Should I Take Antibiotics for Acute Tonsilitis?

28 ottobre 2025

2 min di lettura

Many people believe that tonsilitis is just a sore throat, and the easiest way to cure it is with antibiotics. Is this true?

Punti chiave

Many people believe that tonsilitis is just a sore throat, and the easiest way to cure it is with antibiotics.
How to tell the difference
How to treat it

Per chi è

Chi esplora Bacterial and viral infections attraverso antibiotics, tonsilitis.

Perché è importante

Questo articolo ti aiuta a orientarti rapidamente, per poi passare a una raccolta o serie se vuoi continuare.

Autore dell'articolo

Dr. Irene

pediatrician, otolaryngologist, phoniatrician

How to tell the difference

Tonsilitis is an acute inflammation of the palatine tonsils. The main symptoms are a sore throat, which intensifies when swallowing and a high temperature, sometimes up to 100.4–102.2 °F. However, these symptoms can be caused not only by bacteria but also by viruses. Treatment depends on whether it is bacterial or viral.

Some signs are more characteristic of a viral infection — for example, in addition to a sore throat and fever, there may be a runny nose, conjunctivitis, hoarseness, cough, vomiting, or diarrhea. Local manifestations of the disease (within the palatine tonsils and oropharyngeal mucosa) are indicative of bacterial infection, but often there are general manifestations of intoxication (fever, weakness, joint tenderness).

However, the manifestations of the disease do not always fit into the classic framework. To confirm the diagnosis, the following is generally done: prescribe a general blood test, a smear on the microflora, exclude beta-hemolytic streptococcus group A, which can provoke the development of kidney, heart, joint diseases, and use an express test (special test strips).

How to treat it

With proven bacterial etiology of tonsilitis (especially if beta-hemolytic streptococcus group A is detected), a course of antibiotics is necessary.

In about 40 % of cases, acute tonsillopharyngitis is a manifestation of a viral infection. In this case, taking antibiotics is not only useless but also harmful. For example, taking penicillin antibiotics for mononucleosis can cause a toxic-allergic reaction. In addition, the use of antibiotics often leads to an imbalance of intestinal microflora and intoxication, so it makes no sense to take them "just in case."

Even the doctor can not always determine what exactly causes a sore throat without tests. Moreover, it is impossible to do it at home. Therefore, at the first signs of tonsilitis, consult your doctor. Don’t rely on self-treatment, which can make it worse.

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