A bacterial or viral infection that causes inflammation of the tonsils.
Between 15 to 30% of pharyngotonsillitis is caused by bateria.
Anaerobic bacteria usually causes bacterial tonsillitis. The majority of bacterial tonsillitis is caused by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes (GABHS)
GABHS adheres to the epithelium of the tonsils.
Epidemiology
Tonsillitis occures most often in children though it rare in children under 2.
Tonsillitis caused by Strep usually occurs between the ages of 5-15, though viral tonsillitis is more common in younger children.