Tonsillitis

Question 1

Viral causes of tonsillitis

Answer 1

Rhinovirus
Coronavirus
Adenovirus
- associated w/ infectious mono

Question 2

Bacterial causes of tonsillitus

Answer 2

Group A strep
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Neisseria gonorrhoea

Question 3

Signs/symptoms of tonsillitis?

Answer 3

Pain on swallowing
Fever
Tonsillar exudate
Tonsillar erythema + enlargement
Anterior cervical lymphadenopathy

Question 4

Score for tonsillitis group A likelihood

Answer 4

FeverPAIN score

• fever >38 (in 24 hrs)
• purulence (tonsillar exudate)
• attends quickly (≤3 days after onset)
• inflamed tonsils
• no cough/coryza

Question 5

Investigations in tonsillitis

Answer 5

Rapid streptococcal antigen test

Throat culture

Question 6

Rapid strep antigen test vs throat culture

Answer 6

Throat culture more sensitive

Rapid strep antigen test more immediate + identifies group A beta haemolytic streptococci