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A member asked:
Is strep the only thing that causes the tonsils to be red?
8 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
No: Anything that causes irritation or inflammation of the tonsils can cause them them to be red. Viruses (such as typical cold viruses) are actually a more common cause of "red" tonsils than strep bacteria. Allergies, with mucus dripping down the back of the throat, also causes redness of the throat and tonsils.
Answered 10/18/2016
6.3k views
No: Tonsil inflammation and redness can occur due to bacterial and/or viral infections. When a person has "strep throat" this refers to a bacterial infection due to a particulat type of streptococcus bacteria. Red tonsils can occur with viral infections too, such as with mono. A throat culture can help determine if the tonsillitis is due to strep.
Answered 6/11/2014
6.2k views
Related Questions
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Have had cold approx 1 mth. Strep test from 10/15 neg. No pain some burning, white spots on tonsils have turned into red sores. What to do now?
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Can you have strep throat if your tonsils are not red and/or swollen?
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I have these little white bumps around the red of my tonsils. What is that? I just got over strep throat a month ago and my tonsils are now going down
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