Differential diagnoses to angina tonsillaris | Acute angina tonsillaris

Differential diagnoses to angina tonsillaris

Furthermore, special forms of tuberculosis, tonsil carcinoma, herpes or syphilis-related inflammations are to be excluded. – Acute viral pharyngitis: Similar symptoms, but no swelling/coatings of the palatal tonsils. – Side strand angina: Inflammation of the lymph vessels in the throat, usually unilateral, no coatings on the tonsils. – Scarlet fever: Additional rash (beginning on the upper part of the body), strongly reddened, spotted tongue (“raspberry tongue”). – Diphtheria (very rare): The whitish coatings on the oral mucosa and the tonsils bleed when removed and are painful, sweetish bad breath, mucosal necrosis

• Pfeiffer’s glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis): mainly central plaques on the palatal tonsils, high fever and fatigue, involvement of the spleen and liver possible.

Chronic tonsillar angina

In chronic angina tonsillaris (more often than 5 times a year in 2 consecutive years) the palatal tonsils are scarred and reduced in size due to the frequent inflammations. Purulent cell remains (detritus) can therefore flow off poorly and inflammations occur again and again. This detritus is visible in the depressions of the palatine tonsils, whereby the symptoms can be much less pronounced than in acute angina tonsillaris.

A chronic angina tonsillaris can also be a “focus” for other chronic inflammations/diseases such as rheumatic fever, iritis, psoriasis. If the above-mentioned diseases are not treated successfully, chronic angina tonsillaris should be excluded.