Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped organs found in the back of the throat. In addition to swelling, various symptoms can include: sore throat, difficulty swallowing, neck stiffness, fever, headache, white or yellowish plaques on the tonsils that indicate the presence of infection. The cause is often a bacterial or viral infection. Treatments vary according to the etiology and frequency of the disease.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Home Remedies
Step 1. Stay home and get plenty of rest
People often take 1-3 days off from work, depending on the severity of the infection. Once you get back to work, you can spend a whole "quiet week", avoiding social commitments, housework and other demanding situations until you feel better. Speak softly and as little as possible while you are recovering.
Step 2. Drink fluids and eat soft foods to relieve pain and discomfort
You can make yourself a soothing smoothie to soothe the pain. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of boiling water and drink the mixture as needed. The water also avoids drying and further irritating the tonsils.
- A steaming tea, a cup of broth, and other hot liquids help calm the throat.
- In addition to hot drinks, cold substances, such as popsicles, can also soothe discomfort.
Step 3. Gargle with hot water and salt
Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in a 250ml glass of warm water. Then gargle with the mixture, spit it out and repeat if necessary; this way you should experience relief from sore throat caused by tonsillitis.
Step 4. Eliminate irritants present in the environment
You need to make sure to minimize exposure to any irritants that may aggravate the situation, such as dry air, cleaning products, or cigarette smoke. You should also run a cold humidifier to increase the humidity in the room.
Step 5. Eat some balsamic candies
Many of these lozenges contain a topical anesthetic that reduces pain in the tonsil area and throat in general.
Step 6. Consider "alternative remedies"
Be sure to always check with your doctor before trying any of the remedies listed below, to make sure it is safe for you, while also keeping in mind any other health problems you may be suffering from. Among these alternative solutions you can evaluate:
- Papain. It is an anti-inflammatory enzyme that helps reduce inflammation of the tonsils.
- Serrapeptase. It is another enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties, useful in cases of tonsillitis.
- Red elm in tablets. This supplement has been shown to be effective in relieving pain.
- Andrographis (Green Chiretta). Helps manage fever and sore throat symptoms.
Method 2 of 2: Medical Care
Step 1. Have your diagnosis confirmed by having a throat swab for bacterial culture
If you are concerned that you have tonsillitis, it is important to go to your family doctor or the emergency room (if you cannot go to your doctor the same day) so that you have this test and confirm the diagnosis. The tonsillitis of greatest concern is that caused by the group A strep bacteria. This infection requires treatment with antibiotics, as neglecting it over time could lead to potentially serious complications.
- The good thing, however, is that with prompt medical treatment, the infection usually clears up without further problems.
- Tonsillitis can also be caused by other factors, such as a viral infection, and not always by the strep bacteria; however it is always better to visit the doctor to rule this out and remain calm.
Step 2. Get adequate amounts of fluids and calories
One of the main things your doctor will want to check is whether you are able to consume enough fluids and food each day. In fact, your tonsils may be so swollen or painful that you can't eat or drink.
- Doctors usually recommend that you manage your pain by taking medications so that you can still feed yourself.
- In extreme cases, when the tonsils are very swollen, the doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce the edema.
- If you are unable to ingest anything, your doctor may also prescribe an intravenous fluid and calorie intake to keep you strong as you wait for the painkillers and corticosteroids to start working and soothe the pain and swelling just enough to return. to feed yourself normally by mouth.
Step 3. Take some pain relievers
Doctors almost always recommend relieving the discomfort of tonsillitis with paracetamol (Tachipirina) or ibuprofen (Brufen). You can find them both in the pharmacy for free sale; make sure you respect the recommended dosage reported on the leaflet.
- Paracetamol (Tachipirina) is generally the best choice because it fights fever as well as pain. Most cases of tonsillitis are due to an infection, so this drug helps to keep the body temperature in check.
- Use paracetamol with caution though; this substance is added in many pharmacies and consequently it is easy to abuse it, even without realizing it. Be sure to check the total dosage and avoid taking more than 3 grams per day. Also avoid drinking alcohol when taking this drug.
Step 4. Take the antibiotics carefully following the doctor's instructions
If he thinks the cause of your infection is bacterial, he may prescribe penicillin for 10 days.
- If you are allergic to this active ingredient, ask your doctor for alternative antibiotics.
- Complete the course of medication even if you start to feel better. If you neglect therapy, treat yourself irregularly, or don't complete a course of antibiotics, you could cause relapses, aggravate tonsillitis, or even develop complications over time.
- Ask your doctor what to do if you forget to take your medications or do it the wrong way.
Step 5. Undergo a tonsillectomy
If antibiotics don't solve the problem or if you have chronic or frequent tonsillitis, this may be your last resort. The term "frequent tonsillitis" refers to several tonsil infections over a period of 1 to 3 years.
- The surgeon performs a tonsillectomy to remove the tonsils from the back of the throat. In addition to being the ultimate solution to your problem, this surgery also helps relieve sleep apnea or other breathing problems related to inflamed tonsils.
- The surgery typically takes only one day of hospitalization, but it takes about 7-10 days to heal completely.
- In the United States, tonsillectomy is usually performed when 6 or more infections occur over the course of 1 year, 5 infections for 2 consecutive years, or more than 3 infections per year for 3 consecutive years.
