Does white spots on tonsils always mean bacterial?

[Snowinthelow]

Sorry to post this here but there’s more traffic here than health board. After being smug ( internally) about my kids never getting ill we have been absolutely plauged over the last six weeks, bad colds, tonsillitis etc, I’ve taken off so much work as my dcs all taking turns being ill.
I picked up my ds from school today and his breath absolutely reeks, looked down his throat abs horrible white bits on his throat. I’ve had bacterial tonsillitis before and I get very sick with it. Thing is he is in good form, no temp or sore throat or anything. I always thought it meant bacterial if there were white spots.
Does anyone know if you can have a viral version or cold and it does this to tonsils??

Could they be tonsil stones? Google and have a look to compare.

I had white spots on my tonsils last week and they went away after a few days on their own. I felt a bit off but not totally ill.

I think with one of the kids though I would be more cautious.

Apparently not, nurse confirmed DD's as viral.

Adult DS has been really poorly with tonsillitis for two weeks. Fever, fatigue and white spots on tonsils. Gp has just given him second lot of ABs so presume he thinks its bacterial.
However if the child isn't ill I wouldn't do anything.

When I get tonsillitus it's always bacterial and I get white spots on them I always feel dreadful too ,after a couple of days of penicillin I start feeling much better .

Thanks for your messages. He’s still full of energy, my other dc gets bacterial tonsillitis and is always in absolute bits. Just never have had the experience of white areas and not being really ill. He has had a cold but nothing major. I thought tonsil stones were caused by food or debris, could they also be caused by a cold ?

Possibly oral thrush, can be caused by use of asthma inhalers if you don't rinse your mouth out after using. Pharmacist may be able to tell you

I had tonsillitis loads over a period of 2 years. My first episode was awful, I don't remember being that ill before. The next few lots I wasn't very ill for, just a bit of a scratchy throat. My final episode was also dreadful, really ill. I had white spots on my tonsils with all of them. I was only given antibiotics the first time as there's little difference in outcome apparently and it's easy to mix up bacterial and viral tonsillitis.

Thanks fir replies , yeah he’s eaten really well and said his throat feels fine. Just with my other child if they get tonsillitis they get very , very sick and can’t function at all, very high temp etc. I really hope it does h develop, I’ve always thought why’re spots meant bacterial but will just go with how he feels. If he’s in good form will just assume it’s a viral thing.

Ah typos , am trying to study at the same time

I sometimes get them without a sore throat, and hoick them off followed by salt rinsing - they are vile.

My DD just had this, I believe it was viral. Her symptoms were very mild despite the white spots. When I used to get tonsillitis it was brutal, high temp, unable to eat or swallow

I have bacterial tonsillitis and I'm absolutely floored.
His symptoms do sound like tonsil stones as a PP has said. I'd check for that.