Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, which are two small glands that sit on either side of the throat. In young children, they help to fight germs and act as a barrier against infection.

Close up of young woman rubbing her inflamed tonsils, tonsillitis
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Is tonsillitis contagious?

Tonsillitis can be a painful and unpleasant condition which we understand you will want to go away as quickly as possible! At our clinics, we offer same-day appointments, prescriptions and fast throat swab results should you need testing. Call us to make an appointment and feel better soon.

The main symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat, which may be very painful enough to make swallowing difficult. Your tonsils will become very red and swollen, and in some cases will become coated, or develop white, pus-filled spots.

Statistics​

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of people have a sore throat in any three-month period
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of people visit a doctor for tonsillitis each year
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of All Doctors in the UK are GPs
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GPs per 10000 people in the UK

Symptoms & Causes

The most common symptoms of tonsillitis include:

  • A sore throat and pain when swallowing
  • A high temperature (fever) over 38C (100.4F)
  • Coughing
  • Headache
  • Earache
  • Feeling sick or nauseous
  • Feeling tired or fatigued
  • Lymph glands in your neck may be swollen or painful
  • Voice changes, including loss of voice

A viral infection usually causes tonsillitis, though less commonly, it can also be caused by bacteria. It is especially common in children, teenagers and young adults. It is highly contagious and is spread through coughs, sneezes, and physical contact.

What to do next

If you are suffering with symptoms of tonsillitis, come and speak to one of our doctors who can help you manage symptoms and advise you on the best methods of treatment.

Treatments

We work with experienced consultants & healthcare professionals who have received positive feedback from our patients, and with whom we have established long-term relationships.

private GP service

Dr Mohammad

Dr Mohammad Mohseyni

Senior General practitioner

Blood tests

How to book a private GP appointment?

book online or call us

Use our online booking engine or book your test by giving us a call.

Choose your test type

On the online booking engine select the “appointment type” you need.

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You will be seen by one of our friendly doctors or trained clinicians.

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I think I have tonsillitis. What will the doctor do?
The doctor will examine your throat and ask you about your symptoms. A throat swab may be taken to confirm the diagnosis, with results usually available within a few days. A throat swab will also help confirm that any antibiotic that has been prescribed is appropriate for your particular infection-causing bug.
A higher intake of fluids can soothe the symptoms of tonsillitis. In addition, soft foods such as pasta, rice, pudding, yogurt, or soups can be helpful.
Juices that are acidic can make symptoms worse, so avoid orange juice, grapefruit juice, and lemonade. Also best to avoid are crunchy foods that may scratch or irritate the throat.

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