Tonsillitis

Question 1

What is tonsillitis?

Answer 1

A type of pharyngitis with intense inflammation of tonsils and purulent exudate

Question 2

Which pathogens cause tonsillitis?

Answer 2

1. Group A beta hemolytic streptococci/ Strep pyogenes

2. Epstein barr virus (infectious mononucleosis)

Question 3

Symptoms of bacterial tonsillitis

Answer 3

1. White tonsillar exudate
2. Cervical lymphadenopathy
3. Head ache/abdo pain

Question 4

Tx

Answer 4

Penicillin/Erythromycin for 10 days even if it may not be bacterial cause

Question 5

What is a risk of strep infection?

Answer 5

Rheumatic fever

Question 6

Why should amoxicillin be avoided?

Answer 6

Causes widespread macularpapular rash if tonsillitis is due to infectious mononucleisosis

Question 7

What is the centaur criteria

Answer 7

The Centor criteria* are as follows:
presence of tonsillar exudate
tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis
history of fever
absence of cough

Question 8

When should antibiotics be used for treatment?

Answer 8

If Centor criteria shows > 3 or more as its likely to be due to strep A beta hemolytic strep