Viral sore throat | Bacterial tonsillitis Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are common disorders that are often described simply as a sore throat. The pharynx connects the back of the mouth and nose to the larynx (voice box) and esophagus (gullet).
The tonsils lie at the top of the pharynx. Tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) is more common in children, because they have large tonsils, which shrink with age.
Adults tend to get pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx). However, both conditions can occur together in adults and children. Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are usually caused by a viral infection, such as the common cold or infectious mononucleosis, but the conditions may sometimes be due to a bacterial or fungal infection.
The symptoms of both conditions are similar and may include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, earache, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. There may also be a fever. In severe cases, there may be breathing difficulty, and occasionally an abscess forms near a tonsil, a condition called peritonsillar abscess or quinsy.
Treatment for pharyngitis and tonsillitis is usually with medication, although surgery may be needed for recurrent tonsillitis or a peritonsillar abscess

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