Tonsillitis, how to know when it's bacterial or viral?

[TheWorldturnedUpsideDown]

Dd unwell, hot and cold... How do people know when they need antibiotics for it?

Bump

Generally, if you have white spots on the back of your throat and tonsils, it’s bacterial (strep throat). If just red and inflamed, it’s viral. But GP can confirm.

I have a history of minor bacterial infections so when I got tonsillitis due to not having a cold before hand it was presumed by the GP it was bacterial.

If it’s been going on for a few days can you not take her to the doctors and let them decide if antibiotics are needed? Here in the US they would test for Strep whilst you wait and give antibiotics if it comes back positive.

I had my tonsils out and dd suffered a lot and various doctors said if there was a temperature it was one and no temperature the other but can't remember which. Though looking back dd almost always had a temp and we were almost always given antibiotics so maybe temp=bacterial

www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/tonsillitis

If it's bacterial, it needs treating before it turns into quinsy

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng84/chapter/Terms-used-in-the-guideline

NICE guidelines.

Our GP gave immediate antibiotics for a temperature over 40 that wouldn’t go below 39 even with max paracetamol and ibuprofen on board (in a child). So my rule of thumb is if max medication isn’t controlling the temp, then it’s definitely worth a trip to the GP..

Thanks I'll take her anyway to have a look.
I don't want anything developing over Xmas.