Tonsillitis can feel like a bad cold or flu. The tonsils at the back of your throat will be red and swollen. The main symptoms in children and adults are: a sore throat.

How does tonsillitis make you feel?

What are the symptoms of tonsillitis? A sore throat is the most common of all tonsillitis symptoms. You may also have a cough, high temperature (fever), headache, feel sick (nausea), feel tired, find swallowing painful, and have swollen neck glands. The tonsils may swell and become red.

What can be mistaken for tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis and strep throat are similar illnesses that affect the inside of the throat and surrounding tissue. They also share many of the same symptoms, including sore throat, headache, fatigue, and fever. Because tonsillitis and strep throat are so similar, it can be difficult to tell them apart.