Difference between viral and bacterial throat infection

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Infections of the throat and/or tonsils are common, particularly among children.

• Throat infections are usually caused by a virus but may be caused by bacteria such as streptococcal bacteria.

• Symptoms include severe pain with swallowing and swollen, red tonsils.

• The diagnosis is based on an examination of the throat.

• If untreated, tonsillopharyngitis that is caused by bacteria may become a tonsillar abscess.

• Pain is relieved with analgesics, and a streptococcal infection is treated with antibiotics.

• Sometimes the tonsils have to be surgically removed.

People who have had their tonsils removed can still get throat infections.

Throat infections are usually caused by a virus. Most often, it is one of the viruses that cause the common cold, such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza virus, or respiratory syncytial virus. Less often, another virus is involved, such as the Epstein-Barr virus Infectious Mononucleosis Epstein-Barr virus causes a number of diseases, including infectious mononucleosis. The virus is spread through kissing. Symptoms vary, but the most common are extreme fatigue, fever, sore throat... read more

In less than one third of people, throat infections are caused by a bacterial infection. Group A streptococcus (strep throat Streptococcal Infections Streptococcal infections are caused by any one of several species of Streptococcus. These gram-positive, sphere-shaped (coccal) bacteria (see figure How Bacteria Shape Up) cause many... read more ) is the most common bacterial cause and usually occurs in children between age 5 and age 15. Strep throat is less common in children under age 3 and in older adults. Untreated strep throat sometimes causes complications. Complications can include tonsillar cellulitis or abscess Tonsillar Cellulitis and Tonsillar Abscess Tonsillar cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the tissues around the tonsils. A tonsillar abscess is a collection of pus behind the tonsils. Sometimes, bacteria that infect the throat spread... read more

Rheumatic Fever Rheumatic fever is inflammation of the joints, heart, skin, and nervous system, resulting from a complication of untreated streptococcal infection of the throat. This condition is a reaction... read more

People with a throat infection have severe pain with swallowing and usually speaking. The pain is sometimes also felt in the ears. Some people have fever, headache, and an upset stomach. The tonsils are red and swollen and sometimes have white patches on them. Lymph nodes in the neck may become swollen and tender.

In people who have frequent tonsil infections, the normal small pits in the tonsils sometimes become filled with white, hardened secretions that resemble tiny stones. These stones can trap odor-causing bacteria, causing chronic bad breath, and can predispose people to subsequent bouts of tonsillitis.

People with a cold virus infection Common Cold The common cold is a viral infection of the lining of the nose, sinuses, and throat. Many different viruses cause colds. Usually, colds are spread when a person's hands come in contact with... read more often have a runny, congested nose and a cough. People with mononucleosis Infectious Mononucleosis Epstein-Barr virus causes a number of diseases, including infectious mononucleosis. The virus is spread through kissing. Symptoms vary, but the most common are extreme fatigue, fever, sore throat... read more

• A doctor's evaluation

• Sometimes tests to check for strep throat

Doctors recognize a throat infection by viewing the throat. However, because viral infections and bacterial infections often cause the same appearance in the throat, it is difficult for doctors to know whether the cause is a viral or bacterial infection just by looking at the throat. However, people with a runny nose and cough are more likely to have a viral infection.

• Pain relievers (analgesics)

• For strep throat, antibiotics

• Sometimes surgical removal of the tonsils

Analgesics given by mouth, such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), often help reduce pain in people with a throat infection. Gargling with warm salt water has often been recommended but has not been shown to help. Some doctors also give a single dose of a corticosteroid, dexamethasone, particularly if symptoms are severe; dexamethasone may shorten the duration of symptoms. It may also help lessen airway blockage caused by mononucleosis.

People with a strep infection are given an antibiotic, usually penicillin or amoxicillin. People who are allergic to penicillin may be given clindamycin.

People who have repeated streptococcal infections of their tonsils may need to have their tonsils removed (tonsillectomy), according to suggested guidelines.

Typically, it is children who need tonsillectomy, including children who have had more than 6 infections in 1 year, more than 4 infections in each of 2 years, or more than 3 infections per year for 3 years. Doctors consider tonsillectomy if the child has an acute infection that is severe and persistent despite being treated with antibiotics, if the child has significant obstruction (including obstructive sleep disorder) or a recurrent peritonsillar abscess, or if they suspect cancer.

For adults, doctors do not use these specific criteria for when to do tonsillectomy. However, doctors may do tonsillectomy in adults who have severe bad breath due to tonsillar stones.

For both children and adults, doctors do allow for individual differences when deciding whether to recommend a tonsillectomy.

There are numerous effective techniques for tonsillectomy. Doctors can use a scalpel or an electrocautery device, or they can destroy the tonsils using radio waves.

Fewer than 2% of people, adults more than children, have bleeding complications resulting from a tonsillectomy. Bleeding typically occurs within 24 hours of surgery or after about 7 days. People who have bleeding after a tonsillectomy should go to a hospital.

Partial tonsillectomy is sometimes done in patients with tonsillitis that causes some blockage in the throat. Part of the enlarged tonsil can be removed by shaving the tonsil using special scissors, or using other devices such as laser, radiofrequency, or electrocautery. It works as well as total tonsillectomy to relieve airway obstruction that is causing snoring and interruption of sleep. Tonsils do not usually grow back.

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