This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Board-Certified Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado. With over 15 years of experience, his clinical interests include obesity and weight management, diabetes care, and preventive care, as well as embracing a holistic approach to primary care. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Central Maine Medical Center. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
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Experts say tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus, though sometimes bacteria is the culprit. Your tonsils are two oval-shaped balls of tissue at the back of your throat that help trap germs that come in through your nose or mouth. Tonsillitis occurs when your tonsils are inflamed.[1] Research suggests that tonsillitis typically causes symptoms like swollen tonsils, redness, sore throat, trouble swallowing, white or yellow patches on your tonsils, stiff neck, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.[2] Try not to worry if you have tonsillitis because you have treatment options.
Steps
Trying Home Remedies
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1Get lots of rest at home.[3] People often take one to three days off of work or school, depending upon the severity of their infection. This can be followed by about one full "restful week," often going to work, but postponing social commitments, chores, and other events until you are feeling better. Speak as softly and as little as possible as you are recovering.
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2Drink liquids and eat soft foods to soothe pain and discomfort.[4] You can create a soothing mixture to help relieve tonsillitis pain. Combine 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of honey, 1 teaspoon (2.6 g) of cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar mixed in hot water and drink as needed. Water also helps to prevent dryness and additional irritation of the tonsils.
- Hot teas, warm broth, and other warm liquids can be soothing on the throat.
- In addition to hot drinks, cold ice pops can also soothe throat discomfort.
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3Gargle with warm water and salt.[5] Mix 1 teaspoon (5.6 g) of salt into an 8 ounce (236 mL) glass of warm water. Gargle the salty water, spit it out, and repeat as necessary to relieve the sore throat caused by tonsillitis.
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4Remove any environmental irritants. It is important to minimize any irritants that can worsen tonsillitis, such as dry air, cleaning products, or cigarette smoke.[6] Also, try using a cool-air humidifier that adds moisture to the room.
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5Try lozenges.[7] Many lozenges contain topical anesthetic within them, which can help to diminish pain in your tonsillar area and throat.
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6Consider "alternative remedies."[8] Always consult your doctor prior to trying any of the following alternative remedies, to ensure they are safe for you in consideration of any other medical conditions you may have. There are not recommended for children and adolescents. Options to consider include:
- Papain. This is an anti-inflammatory enzyme that may help to reduce inflammation of the tonsils.
- Serrapeptase. This is another anti-inflammatory enzyme that may help in tonsillitis.
- Slippery elm in lozenge form. This has been shown to aid in pain relief.
- Andrographis. This is aimed at treating symptoms of fever and sore throat.
Getting Professional Treatment
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1Confirm your diagnosis by a throat swab and culture. If you believe you have tonsillitis, it is important to see either your family doctor or an emergency doctor (if you cannot get in to see your family doctor on the same day) to get a throat swab to determine the diagnosis.[9] The biggest concern with tonsillitis is when it is caused by Group A Strep bacteria. This will require medical treatment with antibiotics, as failure to treat it can lead to potentially dangerous complications down the road.
- Your doctor may be able to tell if you have a strep infection with a visual assessment. If you have discolored tonsils, an empty cough, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, and a fever, it’s likely they’ll need to run further tests with a throat swab.
- The good news is that seeking medical treatment promptly usually resolves the infection without complications.
- Tonsillitis may also be caused by other things, such as a viral infection. It is not always caused by strep bacteria; however, it is always best to be seen by a healthcare professional to rule this out and stay on the safe side.
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2Ensure adequate fluid and calorie intake.[10] One of the key things that doctors will want to check in on if you have tonsillitis is whether you are able to consume adequate fluids and food daily. The main thing that would prevent you from achieving these goals is tonsils that are so swollen or painful that it hurts to eat or drink.
- Doctors recommend controlling your pain via medication so you can continue to eat and drink.
- In extreme cases of tonsillar swelling, doctors can administer corticosteroid medication that diminishes the swelling.[11]
- If you are unable to eat or drink, your doctor will likely prescribe IV fluids and calories to tide you by until the corticosteroid and pain medications can take effect and decrease the pain and swelling in your tonsillar area enough for you to consume food and drinks orally.[12]
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3Take pain medications. In almost all cases of tonsillitis, your doctor will recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) as needed for pain control.[13] Both of these medications are available over-the-counter at your local pharmacy; follow the recommended dosing on the bottle.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) tends to be the better choice as it combats fever as well as pain.[14] Most cases of tonsillitis are the result of an infection, so acetaminophen can help to bring your fever down too.
- However, you must be careful with acetaminophen, as it is added to so many medications, which makes it easy to overdose. Make sure to keep track of the total dosage and avoid taking more than three grams per day. Do not drink while taking acetaminophen.
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4Take antibiotics as directed by your doctor.[15] You may be required to take penicillin for 10 days if the doctor determines that bacteria caused your tonsillitis.
- Request an alternative antibiotic if you are allergic to penicillin.
- Finish the antibiotics even if you feel better. Neglecting the remainder of your treatment may result in tonsillitis symptoms returning or worsening, or you may develop complications down the road if you do not finish your prescribed treatment.
- Ask your doctor about what to do if you forget or miss a dose of the antibiotic.
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5Get a tonsillectomy. If antibiotics do not help, or if you experience chronic or frequent tonsillitis, then a tonsillectomy may be the last resort. Frequent tonsillitis happens when a person experiences infection multiple times over one to three years.
- Doctors perform a tonsillectomy to remove the two tonsils from the back of the throat. Besides being the final treatment option for tonsillitis, a tonsillectomy also alleviates sleep apnea or other breathing problems related to enlarged tonsils.
- Doctors generally finish the surgery in one day, but patients fully recover in approximately 7 to 10 days.[16]
- In the United States, criteria for a tonsillectomy are normally 6 or more tonsillar infections over the course of 1 year, 5 infections over 2 consecutive years, or over 3 infections per year over 3 consecutive years.[17]
Warnings
- Follow up with your doctor if you’ve had tonsillitis or a sore throat for over 2 weeks if you’ve also had moderate to severe fatigue, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, or a fever since they could be signs of mono. Mono is most common in teenagers and people in their 20s.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Seek medical help immediately if you experience difficulty swallowing or breathing, high fever, or delirium. These are signs of a more severe infection that can mimic tonsillitis called peritonsillar abscess. This can be fatal and should be treated immediately.⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/tonsillitis.html
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378479
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsillitis-symptoms-causes-and-treatments?page=2
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsillitis-symptoms-causes-and-treatments?page=2
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/basics/treatment/con-20023538
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/basics/treatment/con-20023538
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/basics/treatment/con-20023538
- ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/adenoids_and_tonsils/page5.htm
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsillitis-symptoms-causes-and-treatments?page=2
- ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/871977-treatment
- ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/871977-treatment
- ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/871977-treatment
- ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/871977-treatment
- ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/871977-treatment
- ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-and-prevention-of-streptococcal-tonsillopharyngitis
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/basics/treatment/con-20023538
- ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/871977-treatment
About This Article
To treat tonsillitis, it's important to make an appointment with your doctor or visit an emergency facility so you can start taking antibiotics as soon as possible. To relieve the pain, gargle warm salt water, avoid irritants like cigarettes, and take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) as needed. Get plenty of rest, be sure to stay hydrated, and try to eat normally to keep your strength up. If you aren't feeling better after a few days of treatment, talk to your doctor about getting a tonsillectomy. To learn more from our Doctor of Medicine co-author, like what foods and drinks work best to soothe your tonsillitis, keep reading the article!
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Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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