Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Seek Medical Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

When to Seek Medical Care

Tonsillitisand strep throat are common contagious infections of the throat that share symptoms. Although the same bacteria can sometimes cause them, they’re different conditions.

Tonsillitis occurs when a virus or bacterium causes an infection in the tonsils (the soft tissue lumps at the back of the throat). Strep throat occurs when a type of bacteria known asStreptococcuscauses an infection in the throat, including the tonsils.

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Little girl having her throat examined for strep throat

Which is worse, tonsillitis or strep throat?In general, experts saystrep throat casestend to be more severe than tonsillitis. However, both infections can range from mild to severe, depending on the individual case.

Which is worse, tonsillitis or strep throat?

In general, experts saystrep throat casestend to be more severe than tonsillitis. However, both infections can range from mild to severe, depending on the individual case.

Tonsillitis and strep throat share many symptoms. With both infections, a painful sore throat is the main symptom.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis symptoms may vary based on whether the cause of the infection is a virus or bacterium. In general, most people report experiencing:

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A tonsillitis infection of the throat.

Complications of TonsillitisIn some cases, the infection can break out of the tonsil and spread into the space around it, forming a swollen, painful sore called a peritonsillar abscess. When this happens, you may also experience:Severe throat painMuffled voiceDroolingDifficulty opening your mouth

Complications of Tonsillitis

In some cases, the infection can break out of the tonsil and spread into the space around it, forming a swollen, painful sore called a peritonsillar abscess. When this happens, you may also experience:Severe throat painMuffled voiceDroolingDifficulty opening your mouth

In some cases, the infection can break out of the tonsil and spread into the space around it, forming a swollen, painful sore called a peritonsillar abscess. When this happens, you may also experience:

Strep Throat

There are severaltelltale signsof strep throat, including:

In addition, some people might also experience symptoms likenausea, vomiting,fatigue,body aches, and generally feeling unwell.

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A severe case of strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis).

Complications of Strep ThroatIt is essential to seek diagnosis and treatment for strep infections. If left untreated, serious complications can occur if bacteria spread to other parts of the body. These complications include:Abscesses in the tonsils or neckSwollen lymph nodes in the neckSinus infectionEar infectionRheumatic fever

Complications of Strep Throat

It is essential to seek diagnosis and treatment for strep infections. If left untreated, serious complications can occur if bacteria spread to other parts of the body. These complications include:Abscesses in the tonsils or neckSwollen lymph nodes in the neckSinus infectionEar infectionRheumatic fever

It is essential to seek diagnosis and treatment for strep infections. If left untreated, serious complications can occur if bacteria spread to other parts of the body. These complications include:

There are several potentialcauses of tonsillitisand one maincause of strep throat. Both infections develop after person-to-person contact with the virus or bacterium, which triggers aninflammatory responsefrom the body’simmune system.

Some of the most common germ culprits include:

A type of bacteria known as group AStreptococcuscauses several different respiratory and skin infections, including strep throat.

Streptococcusis easily transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person, even when there aren’t any visible symptoms. This includes activities like:

The bacteria that cause strep throat are less commonly transmitted through food or water.

If you’re noticing symptoms that indicate tonsillitis or a strep throat infection, it’s wise to see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Diagnosis typically involves taking a medical history, documenting symptoms, and performing a physical exam to check for signs of infection. Examination usually includes:

Athroat culturemay be ordered to determine whetherStreptococcusispresent.A long cotton swab is used to gather saliva and cells from the back of the throat. Results can take several minutes to a couple of days, depending on the type of test used.

15 Evidence-Based Home Remedies for Tonsillitis

Chronic or Recurrent TonsillitisPeople who getchronic (lasting longer than two weeks) or recurrent (happening over and over again) tonsillitismay be candidates for atonsillectomy(surgically removing the tonsils).

Chronic or Recurrent Tonsillitis

People who getchronic (lasting longer than two weeks) or recurrent (happening over and over again) tonsillitismay be candidates for atonsillectomy(surgically removing the tonsils).

Because strep throat is a bacterial infection, it can betreated with antibiotics.

Antibioticsare prescription medications that can kill off bacteria or stop them from growing. They also work to drastically shorten the length of time a person with strep throat iscontagious, which helps reduce the spread of germs from person to person.

Common antibiotics prescribed for strep throat include:

For people allergic to penicillin, clindamycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin may be recommended.

In addition, home remedies like resting, drinking plenty of fluids,gargling with salt water, using throat lozenges, and taking OTC medications for pain or fever can also help to ease symptoms while the antibiotics do their job.

It’s important totake antibioticsexactly as your healthcare provider prescribes for the full length of time, even if you start to feel better after a few days. Stopping antibiotics too soon can lead to infections coming back, getting worse, or spreading to another area of the body.

