Tonsillitis

Question 1

What is tonsillitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the tonsils

Question 2

What causes tonsillitis?

Answer 2

• Viral - most common
• Bacterial: Group A Strep, Strep pneumoniae

Question 3

What tonsils are most commonly infected?

Answer 3

Palatine tonsils

Question 4

How does tonsillitis present?

Answer 4

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Pain on swallowing
• Red, inflamed, enlarged tonsils with/without exudate
• Anterior cervical lymphadenopathy

Question 5

What criteria is used to assess tonsillitis?

Answer 5

FEVERPAIN
- Fever in last 24 hours
- Pus on tonsils
- Attended within 3 days of onset
- Inflamed tonsils
- No cough/coryza

Question 6

How is tonsillitis managed?

Answer 6

Abx if Feverpain > 4
Delayed Prescription for 2 and 3
Patient education
Pen V usually Abx of choice

Question 7

What are complications of tonsillitis?

Answer 7

• Quinsy (peritonsillar abscess)
• Otitis media
• Scarlet fever
• Rheumatic fever