Potential tonsillitis- community pharmacy referral

[DiamondTiddler]

Contacted my GP as I woke up with the most terrible pain in one side of my throat. Sent pictures in, which shows swollen and red tonsils white white dots on.
GP surgery has referred me to the community pharmacy minor illness service.

I am concerned that they may not be able to prescribe if that is what I am needing. I have a long history of ENT problems and still recovering from another lot of sinusitis.

I’ve had this, they will examine you then pass the findings back to your GP to prescribe ABs if needed

It could be covid. All 3 in my family thought they had tonsillitis but it turned out to be covid.

Thank you. I feel such a pain as feel I am always on their case with something, but I keep feeling I'm not getting any better and it's one thing after the other.
I am reassured to hear the findings would be passed back to the GP, and grateful to be given this referral at all considering how busy they are. Thank you again

Most tonsillitis is viral, so no guarantees of antibiotics anyway. The pharmacy can just refer you back to the GP if they can't help.

Sympathies though, I only had mine out in my twenties. Tonsillitis as an adult is just miserable.

Some pharmacists have done extra training to be able to prescribe

Oh gosh. I will grab some tests to be sure. I feel generally well in myself apart from tiredness (following bout of sinusitis).
Did you have the white spots on the tonsils too?

You’re welcome. But as my username says, mine turned in to a quinsy which was missed by the community pharmacist…..

Get some soluble codeine while you’re there which is a game changer!

Thank you. I'm not hell bent on getting antibiotics, I was under the impression that the white spots generally indicate bacterial but I know I could be wrong!!

I definitely forgot how rubbish a sore throat is😞

I used to get chronic tonsillitis as a child and young teen.
I always had the spots and was told it was "follicular tonsillitis" horrible stuff.
I was always given antibiotics though

Yes, one did - the rest of us didnt look! Just was so painful and hard to swallow and exactly like when I had tonsillitis

Update! Called the pharmacy to make the appointment. The pharmacist asked for my symptoms, then said she will email the GP to ask them to prescribe antibiotics as sounds exactly like tonsillitis (!). I gave the pharmacist the same information I did the GP. I wonder if I was referred due to the white spots not being so evident at the front of the tonsils, they are more at the back/side so difficult to pick up in a photo.