Tonsillitis isn't contagious but the infections that cause it are (for example, colds and flu). To stop these infections from spreading: stay off work or keep your child at home until you or your child feel better.
Most cases of viral tonsillitis clear up in a few days with fluids and plenty of rest. Antibiotics usually eliminate bacterial tonsillitis (strep throat) in about 10 days. Tonsillitis usually doesn't cause any serious or lasting health problems.
Speak with a boss or supervisor on the phone—don't send an email or a text—as early in the day as possible. Make sure to apologize for the inconvenience. Keep the call short and to the point; your manager doesn't need to know all the gory details.
Tonsillitis caused by a viral infection is generally contagious for between 7 to 10 days, whereas bacterial tonsillitis may be contagious for up to two weeks. In some cases infected individuals are chronic carriers and can be mildly contagious for extended periods of time.
Symptoms of tonsillitis
Your tonsils will be red and swollen, and your throat may be very painful, making swallowing difficult. In some cases, the tonsils are coated or have white, pus-filled spots on them. Other common symptoms of tonsillitis include: high temperature (fever) over 38C (100.4F)
If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most common antibiotic treatment prescribed for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus.
If someone in your household or a friend has tonsillitis, don't use that person's cups, glasses, silverware, toothbrush, or other utensils. And if you have tonsillitis, keep your stuff separate and don't share it with anyone. Don't kiss anyone until you're completely over the tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis refers to the inflammation of the tonsils. It typically occurs as an inflammatory response to an infection. As such, tonsillitis itself is not contagious, but the pathogen responsible for the inflammation is. The tonsils are two small lymph nodes located either side of the back of the throat.
Glandular fever (also knowns as infectious mononucleosisis, or “mono”) is an infection caused by the Epstein Barr virus, a kind of herpes. It usually causes an illness much like tonsillitis, although the symptoms may be more severe and last for a longer period of time.
The 'stay home' symptoms
He says if you feel horrible and are not likely to be productive at work, it makes sense to stay home. "This might be due to the severity of specific symptoms like sore throat or cough, or an overall sense of tiredness and fatigue," he says.
If your fever is 100.5 degrees or higher, stay home. Other signs that you're too sick to go to work include: Coughing. Runny nose.
Tonsillitis symptoms due to strep will often get better within 2 or 3 days after you start the antibiotics. Children with strep throat should be kept home from school or day care until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. This helps reduce the spread of illness.
Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is another cause of sore throats and tonsillitis. With strep throat, the sore throat is often more severe and persists. Tonsillitis is a painful inflammation or infection of the tonsils, the tissue masses located at the back of the throat.
Someone with strep throat should start feeling better in just a day or two after starting antibiotics. Call the doctor if you or your child are not feeling better after taking antibiotics for 48 hours. People with strep throat should stay home from work, school, or daycare until they: No longer have a fever.
An infection causes tonsillitis. Most often it is a viral infection, but it can be a bacterial infection. Tonsillitis does not usually spread between people.
Penile-oral contact is the single highest risk factor for gonococcal tonsillitis.
The most common symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat. The pain can range from a mild, scratchy sensation to feeling like there are sharp needles or shards of glass in the back of your throat. Your child might also have a fever or chills, and it could be hard for them to swallow.
Tonsillitis is most often caused by common viruses, but bacterial infections also can be the cause. The most common bacterium causing tonsillitis is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), the bacterium that causes strep throat. Other strains of strep and other bacteria also may cause tonsillitis.
Today, however, this once common procedure is no longer a standard operating procedure. Why? Dr. DeMarino says that, “There are fewer tonsillectomies due to skepticism in the medical community over its usefulness in infection control and more stringent guidelines.”
For people with tonsillitis, eating hard or sharp foods can be uncomfortable and even painful. Hard foods may scratch the throat, leading to further irritation and inflammation. Foods to avoid include: chips.
Drink water, tea (herbal or decaf), broth, soup, and non-caffeinated sports drinks e.g. Gatorade. Hot tea with lemon and honey can help. Gargle with warm salt-water. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of regular table salt in 8 ounces (240 ml) of warm water, gargle for a few seconds, spit it out, then repeat a few times.
Smoking can make tonsillitis worse. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good. Use a vapourizer or humidifier to add moisture to your bedroom.