Is Tonsillitis Contagious?

Most acute infections of the tonsils are due to viruses or bacteria and usually is contagious by direct person-to-person contact.

• Tonsillitis caused by a virus infection usually is contagious for about seven to 10 days.
• Bacterial tonsillitis can remain contagious for about two weeks.

Some individuals can become chronic carriers of potentially infectious bacteria and can be mildly contagious for long periods of time. People who are infected by bacteria and are treated with antibiotics are considered non-contagious after approximately 24-48 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Tonsillitis is usually spread by direct and/or close contact with an infected person. Contaminated droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, or kissing can be easily transmitted to another person with both viral and bacterial infections.

The viruses or bacteria that cause tonsillitis may be contracted via person-to-person contact.

The large tonsils are two oval-shaped areas of lymphoid tissue that occur on the left and the right side of the throat. These tonsils are also referred to as the palatine tonsils. In addition, there are two lingual tonsils located at the base and the back of the left and right tongue. Tonsillitis is inflammation of one or both of the tonsils. The adenoids are lymphoid tissue located at the back of the pharynx that often becomes infected with the same microbes at the same time as the tonsils.

Symptoms that suggest tonsillitis include

• fever,
• sore throat,
• bad breath,
• difficulty or irritation while trying to swallow, and
• tender and possibly enlarged cervical lymph nodes.

The tonsils themselves are usually enlarged, reddish, and depending upon the infecting organism may have whitish/yellowish to gray-appearing pus areas on the tonsil's surface. The diagnosis of tonsillitis is usually made clinically by a healthcare professional after simply observing the tonsils. However, other tests such as X-rays of the soft tissues or a CT scan may be ordered if there's some concern about the more serious spread of the infection into the neck. In addition, throat cultures are done if a strep infection is suspected while blood tests may be ordered to detect certain viral infections like mononucleosis.

Individuals can be cured of tonsillitis, both bacterial and viral types when the symptoms of swollen reddish tonsils and other symptoms go away (about seven to 10 days).

• Many individuals require no treatment, while some with a bacterial cause may need antibiotics.
• However, there are some individuals that may have symptoms go away, only to have them return within weeks or months. These individuals are not cured of tonsillitis but have developed chronic, recurrent tonsillitis that eventually may require surgical removal of the tonsils.

Usually, tonsillitis is not considered an emergency medical condition. However, you should contact a health care professional if you have

• a sore throat,
• a fever greater than 38.3 C or 101 F,
• swollen and tender tonsils with whitish or yellowish to gray-colored coating, or pain on only one side of the throat.

You should seek emergency medical care if you

• are having severe pain,
• have difficulty swallowing and/or breathing,
• have a bad headache, and
• abdominal pain and/or headache.