General practice & primary care · UKMLA & AKT
Tonsillitis
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Sore throat - sudden onset, odynophagia, fever >38°C
- Tonsillar enlargement - erythematous ± white/yellow exudate (does NOT confirm bacterial aetiology)
- Tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy - characteristic of streptococcal infection
- Absence of cough - cough suggests viral URTI, not GABHS
Unilateral painless tonsillar enlargement in an adult = urgent 2-week-wait referral for tonsillar carcinoma. In teenagers with massive tonsillitis + generalised lymphadenopathy + splenomegaly + fatigue, suspect infectious mononucleosis (EBV) - avoid amoxicillin/ampicillin (causes maculopapular rash in up to 90%).
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