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Sore Throat & Tonsillitis Treatment Online

See a bulk billed telehealth GP for sore throat or tonsillitis. Get antibiotics where appropriate, throat swab referrals, and same-day medical certificates from home.

Can a telehealth GP treat sore throat or tonsillitis online?

Yes. An AHPRA-registered GP at NewDoc can assess sore throat or tonsillitis by video, ask you to show the back of your throat to the camera, and decide whether the cause is most likely viral or bacterial. Where antibiotics are clinically appropriate (most often a 10-day course for strep throat or bacterial tonsillitis), an eScript is sent to your phone within minutes. The consultation, eScript, and any medical certificate are bulk billed for eligible Medicare cardholders.

Most sore throats are viral and need only rest, fluids, and pain relief — your GP will tell you when antibiotics are warranted. Seek emergency care for difficulty breathing or swallowing, drooling, a muffled voice, severe one-sided throat pain with high fever (possible peritonsillar abscess), or noisy breathing in children.

What is a sore throat?

A sore throat (pharyngitis) is inflammation of the back of the throat. Tonsillitis is a related condition where the inflammation specifically affects the tonsils, often with visible white or yellow patches. Both cause pain on swallowing, redness, and often fever or swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses such as those that also cause colds, flu, or glandular fever, and resolve on their own within a week. A smaller proportion are caused by bacteria — most commonly Group A streptococcus (strep throat) — and may benefit from antibiotic treatment. Telehealth is well suited to the initial assessment because the GP can observe the throat by video and ask the questions needed to estimate whether a bacterial cause is likely.

Symptoms of sore throat and tonsillitis

Typical symptoms include:

  • Pain or scratchiness at the back of the throat, worse with swallowing
  • Red or inflamed throat, sometimes with white or yellow exudate on the tonsils
  • Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck
  • Fever, headache, and feeling generally unwell
  • Bad breath, hoarse voice, or a muffled "hot potato" voice (red flag — see below)
  • In children: refusing food or drink, drooling, irritability

Cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis tend to suggest a viral cause; their absence, especially with high fever, swollen tonsils with exudate, and tender neck lymph nodes, increases the probability of strep throat.

When to see a GP, and when to go straight to an ED

Book a GP (in person or via bulk billed telehealth) if your sore throat is severe, lasts longer than a week, is recurrent, comes with high fever or significant tonsil swelling, or is accompanied by a rash. People at risk of acute rheumatic fever should see a GP early for any sore throat.

Attend an emergency department, or call 000, if you have any of the following red-flag features, which may indicate a peritonsillar abscess (quinsy), epiglottitis, deep neck infection, or another serious cause:

  • Difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, or stridor (especially in children)
  • Difficulty swallowing or drooling because of pain
  • Muffled or "hot potato" voice
  • Severe one-sided throat pain with high fever (possible peritonsillar abscess)
  • Severe neck stiffness or swelling
  • Inability to keep fluids down or signs of dehydration

For these features, do not delay by booking telehealth — go straight to an emergency department.

How a telehealth GP can help with a sore throat

A NewDoc telehealth GP can take a focused history, observe the throat by video, and apply validated decision tools (such as the modified Centor criteria) to estimate the probability that your sore throat is bacterial. This guides whether antibiotics are appropriate, or whether testing or in-person review is needed.

During the consult, your GP can:

  • Send an eScript for a first-line oral antibiotic course (typically 10 days, per Australian Therapeutic Guidelines) when strep throat or bacterial tonsillitis is clinically suspected, with an alternative selected if you have a penicillin allergy
  • Issue a pathology referral for a throat swab or for FBC and EBV serology if glandular fever is suspected
  • Refer you to an ENT specialist for recurrent tonsillitis or suspected complications
  • Issue a medical certificate for work, school, or carer's leave (backdated where appropriate)

For eligible Medicare cardholders, the consultation, eScript, referral, and certificate are all bulk billed with no out-of-pocket cost. Antibiotics themselves are usually subsidised under the PBS at your pharmacy. For background on what telehealth GPs can and can't do for sore throat, see our companion guide: Can a telehealth GP treat sore throat?

Treatment options for sore throat and tonsillitis

For most viral sore throats, treatment is supportive: paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and fever, warm fluids, lozenges or throat sprays, and rest. Most patients improve within 5 to 7 days. Honey may help in adults and children over 12 months but should not be given to infants under 12 months. Antibiotics are not indicated for viral sore throat.

When bacterial pharyngitis or tonsillitis is clinically suspected, the standard Australian first-line treatment is a 10-day course of an oral antibiotic per current Therapeutic Guidelines, with an alternative selected for patients who have a penicillin allergy. The full course should be completed even if symptoms resolve earlier, because a partial course leaves bacteria behind and increases the risk of recurrence and, rarely, complications such as acute rheumatic fever.

Australian Therapeutic Guidelines and the RACGP recommend a more conservative approach to antibiotics for sore throat in low-risk adults than has historically been the case, because most sore throats are viral and antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern. In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and other groups at higher risk of acute rheumatic fever, RHDAustralia guidelines recommend antibiotic treatment for all sore throats with even modest clinical suspicion of strep, regardless of Centor score.

Glandular fever and other less common causes

Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), caused by Epstein-Barr virus, can cause severe sore throat, particularly in teenagers and young adults. Features include profound fatigue, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits, and sometimes a rash. The diagnosis is confirmed with a blood test (FBC, monospot, EBV serology). Antibiotics do not help, and certain antibiotic groups can cause a characteristic rash if given by mistake — which is why your GP will consider glandular fever before prescribing.

