Tonsilitis

Question 1

What is tonsilitis?

Answer 1

inflammation of tonsils, infection of the parenchyma of the palantine tonsils

Question 2

When can tonsilitis also occur?

Answer 2

can also occur as part of infectious mononucleosis (grlandular fever)

Question 3

Does tonsilitis happen in isolation?

Answer 3

Can occur in isolation or part of generalised pharyngitis

Question 4

What are RF for tonsilitis?

Answer 4

1. Contact infected people e.g. school

2. Age 5-15

Question 5

What are symptoms and signs of tonsilitis?

Answer 5

1. Pain on swallowing
2. Fever>38 degrees
3. Tonsillar exudate

Question 6

What is the ddx for tonsilitis?

Answer 6

viral pharyngitis

Question 7

What are Ix for tonsilitis?

Answer 7

Throat culture and rapid streptococcal antigen test if over 3 years and adults with high probability of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS)

Question 8

When are antibiotics used in tonsillitis?

Answer 8

treat group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal infection that make up between 5% to 15% of cases of pharyngitis in adults and 15% to 30% of cases in children

Question 9

What other Mx is there for tonsillits?

Answer 9

1. analegsia

2. tonsillectomy if recurrence

Question 10

What are complication of tonsillitis?

Answer 10

1. Scarlet fever
2. Acute sinusitis
3. Acute otitis media
4. Acute rheumatic fevers