Very young children may not say that their throat is sore but may refuse to eat. The tonsils are swollen and bloodshot. Treatment Symptoms of viral tonsillitis are relieved in the same ways as those of pharyngitis. Removing the tonsils is rarely necessary unless the tonsillitis returns repeatedly or is only briefly controlled by antibiotics. It's usually caused by a streptococcal infection but can be caused by other bacterial infections.
Abscess is rare in children but more common in young adults.
Swallowing causes severe pain. A person feels ill, has a fever, and typically tilts the head toward the side of the abscess to reduce pain. Spasms of the chewing muscles make opening the mouth difficult. The abscess pushes the tonsil forward, and the soft palate at the back of the throat is red and swollen. Penicillin is given intravenously.