Can the presence of pus/exudate on tonsils help differentiate between viral and bacterial tonsillitis

Date First Published:

May 24, 2012

Last Updated:

May 24, 2012

Report by:

Dr Rachel Green, ST3 Emergency Medicine (Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Emergency Department)

Three-Part Question:

[In a child with acute tonsillitis] can the [presence of pus/exudate on the tonsils] differentiate between a [viral or bacterial cause]