Can suppurative tonsillitis heal itself?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Purulent tonsillitis is a relatively severe acute infectious inflammation of the tonsils, clinically characterized by severe throat pain and difficulty swallowing, even leading to difficulty in eating. The pain worsens during swallowing, and patients may experience symptoms like chills and fever. Therefore, purulent tonsillitis generally cannot heal on its own and requires active intervention. Active anti-infection treatment is necessary, as it cannot be expected to resolve spontaneously. Clinical treatment primarily involves the use of antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, and may even include infusion and other anti-infection treatments.

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Written by Cheng Fu Wei
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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.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
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How is suppurative tonsillitis caused?

The acute onset of suppurative tonsillitis is commonly due to a weakened immune system, which then leads to bacterial infection and thus suppurative tonsillitis. For example, getting chilled or getting caught in the rain, or having a persistent cold. Other common causes include irritation from smoking and alcohol environments, spicy foods, and staying up late. Also, if there is some chronic inflammation in the tonsils, these adverse stimuli make it easier to trigger this type of suppurative inflammation. Therefore, in addition to maintaining a normal routine in daily life, it is also important to check for the presence of chronic tonsillitis. If chronic tonsillitis is present, it's crucial to choose a proper opportunity for surgical treatment, which means performing surgery when it is not in an acute phase, to prevent the recurrence of suppurative inflammation.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Early symptoms of suppurative tonsillitis

The early symptoms of suppurative tonsillitis include fever, muscle weakness, muscle pain, as well as swelling and pain in the throat, and a runny nose. Suppurative tonsillitis is primarily caused by bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract due to lowered immunity and resistance, often resulting from infections by hemolytic streptococci. Patients may exhibit fever, swelling, and pain in the throat area. A thorough examination at a hospital with an electronic laryngoscope and a complete blood count can confirm the diagnosis. The examination may reveal bilateral tonsillar enlargement and congestion, with the presence of pale white or yellowish pus-like secretions on the surface. For treatment, symptomatic anti-inflammatory therapy is required, which may include the use of penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics, usually with good results. In addition, rest and attention to diet are important for gradual improvement during the treatment period.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.)