Tonsillitis : Introduction to Acute Tonsillitis ( Minor Illnesses )

Acute tonsillitis is a common ENT condition characterized by inflammation of the palatine tonsils, typically caused by viral or bacterial infections. It presents with sore throat, dysphagia, fever, and sometimes cervical lymphadenopathy. Common pathogens include Group A Streptococcus (GAS), adenovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Key management strategies involve symptomatic relief, antibiotics (for confirmed bacterial etiology), and identifying complications such as peritonsillar abscess (quinsy).

Nurses and pharmacists play a critical role in patient education, identifying red flags (e.g., airway obstruction, persistent fever), and ensuring adherence to antibiotic stewardship guidelines.

📊 Explore our comprehensive chart for evidence-based insights on acute tonsillitis etiology, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and complications.

References

1. Coultas, J., Bodasing, N., Horrocks, P., & Cadwgan, A. (2015). Lemierre’s syndrome: Recognising a typical presentation of a rare condition. *Case Reports in Infectious Diseases*, 2015, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/797415
2. Elamin, A. (2023). Glandular fever testing in patients presenting with tonsillitis: A retrospective study. *Cureus*. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.50213
3. Foguet-Boreu, Q., Violan, C., Roso-Llorach, A., Rodríguez-Blanco, T., Pons‐Vigués, M., Muñoz, M., … & Valderas, J. (2014). Impact of multimorbidity: Acute morbidity, area of residency, and use of health services across the lifespan...