Acute suppurative tonsillitis


What medicine is used for suppurative tonsillitis?
Purulent tonsillitis is clinically mainly due to infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, and other bacteria. It is an acute and severe infection of tonsillitis, and the primary clinical treatment is the use of antibiotics. For example, antibiotics that are administered orally or intravenously, mainly cephalosporin antibiotics are used. If allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics, macrolide antibiotics are used for treatment. Additionally, some Chinese patent medicines that clear heat and detoxify can also be used as adjunctive therapy, such as Ban Lan Gen oral liquid and Yi Qing capsules. The throat can also be treated with some washes; for example, hydrogen peroxide gargle or some commercially available mouthwash can be used for gargling, etc. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional doctor, do not self-medicate.)


Is suppurative tonsillitis uncomfortable?
Suppurative tonsillitis is an acute infection of the tonsils, which is relatively severe and involves purulent changes in the tonsils. Clinically, patients experience severe throat pain, which worsens during swallowing and may even lead to difficulty in eating. Patients may also experience symptoms such as chills and fever. Therefore, suppurative tonsillitis is very distressing, and we need to actively manage it. Generally, we conduct a blood test to check the routine blood parameters and observe the level of white blood cell infection, that is, the white blood cell count. Then, we administer intravenous infusions of antibiotics for treatment.


Dietary restrictions for suppurative tonsillitis
For acute suppurative tonsillitis, dietary caution is indeed necessary. Avoid spicy and stimulating foods, smoking, alcohol, overly hard foods, and allergenic foods, as these can exacerbate existing inflammation and cause further throat pain. Timely medical treatment should be considered. Typically, a complete blood count test is recommended to assess the extent of the inflammatory response. Antibiotics, commonly cephalosporins or penicillins, are generally advised for treatment. Additionally, nebulizer therapy can be considered in conjunction with regular follow-up checks to observe the effects. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)


How many days can suppurative tonsillitis get better?
The treatment and recovery time for acute suppurative tonsillitis is generally about a week, although individual differences exist. If the inflammatory response is relatively mild and the individual's resistance is strong, recovery and relief can typically be achieved within about five days through timely medication. If the inflammation is more severe, or if the individual's resistance is weak, the recovery time may be extended, such as beyond a week. Generally, the condition is primarily an acute bacterial infection, and treatment mainly involves antibiotics to fight the infection. Additionally, treatment can be supplemented with nebulization and traditional Chinese medicine orally. It is also recommended that patients maintain a light diet and regularly check routine blood tests; some may also need to monitor liver and kidney functions.


How many days does suppurative tonsillitis generally cause fever?
Purulent tonsillitis generally causes fever that lasts for three to five days, and patients will experience persistent high fever with body temperatures above 38°C. Purulent tonsillitis is caused by a systemic and throat symptom due to infection with hemolytic streptococcus following a decrease in the body's immunity and resistance. Patients will experience sudden high fever, body temperatures above 38°C, and severe throat pain primarily around the tonsils. Additionally, patients may experience dryness, itchiness, a sensation of a foreign body, a feeling of obstruction, and irritative cough in the throat area. Upon examination, significant congestion and swelling in the throat, enlarged tonsils, and pus plugs covering the surface can be found. In treatment, since tonsillitis is generally a bacterial infection, patients can benefit significantly from orally administered cephalosporin antibiotics. Moreover, patients need to follow a bland diet, abstain from smoking and alcohol, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. Improvement is generally seen around one week. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)


Recurrent fever due to suppurative tonsillitis
Acute suppurative tonsillitis is primarily caused by acute bacterial infection, which may cause recurrent fever and sore throat. Initially, a routine blood test is required to determine the extent of the inflammatory response. If the inflammation is severe, it is necessary to consider timely antibiotic treatment for infection, with commonly used antibiotics being cephalosporins or penicillins. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, antipyretic medication should also be considered. Generally, the treatment period is about one week, and it is necessary to regularly recheck the routine blood test and perform laryngoscopic examinations to dynamically assess the recovery of the condition.


Do you need to be hospitalized for suppurative tonsillitis?
Purulent tonsillitis is a relatively severe type of tonsillitis, mainly caused by bacterial infection leading to inflammation and pus formation in the tonsils. If symptoms are severe, such as intense pain that interferes with eating and swallowing, or even high fever reaching above 38.5 degrees Celsius, hospitalization for intravenous therapy is recommended. If the condition is mild, with no fever and less severe pain and swallowing discomfort not affecting eating, oral medication or outpatient intravenous therapy can be administered.


Which department should I go to for suppurative tonsillitis?
Suppurative tonsillitis is a common disease of the pharyngeal region. Therefore, the first clinical department to consult for suppurative tonsillitis is the otolaryngology department, or the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department in some hospitals. In certain specialist hospitals, such as children's hospitals, there are pediatric otolaryngology departments. For some pediatric patients, they may initially visit the pediatrics department, and some pediatricians can also treat suppurative tonsillitis. For adults, some patients may also visit the respiratory medicine department, since the pharynx is part of the upper respiratory tract, and the department of respiratory medicine also provides relevant treatment. However, fundamentally, suppurative tonsillitis should be treated in the otolaryngology department.


What should I do if I have a fever with suppurative tonsillitis?
Acute purulent tonsillitis often comes with a fever, which is generally caused by an acute bacterial infection. The first step is to check the body temperature. If the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, consider using antipyretic medication. It is also advised to perform a routine blood test to assess the extent of the inflammatory response. Typically, antibiotic treatment is considered to combat the infection, and this may be accompanied by nebulization and the oral intake of traditional Chinese medicine. Most patients can effectively recover with timely treatment. If the treatment does not yield good results, further hospitalization and intravenous therapy might be necessary, along with investigating the possibility of infectious mononucleosis. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)