How many days does suppurative tonsillitis last?

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on April 05, 2025
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Purulent tonsillitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in otolaryngology. The causes of purulent tonsillitis are mainly related to stimuli such as exposure to cold, smoking, and drinking, which lead to decreased resistance and bacterial infection. The common pathogens in patients include hemolytic streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus. Patients with purulent tonsillitis will have obvious fever, which usually gradually alleviates within 3-5 days. Initially, sensitive antibiotics should be used for anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. For some patients with high fever, hormones can be used to help reduce fever and inflammation. Additionally, it is recommended to drink plenty of warm water, eat more vegetables and fruits, and consume foods rich in vitamins to enhance the patient's resistance. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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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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 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 fluid should be administered for suppurative tonsillitis?

Purulent tonsillitis is a serious infectious disease clinically, mainly manifesting as severe pain in the pharyngeal area, general malaise in patients, and even symptoms such as chills and fever. Therefore, active treatment is required. Clinical treatment is mainly anti-infection treatment. Infusion primarily uses cephalosporin antibiotics such as ceftriaxone and cefazolin for treatment. To enhance the anti-infection effect and reduce the edema of the patient's throat mucosa, corticosteroid drugs such as dexamethasone or prednisolone are often used simultaneously in the infusion treatment.