Less common but important causes of sore throat include peritonsillar abscess (quinsy), epiglottitis (rare since the Hib vaccine), oral thrush, gonococcal pharyngitis, and head and neck cancers in older adults with persistent symptoms. Your GP will consider these based on your history and arrange in-person review or referral if any are suspected.

Recurrent tonsillitis

Recurrent tonsillitis is common in children and young adults. The Paradise criteria are often used to consider whether tonsillectomy may help, with thresholds typically of seven episodes in a year, five per year for two years, or three per year for three years.

A telehealth GP can review your episode history, organise pathology if needed, and refer you to an ENT specialist for assessment and consideration of surgery. Specialist referrals are sent electronically and are valid for 12 months.

References

This content is informational and does not replace individual medical advice. For personal assessment, book a consultation with your GP. In emergencies, call 000.

Reviewed by Dr. Jason Yu FRACGP

Last reviewed 10 May 2026. Editorial policy

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Frequently asked questions

Can a telehealth GP treat a sore throat?

Yes. A telehealth GP can assess sore throat by video, take a clinical history, ask you to show the back of your throat to the camera, and decide whether the cause is most likely viral (which does not need antibiotics) or bacterial (which may benefit from them). Where antibiotics are clinically appropriate, an eScript is sent to your phone within minutes.

Will I get antibiotics for a sore throat via telehealth?

Antibiotics are only recommended for sore throat caused by Group A streptococcus (strep throat) or other bacterial infections, not for viral sore throats — which make up the majority of cases. Your GP will use criteria such as the modified Centor score (fever, tonsillar exudate, tender lymph nodes in the neck, and absence of cough) and your individual risk factors to decide. Inappropriate antibiotic use is a major driver of antibiotic resistance, so your GP will only prescribe when the clinical picture supports it.

Do I need a throat swab to get treatment?

Not always. For typical, uncomplicated cases your GP can usually decide based on your symptoms and the appearance of your throat. A throat swab (microscopy, culture and sensitivity) may be requested if the picture is unclear, if you are at higher risk of complications, if symptoms are recurrent, or if rheumatic fever is a concern (particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, Pacific Islander patients, or those from communities with high rates of acute rheumatic fever).

What is the difference between sore throat and tonsillitis?

Sore throat (pharyngitis) refers to inflammation of the back of the throat from any cause. Tonsillitis specifically describes inflammation of the tonsils, often with visible white or yellow exudate, and is more likely to be bacterial. Both conditions present with throat pain on swallowing, and both can be assessed via telehealth in the first instance.

Could my sore throat be glandular fever?

Glandular fever (caused by Epstein-Barr virus) often causes severe sore throat with white patches on the tonsils, alongside profound fatigue, swollen lymph nodes (especially in the neck and armpits), and sometimes a rash. It is most common in teenagers and young adults. Your GP can request a blood test (FBC, monospot, EBV serology) to confirm. Glandular fever does not respond to antibiotics, and certain antibiotic groups can cause a characteristic rash if given by mistake — which is one reason your GP is careful to consider glandular fever before prescribing.

When should sore throat be seen in person or at an emergency department?

Attend an emergency department, or call 000, if you have severe difficulty swallowing or breathing, drooling, a muffled or 'hot potato' voice, severe one-sided throat pain with high fever (which may suggest a peritonsillar abscess or quinsy), or if your neck becomes very stiff or swollen. Children with stridor (a high-pitched noise on breathing in) need urgent in-person assessment. For all of these features, do not delay by booking telehealth — go straight to ED.

Can I get a medical certificate for sore throat or tonsillitis?

Yes. If your GP determines that you are unfit for work or study, they can issue a medical certificate during the telehealth consultation, sent electronically within minutes. Certificates can be backdated to the start of your symptoms where appropriate.

How long does sore throat usually last?

Most viral sore throats settle within 5 to 7 days with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relief. Bacterial sore throat treated with antibiotics typically improves within 24 to 48 hours of starting treatment, though the full antibiotic course (usually 10 days for strep throat) should be completed even if symptoms resolve earlier. If sore throat persists beyond two weeks or is recurrent, your GP can investigate further and consider an ENT referral.

Can children with sore throat be assessed via telehealth?

Yes, telehealth is suitable for assessing children with sore throat in the first instance. NewDoc GPs can assess via video, ask the parent to show the throat to the camera, and decide whether antibiotics are needed. Some children — particularly those who are very unwell, drooling, refusing fluids, or have noisy breathing — need urgent in-person assessment. Your GP will tell you what is appropriate.

What about recurrent tonsillitis or strep throat?

If you have had multiple episodes of tonsillitis or strep throat, your GP can review your history, organise pathology, and refer you to an ENT specialist for assessment. The Paradise criteria (typically seven episodes in a year, five episodes per year for two years, or three per year for three years) are commonly used to consider tonsillectomy. Telehealth is well suited to starting this referral pathway.

Is the sore throat consultation bulk billed?

Yes. NewDoc bulk bills telehealth consultations for eligible Medicare cardholders, so there is no out-of-pocket cost for the GP appointment. Any eScript, throat swab referral, blood test referral, ENT specialist referral, or medical certificate issued during the consultation is included at no extra charge. Antibiotics themselves are usually subsidised under the PBS at your pharmacy.

How does online sore throat treatment work?

Book a bulk billed telehealth consultation, describe your symptoms, and show the back of your throat to the camera. Your GP will assess the appearance, take a clinical history, and either reassure you and recommend symptomatic care, prescribe antibiotics if a bacterial cause is suspected, or arrange a throat swab if testing will change management. Any eScript or referral is sent electronically within minutes of the consultation ending.

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