Tonsillitis and sore throat symptoms
A sore throat with swollen tonsils, fever, swollen glands or white patches can be caused by a virus or by bacteria such as Strep A. Learn when a throat swab can help and when GP assessment is the safer first step.
Many sore throats are viral and settle without antibiotics. Strep A is a bacterial throat infection that can cause tonsillitis or strep throat, and a rapid throat swab can help check whether this bacteria is present.
DocTap offers Strep A testing and Strep A testing with a GP appointment. Book a GP appointment first if symptoms are severe, unclear, recurrent, not improving, or if you have difficulty swallowing fluids, breathing problems or rapidly worsening symptoms.
New to DocTap? Get £5 off
Join our newsletter and get £5 off your first booking.
Thanks — we've received your details.
If there's a next step for you, we'll send it by email.
Create your DocTap account with this email address to claim your £5 off. Offer available to new patients only. Unsubscribe whenever you like.
Symptoms and causes
A sore throat can feel scratchy, dry, burning or painful, especially when swallowing. It may come with a runny nose, cough, hoarse voice, mild fever or feeling generally unwell.
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils at the back of the throat. It can cause painful swallowing, swollen or red tonsils, white spots or coating on the tonsils, swollen glands in the neck, fever, bad breath, headache and tiredness.
Most sore throats and many cases of tonsillitis are caused by viruses. Some are caused by bacteria, including Strep A. You cannot reliably tell whether a sore throat is viral or bacterial by looking at it alone; symptoms, examination and, where appropriate, a swab help guide the next step.
Diagnosis, tests and appointment options
A Strep A test is a rapid throat swab. It checks for a common bacterial cause of tonsillitis and can help guide whether antibiotics may be appropriate.
Testing is most useful when symptoms fit bacterial tonsillitis, such as fever, swollen tonsils, white patches, swollen glands, and little or no cough.
Appointment options that may help:
- Strep A test: test only, with results and a report.
- Strep A test + GP appointment: rapid swab plus GP throat examination and treatment advice.
- GP consultation: best for severe, unclear or recurrent sore throats, or if you are not sure whether testing is the right first step.
See tests and prices on the cold, flu, sore throat and chest infection testing page.
Treatment, antibiotics and urgent symptoms
Most sore throats improve with rest, fluids, simple pain relief and time. Antibiotics do not help viral sore throats.
If Strep A is likely or confirmed, a GP can decide whether antibiotics are appropriate. This is why adding a GP to the Strep A test can be useful when you want examination, interpretation and treatment advice in the same visit.
Book a GP if your sore throat is severe or getting worse, you have a high temperature, swallowing is very painful, symptoms are not improving after a few days, you keep getting tonsillitis, or you are worried about white patches, swollen glands or Strep A.
Seek urgent help if you are struggling to breathe, cannot swallow fluids, are drooling, cannot open your mouth properly, have severe one-sided throat pain, or your voice sounds muffled.
If you are not sure whether you need a test or treatment, book a GP consultation. A DocTap GP can examine your throat and advise on the best next step.