If the tonsils are primarily affected, it is called tonsillitis. If the throat is primarily affected, it is called pharyngitis. A child might even have inflammation and infection of both the tonsils and the throat. This would be called pharyngotonsillitis. These infections are spread by close contact with other individuals.
Bacterial infections are more common during the winter.
Viral infections are more common in summer and fall. Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are most commonly seen in children between the ages of 6 and 8. There are many causes of infections in the throat. The symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis depend greatly on the cause of the infection and the person affected. The following are the most common symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis.