Tonsillitis, Angina Causes

Tonsillitis, Angina

     * Introduction
     * Signs and symptoms
     * Causes
     * Evolution and complications
     * Diagnosis
     * Treatment

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Causes

Tonsillitis can be explained by three main causes:

Group A Streptococcus - These common bacteria are responsible for half of all cases of tonsillitis, affecting one person in five (including adults). Many people have no symptoms but can transmit the bacteria. Group A streptococci are bacteria that are likely to cause disease, being at the origin of streptococcal angina.

Various respiratory viruses - influenza virus, in particular, explain most of the remaining 50% of cases of tonsillitis. These infections are sometimes less severe than bacterial infections.

Infectious mononucleosis - caused by Epstein-Barr virus, infectious mononucleosis often trains symptoms of inflammation of the tonsils. In infants, symptoms normally associated with mononucleosis in adults are absent, but cases of tonsillitis are common.