Pain increases in throat when yawning...?

Two nights ago I woke up in the night and felt an ache in my tonsils, it almost felt like on one side at least they were swelling up... and now they hurt the entire time and have swollen slightly on both sides.

I know that it is obviously either a throat infection or the start of a cold but I just wondered if anyone had any theories on why my throat hurts more when I yawn. Do you think it could be because when I yawn it puts more pressure on my tonsils and the stretches them? If this is the case, do you think that it is more likely an infection or the start of a virus?

I start university at the end of the week so I need to rid myself of this quickly!