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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
When bacteria and viruses enter your body through your nose or mouth, your tonsils act as a filter — engulfing the offending organisms in white blood cells. This can cause a low-grade infection in your tonsils. Tonsillitis occurs when the infection gets more serious, and the tonsils become painful and inflamed.
Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by viruses, including the virus that causes mononucleosis (the Epstein-Barr virus). In other cases, tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection. When tonsillitis is due to a specific type of bacteria (group A streptococci), the illness is also referred to as strep throat. Warning signs that your symptoms may be caused by strep throat include a sudden onset of pain and inflammation, tender lymph nodes in your neck, a high fever and a lack of nasal congestion. If tonsillitis is caused by strep throat or another bacterial infection, you may need treatment with antibiotics. However, most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a virus and not bacteria, and the only treatment is home care.
