Waking up with a sore throat is something most people experience at some point. You might feel slight pain, irritation when swallowing or a scratchiness that won’t go away. Even though these symptoms are mainly minor and will most likely clear up on their own, there are cases where they could signal a more severe condition like tonsillitis. Read on to learn more about how to tell the difference between a common sore throat and tonsillitis.

Understanding Sore Throats

A sore throat, medically referred to as pharyngitis, is often the result of inflammation in the pharynx, the area at the back of your throat. Common causes include viral infections such as the common cold or influenza, bacterial infections like streptococcus (strep throat), allergies, dry air, pollution, or smoking. In most cases, your symptoms will include pain that worsens when swallowing or talking, dry throat, swollen glands and hoarseness. However, it can be accompanied by other symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever, and general fatigue, depending on the underlying cause.

What is Tonsillitis?

On the other hand, tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped pads of tissue found at the back of each side of your throat. These pads of tissue mainly act as your first line of defence against free radicals by helping to filter out bacteria and viruses to ensure they don’t impact the function of your respiratory tract. However, they can become infected by viruses or bacteria, leading to tonsillitis.

Causes of Tonsillitis

Both viral and bacterial infections can cause tonsillitis:

• Viral Infections: Most tonsillitis cases are caused by common viruses, such as adenovirus, influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis, “mono”), and enteroviruses.
• Bacterial Infections: The most common bacterial cause is Streptococcus, which also causes strep throat.

Symptoms of Tonsillitis

It’s easy not to think your symptoms could indicate something severe. In most cases, tonsillitis symptoms often overlap with a regular sore throat. It’s important to seek professional advice when you notice:

• Red, swollen tonsils.
• White or yellow patches or coating at the back of your throat.
• Severe sore throat.
• Painful swallowing.
• Fever.
• Enlarged, tender lymph nodes in the neck.
• Bad breath.
• Stiff neck.
• Headache.
• Voice changes or loss.

Distinguishing Between a Sore Throat and Tonsillitis

While all cases of tonsillitis involve a sore throat, not all sore throats will be caused by tonsillitis. It’s important to note that bacterial infections, like strep throat, can cause a sore throat and tonsillitis because they often present with sudden, severe throat pain, red and swollen tonsils with white patches, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. However, the key differences to note include:

• Location of Inflammation: A common sore throat involves inflammation of the pharynx, while tonsillitis is localised inflammation at the back of your throat.
• Visual Signs: Tonsillitis often presents with visibly red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white or yellow patches. A regular sore throat usually lacks these specific patches.
• Associated Symptoms: Tonsillitis can cause more severe symptoms, such as a higher fever, swollen lymph nodes, and significant difficulty swallowing, than a typical sore throat.

Diagnosis of Tonsillitis

An accurate diagnosis can help know whether you have a bacterial or viral infection while ensuring your symptoms aren’t life-threatening, especially if you have a fever. This might influence treatment decisions and determine the severity of your condition. To decide whether a sore throat is due to tonsillitis, your healthcare provider will:

1. Conduct a Physical Examination: This includes checking for signs like swollen tonsils, white or yellow coatings, and swollen lymph nodes.
2. Review Medical History: Understanding the duration and severity of your symptoms and whether there are any recurring episodes can help with a more accurate diagnosis.
3. Perform Throat Swabs: A rapid strep test may be performed to identify the presence of streptococcal bacteria.

Treatment Options

If your sore throat is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, your doctor will mainly focus on relieving the symptoms since they often clear up on their own. The main goal is to ensure your immune system is strong enough to manage the discomfort and prevent the symptoms from worsening. This is why your doctor will prescribe antibiotics, and recommend rest and hydration is highly recommended, along with the following:

• Consuming foods like soup and ice cream, which are easy to swallow.
• Lozenges to soothe your throat.
• Use a humidifier to prevent further drying of your throat.
• Gargling with warm salt water to reduce the discomfort and swelling.
• Over-the-counter pain medication in case you have a fever and for pain.

As the seasons change and temperatures drop noticeably, bacterial and viral infections can become common. These can make your immune system vulnerable to colds and flu, which are often accompanied by a sore throat or inflamed tonsils. An Affinity Health Day-to-Day or Combined plan provides adequate coverage to treat and manage everyday illnesses.