Tonsillitis: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments

Causes

Tonsillitis is caused by either a viral or bacterial infection that enters the body through the mouth. It can be due to the common cold, which is a viral infection, or strep throat, which is a bacterial infection. The American Academy of Family Physicians estimated that up to thirty percent of cases are due to the strep bacteria; therefore, viral infections are the most common cause of tonsillitis. It can also be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which is the virus responsible for mononucleosis.