Infectiousness of tonsillitis

Introduction

The typical tonsillitis is caused by spherical bacteria of the streptococcus group A. These bacteria are transmitted via a so-called droplet infection. This means that they accumulate in the watery secretions of the mouth, nose and throat and can then pass from person to person via only small droplets of these.

For example, if a person affected sneezes or coughs (coughing) or otherwise exchanges saliva, he or she can infect people in his or her environment. In rare cases, watery droplets may first settle on the skin and only later come into contact with the saliva or nose or mouth of another person. Consequently, the risk of infection is particularly high in crowded and confined spaces, such as on buses or trains, but also in classrooms and kindergartens.

Once infected with tonsillitis, it can take up to two to four days before the first symptoms of tonsillitis appear. This period is known in medicine as the “incubation period”. During this period, however, despite the lack of clinical signs, you are already contagious, so if you suspect tonsillitis, you should immediately consult a doctor.

A treatment with Antibiotoka is because in the case of tonsillitis caused by streptococci is absolutely necessary and should be initiated immediately. By the antibiotic therapy the danger of infection is practically directly minimized and starting from 24 hours after begun treatment it is assumed that the patient is no longer contagious. Nevertheless, it is important that the antibiotic (the standard therapy is with penicillin) is taken consistently over the entire period for which it was prescribed (this is at least 7 days, but usually rather 10 to 14 days), so that it can really be ensured that all bacteria have been killed and that there is no new outbreak of the disease. In addition, failure to take antibiotics can lead to secondary diseases, some of which are quite serious, especially damage to the heart, joints or kidneys.