Tonsillitis treatment

Home remedies for tonsillitis

Whether tonsillitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, at-home care strategies can make you or your child more comfortable and promote recovery.

It is unlikely that your provider will prescribe antibiotics for tonsillitis that is suspected to be caused by a virus.

They may recommend home remedies such as the following:

• Saltwater gargle. A saltwater gargle of 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of table salt to 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of warm water can help soothe a sore throat. Gargle the solution and then spit it out.
• Lozenges. Children over 6 years old can suck on throat lozenges to relieve a sore throat.
• Rest. Get plenty of sleep.
• Drink adequate fluids. Water will keep your throat moist and prevent dehydration.
• Consume comforting foods and beverages. Warm liquids—broth, caffeine-free tea, or warm water—and cold treats like ice pops can soothe a sore throat.
• Humidify the air. Use a cool-air humidifier to eliminate dry air that may further irritate a sore throat or sit for several minutes in a steamy bathroom.
• Avoid irritants. Keep your home free from cigarette smoke and cleaning products that can irritate the throat.
• Treat pain and fever. Talk to your provider about using ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to minimize throat pain and control fever. Low fevers without pain generally do not require treatment.

Except for certain diseases, children and teenagers should not take aspirin to treat symptoms of cold or flu-like illnesses. Doing so has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.

Antibiotics for tonsillitis

If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your provider will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most common antibiotic treatment prescribed for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus.

For people with tonsillitis caused by a bacterial infection, taking antibiotics can stop tonsillitis from being contagious within 24 hours after starting the treatment.

If you or your child is allergic to penicillin, your provider will prescribe an alternative antibiotic.

You should take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed even if your tonsillitis symptoms go away completely. Not taking all of the medication as directed may result in the infection worsening or spreading to other parts of the body.

Not completing the full course of antibiotics can, in particular, increase your risk of rheumatic fever and serious kidney inflammation.

What is a tonsillectomy?

A tonsillectomy¹⁰ is the surgical removal of the tonsils. A tonsillectomy was once a common procedure to treat tonsillitis. Today, a tonsillectomy is usually performed for sleep-disordered breathing. A tonsillectomy may still be a treatment when tonsillitis occurs frequently or doesn't respond to other treatments, like antibiotic treatment.

Frequent tonsillitis is generally defined as:

• More than seven episodes in one year
• More than four to five episodes a year in each of the preceding two years
• More than three episodes a year in each of the preceding three years

A tonsillectomy may also be necessary to treat breathing and other problems related to enlarged tonsils and to treat rare diseases of the tonsils.

Recovery time for a tonsillectomy is usually at least 10 days to 2 weeks.

A tonsillectomy may also be performed if tonsillitis results in difficult-to-manage complications, such as:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Breathing difficulty
• Swallowing difficulty, especially meats and other chunky foods
• An abscess that doesn't improve with antibiotic treatment

A tonsillectomy is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon may cut out the tonsils using a blade (scalpel) or a specialized surgical tool that uses heat or high-energy heat or sound waves to remove or destroy tissues and stop bleeding.

Tonsillectomy is usually done as an outpatient procedure, unless your child is very young, has a complex medical condition, or if complications arise during surgery. An outpatient procedure means your child should be able to go home on the day of the surgery.

Complete recovery from a tonsillectomy usually takes 7 to 14 days.

Tonsillectomy, like other surgeries, has certain risks:

• Reactions to anesthetics. Medication to make you sleep during surgery may cause minor, short-term problems, such as headache, nausea, vomiting or muscle soreness. Serious, long-term problems are rare.
• Swelling. Swelling of the tongue and tissue connecting to the roof of the mouth (soft palate) can cause breathing problems, particularly during the first few hours after the procedure.
• Bleeding during surgery. In rare cases, severe bleeding occurs during surgery and requires additional treatment and a longer hospital stay.
• Bleeding during healing. Bleeding can occur during the healing process, particularly if the scab from the wound is dislodged too soon.
• Infection. Rarely, surgery can lead to an infection that requires further treatment.

Some studies¹¹ have shown that childhood tonsil removal may be associated with an increased risk of later respiratory, allergic, and infectious diseases.

Tonsillectomy can produce short-term improvement¹² in sleep outcomes compared with no surgery in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. However, understanding the long-term effects of tonsillectomy is lacking.

Before a tonsillectomy, you may be asked to provide some of the following information:

• All medications, including over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements, taken regularly
• Personal or family history of adverse reactions to anesthetics
• Personal or family history of bleeding disorders
• Known allergy or other negative reactions to medications, such as antibiotics

Instructions for preparing for a tonsillectomy may include the following:

• Don't take aspirin or other medications containing aspirin for at least two weeks prior to surgery.
• Don't eat anything after midnight before the scheduled surgery. Your surgeon should provide you with instructions about eating food and drinking liquids prior to reporting to the hospital.
• Make arrangements for a ride home.
• Plan for 10 days to 2 weeks or more of recovery time. Adults may need more time than children do.

Tonsillitis medicine

Consult your healthcare provider for specific treatments if you have tonsilitis.

Tonsillitis prevention

The germs that cause viral and bacterial tonsillitis are contagious. Therefore, the best prevention is to practice good hygiene. Teach your child to:

• Wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet and before eating.
• Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses, water bottles or utensils.
• Replace their toothbrush after being diagnosed with tonsillitis.

To help your child prevent the spread of a bacterial or viral infection to others:

• Keep your child at home when he or she is ill.
• Ask your provider when it's all right for your child to return to school.
• Teach your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue or, when necessary, into his or her elbow.
• Teach your child to wash his or her hands after sneezing or coughing.

The germs that cause viral and bacterial tonsillitis are contagious. Therefore, the best prevention is to practice good hygiene. Teach your child to:

• Wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet and before eating.
• Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses, water bottles or utensils.
• Replace their toothbrush after being diagnosed with tonsillitis.

To help your child prevent the spread of a bacterial or viral infection to others:

• Keep your child at home when he or she is ill.
• Ask your provider when it's all right for your child to return to school.
• Teach your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue or, when necessary, into his or her elbow.
• Teach your child to wash his or her hands after sneezing or coughing.