Tonsillitis

This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:

• History of condition - infection, frequency of attacks
• History of treatment
• History of associated features such as ear infections, snoring, sleep apnoea

Tests

• FBE
• IM titre (Monospot) to exclude glandular fever - but do not delay for results if Quinsy is suspected

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the ENT clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Direct link to Health Pathways - Tonsillitis page

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩 Quinsy - Severe odynophagia with trismus and presence of unilateral tonsillar displacement with uvula displacement and cervical lymphadenopathy

🚩 Tonsillar haemorrhage - post operative or spontaneous

🚩 Severe acute tonsillitis unable to tolerate fluids

🚩 Severe acute tonsillitis with noisy breathing/breathing difficulty/voice changes/severe pain

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Routine (Category 3)

• 6 episodes in the last 12 months
• 4 episodes per year in the past 2 years
• 2-3 episodes per year for the past 3 years

Next available appointment

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information

South

Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454

To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.