Double trouble: Necrotizing tonsillitis in the setting of streptococcus pyogenes superinfection in a patient with Epstein-Barr virus

Abstract

Tonsillitis, the inflammation of the palatine tonsils, is a common cause of throat pain. It is most often due to viruses but can also be related to bacteria. Necrotizing tonsillitis is a rare complication of acute tonsillitis with relatively few cases reported in the literature. We present a case of necrotizing tonsillitis in a patient with mononucleosis related to infection by Epstein-Barr virus, with superinfection with Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A streptococcus. To our knowledge, this is the first case of this nature to be reported in the medical literature. While the role of radiologic imaging is generally of limited diagnostic utility in cases of uncomplicated tonsillitis, its use was invaluable in ascertaining the nature and scope of necrotizing tonsillitis in this case. Further research remains to determine whether viral or bacterial superinfection can be used to further stratify patients who present with sore throat.

Keywords

• Sore throat
• Necrotizing tonsillitis
• Mononucleosis
• Group A strep