Symptoms of a sore throat and pain when swallowing are most commonly caused by a viral infection which will resolve naturally with time. However, some cases of sore throat or tonsillitis are caused by bacterial infection and occasionally require treatment with antibiotics.
Tonsillitis is most commonly experienced by children, teenagers and young adults. It can be spread via physical contact, sneezing and coughing. Unfortunately, some people suffer from recurrent tonsillitis; if you suffer repeated episodes that make you significantly unwell, make sure you see your GP to receive treatment and have each episode documented on your medical record.
If you meet any of the following criteria, you would be eligible for a referral through to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultant:
Symptoms of significant illness with tonsillitis may include:
Your symptoms may vary and these symptoms may be caused by a variety of conditions. This page does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Strep A or, as it is sometimes called, Group A Strep (GAS) is a significant cause of throat infections including sore throats, tonsillitis and scarlet fever. Most Strep A infections are fairly mild and self limiting but some are more serious. Early diagnosis of Strep A infection and treatment with appropriate antibiotics is important because it can help shorten the illness and prevent more serious complications. Doctors use symptoms and signs to help them predict the likelihood of Strep A causing the sore throat including:
Your symptoms may vary and these symptoms may be caused by a variety of conditions. This page does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional.
Additionally, patients may report a rough rash and feeling sick. Young children may have a red rash on the face with blanching just around the mouth and their tongue may have a white coating or white patches with bright red colouring underneath (strawberry tongue). If you have a sore throat and would like to know whether your sore throat may have been caused by bacteria, we will be able to test and advise on the appropriate antibiotics to tackle the infection.
If you are very unwell, it is important you seek advice from a healthcare professional as soon as possible even if you want to take a swab test. Taking a test should never delay assessment and treatment.
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