Tonsillitis

The main symptom of Reference tonsillitis Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window is a sore throat. More symptoms occur in most cases. Some or all of the following may be present:

• Fever
• Bad breath
• Nasal congestion and runny nose
• Swollen Reference lymph nodes Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window
• Red, swollen tonsils covered completely or in patches by pus
• Difficulty swallowing
• Headache
• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Raw, bleeding patches on the tonsils

When you have sore throat plus cold symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing, the cause is most likely a virus. Viral infection of the tonsils usually goes away without treatment within 2 weeks.

Sore throat with a sudden fever above 101°F (38.3°C)—milder fever may point to a viral infection—and swollen lymph nodes, and without symptoms of an Reference upper respiratory tract infection Opens New Window, may point to a bacterial infection. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor for diagnosis because of the risk of Reference strep throat Opens New Window. Although strep throat will usually go away even without treatment, an untreated strep infection can lead to Reference complications including Reference rheumatic fever Opens New Window, which can permanently damage the heart.

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