Tonsillitis

In patients with symptoms that do not resolve after 7 days, an otolaryngological opinion and/or further testing may be necessary. Routine follow-up of throat cultures in patients who have received a full course of antibiotics is not necessary. However, a follow-up culture may be appropriate for patients with a history of rheumatic fever and for those who develop acute pharyngitis during outbreaks of either acute rheumatic fever or post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis. Follow-up culture may also be appropriate during outbreaks of group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in closed communities.