Treatments for Tonsilitis
Treatments for Tonsilitis:
Treatment of tonsillitis begins with preventing the spread of the virus or bacterium that can cause it. Prevention measures include avoiding contact with people who have tonsillitis. Preventive measures also include covering your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you sneeze or cough and washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. It is also important to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, with unwashed hands which can transmit the viruses and bacteria from your hands into your body.
It is a good idea not to share glasses, silverware, or personal items, such as mouth guards and toothbrushes and to regularly disinfect surfaces that commonly harbor bacteria and viruses, such as telephones and computer keyboards, especially if they are shared.
Once a person has tonsillitis, treatment includes measures to help keep up strength and hydration and to relieve symptoms so that one is comfortable enough to get the rest needed to recover without developing complications.
Treatment includes plenty of rest and using over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed to ease symptoms, such as fever, headache and sore throat. Aspirin should never be given to children or adolescents who have a fever because of the risk of developing a life-threatening disorder called Reye's syndrome. Good care also includes drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and gargling with warm salted water to ease sore throat.
Antibiotics are only prescribed for tonsillitis that is caused by a bacterial infection, such as in strep throat. The most effective antibiotics for strep throat is generally penicillin. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses that cause tonsillitis. However, antibiotics may be prescribed if a person develops a secondary bacterial infection as a complication of viral tonsillitis, such as a bacterial sinusitis.
Rarely, surgery may be recommended for a person with repeated severe bouts of tonsillitis or tonsillitis that lead to complications, such as peritonsillar abscess. This is called a tonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the tonsils.
Treatment List for Tonsilitis
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
- Pain medications
- Bed rest
- Surgical tonsil removal - a standard treatment in the past, now much less commonly used (mainly for recurring problems).
- Adenoid removal - not commonly required.
- If the tonsillitis is caused by bacteria, then antibiotics are prescribed, with penicillin being most commonly used. Erythromycin is used for patients allergic to penicillin
- Gargling with a solution of warm water and salt
- Chronic cases may indicate tonsillectomy
Alternative Treatments for Tonsilitis
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Tonsilitis may include:
- Aconite homeopathic remedy
- Mercurius homeopathic remedy
- Hepar sulph homeopathic remedy
- Lachesis homeopathic remedy
- Belladonna homeopathic remedy
- more treatments »
Tonsilitis: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Tonsilitis may include:
Hidden causes of Tonsilitis may be incorrectly diagnosed:
Tonsilitis: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Face / Facial / Oral Health Specialists:
- Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists:
- Child Health Specialists (Pediatrics):
- more specialists...»
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Drugs and Medications used to treat Tonsilitis:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Tonsilitis include:
- Ceftibuten - mainly used to treat tonsillitis caused by H. influenaze or M. catarrhalis
- Cedax - mainly used to treat tonsillitis caused by H. influenaze or M. catarrhalis
Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Tonsilitis:
Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Tonsilitis include:
Hospital statistics for Tonsilitis:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Tonsilitis:
- 0.18% (23,300) of hospital consultant episodes were for acute tonsillitis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 98% of hospital consultant episodes for acute tonsillitis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 50% of hospital consultant episodes for acute tonsillitis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 50% of hospital consultant episodes for acute tonsillitis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 82% of hospital consultant episodes for acute tonsillitis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Tonsilitis
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More general information, not necessarily in relation to Tonsilitis,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Tonsilitis:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Tonsilitis:
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