Is suppurative tonsillitis severe?

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on June 04, 2025
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Purulent tonsillitis is a common disease in otolaryngology and also an emergency condition. It usually develops rapidly, with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and breathing difficulties appearing within 1 to 2 days. Locally, the tonsils may discharge pus or fluid, and the infection may even spread to the peritonsillar space or lead to a peritonsillar abscess. Therefore, patients with purulent tonsillitis should seek medical treatment at a hospital promptly. Treatment usually requires intravenous infusion and symptomatic care, with penicillin being the first choice of medication, followed by cephalosporins. The treatment of purulent tonsillitis requires adequate use of antibiotics and steroids for symptomatic treatment, to quickly control the condition and alleviate symptoms. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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What foods to eat for suppurative tonsillitis

Patients with suppurative tonsillitis, a common case in otolaryngology departments. Suppurative tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection due to exposure to cold, leading to tonsil swelling, inflammation, and localized suppuration. In such cases, the first step should be to conduct routine blood tests, C-reactive protein tests, and throat swab cultures to diagnose the patient's illness. Treatment usually involves the use of penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics to improve inflammation. Dietarily, patients should focus on light food and avoid cold foods, spicy and irritating foods, cold drinks, and hot pots to prevent the exacerbation of suppurative tonsillitis. Regular physical exercise should also be emphasized as it can help boost one's immunity and reduce the occurrence of tonsillitis.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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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Written by Du Jun
Otolaryngology
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What does suppurative tonsillitis look like?

Purulent tonsillitis refers to the acute purulent inflammation of the tonsils, which include the palatine tonsils, pharyngeal tonsils, and tubal tonsils. This text specifically refers to the palatine tonsils. The main cause is bacterial infection, with bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. On examination, purulent tonsillitis can be identified by enlarged tonsils with pus points on the surface. Patients may experience throat pain, fever, and sometimes accompanying symptoms such as cough and a foreign body sensation in the throat. The treatment of acute suppurative tonsillitis primarily involves penicillin and second-generation cephalosporins, and timely and effective treatment can lead to significant relief of symptoms.

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Written by Cheng Fu Wei
Otolaryngology
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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
Otolaryngology
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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.