Question 12
Original source text (the exact panel preserves diagram labels, tables and choices):
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped pads of tissue
located at the back of the throat, one on each side. The condition primarily affects
children and teenagers. Tonsillitis can be caused by either a virus or a bacterium.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378479#
Which of the following is a key difference in how a doctor would treat viral versus
bacterial tonsillitis?
A. A doctor would prescribe antibiotics for viral tonsillitis because the medication will
directly kill the virus, whereas for bacterial tonsillitis, the body's immune system is
left to fight the infection naturally
B. A doctor would prescribe antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis because these
medications are designed to destroy bacteria or stop them from reproducing.
Viruses, however, do not have the same cellular structures as bacteria, so
antibiotics are ineffective against them.
C. A doctor would recommend rest and fluids for both viral and bacterial tonsillitis, but
would only prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms of bacterial tonsillitis last for more
than two weeks, as this is when the infection becomes serious.
D. A doctor would use antivirals for both because they are effective against all types
of germs, but would only use antibiotics as a last resort if the patient's symptoms
worsened and a secondary bacterial infection developed.
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped pads of tissue
located at the back of the throat, one on each side. The condition primarily affects
children and teenagers. Tonsillitis can be caused by either a virus or a bacterium.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378479#
Which of the following is a key difference in how a doctor would treat viral versus
bacterial tonsillitis?
A. A doctor would prescribe antibiotics for viral tonsillitis because the medication will
directly kill the virus, whereas for bacterial tonsillitis, the body's immune system is
left to fight the infection naturally
B. A doctor would prescribe antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis because these
medications are designed to destroy bacteria or stop them from reproducing.
Viruses, however, do not have the same cellular structures as bacteria, so
antibiotics are ineffective against them.
C. A doctor would recommend rest and fluids for both viral and bacterial tonsillitis, but
would only prescribe antibiotics if the symptoms of bacterial tonsillitis last for more
than two weeks, as this is when the infection becomes serious.
D. A doctor would use antivirals for both because they are effective against all types
of germs, but would only use antibiotics as a last resort if the patient's symptoms
worsened and a secondary bacterial infection developed.