 [ Symptoms ] can a person get tonsilitis if they nolonger have tonsils my son had tonsilitis tonsilitis is a viral infection and does not require an antibiotic however tonsilitis can be caused by strep which is bacterial which requires an antibiotic dr did not do a strep test but perscribed an antibiotic a few days after he got better i developed an extremely sore throat runny nose caughing headache no fever tonsilitis symptoms can i get tonsilitis if i had my tonsils removed if i have a strep infection will my immune system fight it off [ Disease ] i had my tonsils removed when i was 4 and as an adult had tonsillitis many times as my doctor did not remove my tonsils beds i have been asked by doctors if i was sure it was my tonsils that were removed as symptoms so obvious later on in life i am now over 40 i have heard doctors say it is not that uncommon