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Bacterial tonsillopharyngitis

Low urgency
Common-

Inflammation of the pharynx and tonsils caused by a bacterium infection, usually group A streptococcus.

It manifests as a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, high fever and general malaise.

Diagnosis is clinical, through the patient's questioning and a physical examination. Rapid antigen detection testing methods can also be used.

Treatment is based on managing pain using analgesics and antibiotics to treat the infection.

Bibliographic references
  1. Michael A. Rubin, Larry C. Ford, Ralph Gonzales. Faringitis, otalgia y síntomas de la porción superior de las vías respiratorias. Infecciones de la faringe y la cavidad bucal. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 1. 19ª Edición. 231:235.
  2. J. Mensa. Infecciones en otorrinolaringología. Infecciones de la faringe: faringitis. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen II. Duodécima edición. 2498:2500.
  3. Anthony W Chow, Shira Doron. Evaluation of acute pharyngitis in adults. UpToDate. Jan 04, 2016.
  4. Alcaide ML, Bisno AL. Pharyngitis and epiglottitis. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2007; 21:449.
  5. Gerber MA, Shulman ST. Rapid diagnosis of pharyngitis caused by group A streptococci. Clin Microbiol Rev 2004; 17:571.
  6. Humair JP, Revaz SA, Bovier P, Stalder H. Management of acute pharyngitis in adults: reliability of rapid streptococcal tests and clinical findings. Arch Intern Med 2006; 166:640.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Red or swollen tonsils

    Sore throat

    Irritation or inflammation of the throat

    Pus on tonsils

    Swollen neck glands

Symptoms to watch out for

Hoarseness
Difficulty breathing
Unilateral neck pain and swelling
Fever that doesn't subside with antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
Difficulty opening the mouth
Difficulty swallowing

Self-care

Consume over-the-counter analgesics and antipyretics in case of muscle pain or fever (Tº > 38ºC).
Maintain hydration of 2 litres per day.
Consume beverages and foods that help relieve the pain (tea, soup, honey, etc.).
Check with your general practitioner about the prescription for antibiotics.
Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke.
Avoid spicy foods.
Relative rest, rest until symptoms subside.
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