The following symptoms and complaints may indicate tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils):
Acute tonsillitis
- Sore throat with dysphagia accompanied by pain (= odynophagia); pain often radiates to the ear region
- Swollen, reddened palatine tonsils
- Purulent coatings on the tonsils
- Fever
- Chills possible
- Potty language (due toconstriction of the oropharynx / oral pharynx).
- Foetor ex ore (bad breath).
- Lymphadenopathy (lymph node enlargement), cervical and/or nuchal (“belonging to the neck and neck”).
Recurrent (acute) tonsillitis (RAT).
- Repeated occurrence of acute tonsillitis with symptom-free or symptom-free intervals.
For differential diagnosis between viral and bacterial tonsillitis or to assess the risk of GABHS tonsillitis, the McIsaac score (modified Centor score) has proven useful: see “Physical examination“.
