How is suppurative tonsillitis caused?

Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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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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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.)

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Indications for stopping medication for suppurative tonsillitis

Purulent tonsillitis is an acute bacterial infection in the throat characterized by purulent lesions. Clinical examination reveals congested and enlarged tonsils with greyish-white or white pseudomembranous inflammatory secretions covering the surface of the tonsils or the area of the throat. Active anti-infection treatment is necessary for purulent tonsillitis. The criteria for discontinuing medication include the disappearance of clinical symptoms, such as the absence of sore throat; reduction of tonsil congestion, and reduction or disappearance of the pseudomembrane on the tonsil surface. Additionally, other factors should be considered, such as the results of a complete blood count, with white blood cell levels returning to normal reference ranges. Further considerations include complications such as concurrent arthritis or glomerulonephritis. If clinical examinations or signs suggest these are resolved, cessation of medication for purulent tonsillitis may be considered, typically continuing the process for about one to two weeks. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor)

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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.)

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Observation of the condition in suppurative tonsillitis

Suppurative tonsillitis is an emergency in clinical practice and is a more severe form of acute bacterial tonsillitis. Clinically, it mainly presents as severe throat pain and systemic symptoms such as chills and fever, indicating a serious infection state or symptoms. Therefore, the clinical treatment of suppurative tonsillitis mainly involves anti-infection treatment through infusion. Clinical observation should focus on the condition of the throat area, such as swelling in the throat and the presence of purulent secretions from the tonsils. Secondly, the overall condition of the patient should be observed, including fever, whether the fever subsides or the duration of the fever. Thirdly, the patient's complete blood count can be observed, specifically the white blood cells and neutrophils, which indicate infection, to see if their levels are returning to normal. Other observations can include the renal and urinary system, checking for the presence of red blood cells and proteins.

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How is suppurative tonsillitis treated?

Acute suppurative tonsillitis is primarily considered to be caused by acute bacterial infections. In such cases, it is primarily necessary to conduct a complete blood count test. The main purpose of this test is to examine the increased levels of white blood cells and inflammatory response proteins. If the inflammatory response is not particularly prominent, oral antibiotics are generally sufficient, and this can be supplemented with nebulization and the oral administration of traditional Chinese medicines for auxiliary treatment. If the complete blood count indicates a particularly severe inflammatory response and the symptoms are also prominent, intravenous therapy may need to be considered. In cases where conservative treatment is ineffective and particularly severe, further hospital treatment and systematic examination may be required for an accurate assessment of the condition.