Hot teas, warm broth, and other warm liquids can be soothing on the throat. In addition to hot drinks, cold ice pops can also soothe throat discomfort.
Papain. This is an anti-inflammatory enzyme that may help to reduce inflammation of the tonsils. Serrapeptase. This is another anti-inflammatory enzyme that may help in tonsillitis. Slippery elm in lozenge form. This has been shown to aid in pain relief. Andrographis. This is aimed at treating symptoms of fever and sore throat.
Your doctor may be able to tell if you have a strep infection with a visual assessment. If you have discolored tonsils, an empty cough, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, and a fever, it’s likely they’ll need to run further tests with a throat swab. The good news is that seeking medical treatment promptly usually resolves the infection without complications. Tonsillitis may also be caused by other things, such as a viral infection. It is not always caused by strep bacteria; however, it is always best to be seen by a healthcare professional to rule this out and stay on the safe side.
Doctors recommend controlling your pain via medication so you can continue to eat and drink. In extreme cases of tonsillar swelling, doctors can administer corticosteroid medication that diminishes the swelling. [11] X Research source If you are unable to eat or drink, your doctor will likely prescribe IV fluids and calories to tide you by until the corticosteroid and pain medications can take effect and decrease the pain and swelling in your tonsillar area enough for you to consume food and drinks orally. [12] X Research source
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) tends to be the better choice as it combats fever as well as pain. [14] X Research source Most cases of tonsillitis are the result of an infection, so acetaminophen can help to bring your fever down too. However, you must be careful with acetaminophen, as it is added to so many medications, which makes it easy to overdose. Make sure to keep track of the total dosage and avoid taking more than three grams per day. Do not drink while taking acetaminophen.
Request an alternative antibiotic if you are allergic to penicillin. Finish the antibiotics even if you feel better. Neglecting the remainder of your treatment may result in tonsillitis symptoms returning or worsening, or you may develop complications down the road if you do not finish your prescribed treatment. Ask your doctor about what to do if you forget or miss a dose of the antibiotic.
Doctors perform a tonsillectomy to remove the two tonsils from the back of the throat. Besides being the final treatment option for tonsillitis, a tonsillectomy also alleviates sleep apnea or other breathing problems related to enlarged tonsils. Doctors generally finish the surgery in one day, but patients fully recover in approximately 7 to 10 days. [16] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source In the United States, criteria for a tonsillectomy are normally 6 or more tonsillar infections over the course of 1 year, 5 infections over 2 consecutive years, or over 3 infections per year over 3 consecutive years. [17] X Research source
