 or more severe episodes in a year, 5 or more a year for two years in a row, or large tonsils causing sleep apnoea.

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, call 112 without delay: “Are you unable to swallow your saliva or open your mouth, or has your voice become muffled?” “Are you having difficulty breathing?” “Is there marked swelling on one side of the throat with the uvula pushed to the other side?” “Is there confusion, fainting or difficulty waking up?” “Is there facial drooping, slurred speech or sudden weakness in an arm or leg?” “Are you struggling to breathe even at rest?”

See a doctor: there is a high fever and white spots on the tonsils; it has not eased within 3–4 days; it keeps coming back many times a year (to consider surgery).