Tonsillitis vs. Strep

Similarities:

Differences:

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Call your healthcare provider or seek urgent medical care if you notice symptoms such as:

Additionally, if you are prescribed antibiotics but do not start feeling better within two days of starting them, contact your provider.

Summary

Tonsillitis and strep throat are sometimes referred to interchangeably but are technically different infections. Tonsillitis occurs when a virus or bacterium causes the tonsils to swell, while strep throat happens when a specific bacteria causes swelling in the throat area.

Both infections come with similar symptoms, such as sore throat, difficulty swallowing, headache, and fever, and are transmitted easily from person to person. Antibiotics are the recommended treatment option for strep throat and cases of bacterial tonsillitis. Viral tonsillitis is treated with OTC remedies.

16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing group A strep infection.Georgalas CC, Tolley NS, Narula PA.Tonsillitis.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:0503.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About group A strep infection.Marks LR, Reddinger RM, Hakansson AP.Biofilm formation enhances fomite survival of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes.Infect Immun. 2014;82(3):1141-6. doi:10.1128/IAI.01310-13Mount Sinai.Strep throat.American Academy of Pediatrics.Strep Throat, Sore Throat or Tonsillitis: What’s the Difference?Stelter, K.Tonsillitis and sore throat in children.GMS Curr Top Ortorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2014;13(1):7. doi:10.3205/cto000110Abu Bakar M, Mckimm J, Haque SZ, Majumder MAA, Haque M.Chronic tonsillitis and biofilms: a brief overview of treatment modalities.J Inflamm Res.2018;11:329-337. doi:10.2147/JIR.S162486National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.National Institutes of Health.Understanding recurrent tonsillitis.Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Perez ED.Common questions about streptococcal pharyngitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):24-31.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

16 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing group A strep infection.Georgalas CC, Tolley NS, Narula PA.Tonsillitis.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:0503.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About group A strep infection.Marks LR, Reddinger RM, Hakansson AP.Biofilm formation enhances fomite survival of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes.Infect Immun. 2014;82(3):1141-6. doi:10.1128/IAI.01310-13Mount Sinai.Strep throat.American Academy of Pediatrics.Strep Throat, Sore Throat or Tonsillitis: What’s the Difference?Stelter, K.Tonsillitis and sore throat in children.GMS Curr Top Ortorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2014;13(1):7. doi:10.3205/cto000110Abu Bakar M, Mckimm J, Haque SZ, Majumder MAA, Haque M.Chronic tonsillitis and biofilms: a brief overview of treatment modalities.J Inflamm Res.2018;11:329-337. doi:10.2147/JIR.S162486National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.National Institutes of Health.Understanding recurrent tonsillitis.Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Perez ED.Common questions about streptococcal pharyngitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):24-31.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing group A strep infection.Georgalas CC, Tolley NS, Narula PA.Tonsillitis.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:0503.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About group A strep infection.Marks LR, Reddinger RM, Hakansson AP.Biofilm formation enhances fomite survival of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes.Infect Immun. 2014;82(3):1141-6. doi:10.1128/IAI.01310-13Mount Sinai.Strep throat.American Academy of Pediatrics.Strep Throat, Sore Throat or Tonsillitis: What’s the Difference?Stelter, K.Tonsillitis and sore throat in children.GMS Curr Top Ortorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2014;13(1):7. doi:10.3205/cto000110Abu Bakar M, Mckimm J, Haque SZ, Majumder MAA, Haque M.Chronic tonsillitis and biofilms: a brief overview of treatment modalities.J Inflamm Res.2018;11:329-337. doi:10.2147/JIR.S162486National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.National Institutes of Health.Understanding recurrent tonsillitis.Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Perez ED.Common questions about streptococcal pharyngitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):24-31.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tonsillitis.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat basics.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About strep throat.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing group A strep infection.

Georgalas CC, Tolley NS, Narula PA.Tonsillitis.BMJ Clin Evid. 2014;2014:0503.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About group A strep infection.

Marks LR, Reddinger RM, Hakansson AP.Biofilm formation enhances fomite survival of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes.Infect Immun. 2014;82(3):1141-6. doi:10.1128/IAI.01310-13

Mount Sinai.Strep throat.

American Academy of Pediatrics.Strep Throat, Sore Throat or Tonsillitis: What’s the Difference?

Stelter, K.Tonsillitis and sore throat in children.GMS Curr Top Ortorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2014;13(1):7. doi:10.3205/cto000110

Abu Bakar M, Mckimm J, Haque SZ, Majumder MAA, Haque M.Chronic tonsillitis and biofilms: a brief overview of treatment modalities.J Inflamm Res.2018;11:329-337. doi:10.2147/JIR.S162486

National Institutes of Health.Soothing a sore throat.

National Institutes of Health.Understanding recurrent tonsillitis.

Martin JM.The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis.Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9

Kalra MG, Higgins KE, Perez ED.Common questions about streptococcal pharyngitis.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(1):24-31.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical guidance for group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

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