A throat so sore you can barely swallow, with white patches on the tonsils, brings tonsillitis to mind. The NHS says tonsillitis symptoms usually go away after 3 to 4 days, though they can last longer. Tonsillitis itself isn’t contagious, but most of the infections that cause it, like colds and flu, are. It’s most often viral and clears up on its own; if it’s bacterial, a GP may prescribe antibiotics. See a GP if symptoms last more than 1 week; call 111 for pus-filled spots on the tonsils or pain so bad you can’t eat or drink; and go to A&E straight away for swelling inside the mouth and throat or difficulty speaking, swallowing, breathing or opening your mouth. This sets out the NHS page “Tonsillitis”.
1. Usually gone in 3 to 4 days. Tonsillitis isn’t contagious, but most infections that cause it are.
2. Rest, cool drinks, painkillers, salt-water gargle (adults only: half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water).
3. Over 1 week: GP. Pus spots or can’t eat: 111. Throat swelling, trouble breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth: A&E.
Symptoms — NHS
| Type | Symptoms (NHS) | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Common | Sore throat, problems swallowing, high temperature, coughing, headache | Same in adults and children |
| Common | Feeling or being sick, earache, tiredness | Overlaps with earache |
| More severe | Swollen, painful neck glands | — |
| More severe | Pus-filled spots or white patches on the tonsils | Links to the 111 advice |
| More severe | Bad breath | See bad breath |
A sore throat without tonsillitis is covered in sore throat, earache in earache, and bad breath in bad breath.
Treating it yourself — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Rest; drink cool drinks | — |
| Do | Paracetamol or ibuprofen | — |
| Do | Gargle half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, then spit it out | Don’t swallow it |
| Don’t | Give aspirin to children under 16 | — |
| Don’t | Let children gargle salt water — young children shouldn’t gargle at all | — |
To avoid spreading infection, stay home with a high temperature or if too unwell for usual activities, use tissues, and wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. A pharmacist can suggest lozenges with a local anaesthetic, antiseptic or anti-inflammatory, throat sprays (with little evidence they help) or antiseptic solutions.
Where to go — NHS
| Where | When | Worth noting (our gloss) |
|---|---|---|
| GP (non-urgent) | Symptoms don’t go within 1 week; you keep getting throat infections | — |
| 111 (now) | Pus-filled spots on the tonsils; so painful it’s hard to eat or drink | — |
| 999 or A&E | A severe sore throat that quickly gets worse; swelling inside the mouth and throat | — |
| 999 or A&E | Difficulty speaking, swallowing, breathing or opening your mouth | The NHS calls these signs of quinsy |
Don’t drive yourself to A&E, and bring your medicines.
What a GP does — NHS
- Usually diagnoses from symptoms and a look at the throat; may take a throat swab to check for bacteria
- A blood test for glandular fever if it’s severe or lasting
- Viral (most common) clears on its own; bacterial may need antibiotics — usually decided after test results
- Removing the tonsils is very rare and only considered for severe tonsillitis that keeps coming back
Checklist
- ☐ Rest, cool drinks, painkillers
- ☐ Adults: salt-water gargle (half a teaspoon); children: no gargling
- ☐ Lasting over 1 week: GP
- ☐ Pus spots or can’t eat: get advice now
- ☐ Can’t open your mouth or breathe easily: A&E
Questions that remain
Do I need antibiotics?
The NHS says tonsillitis is mostly viral and clears on its own; antibiotics are for bacterial cases, usually decided after test results.
Will my child catch it?
Tonsillitis itself isn’t contagious, but most of the infections that cause it, such as colds and flu, are.
Sources
- NHS — Tonsillitis — source (page shows: reviewed 8 March 2024, next review 8 March 2027; checked 14 October 2026). Symptoms, 3 to 4 days, contagiousness, half a teaspoon, under 16, pharmacy, 1 week, 111 and 999, tests, antibiotics, tonsillectomy.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on tonsillitis.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column.
Where else to check
- Your GP or an ENT clinic — if it lasts over a week or you see pus.
Written on 14 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment.
