Tonsillitis treatments

Tonsils are the two soft tissue masses in the back of your throat. ( RELATED: Most of the time tonsillitis will go away on its own in about five to seven days, explains If your sore throat seems to keep getting worse (or has not improved after about three days), you’re in a lot of pain when you eat or drink, or you have a fever of at least 101 degrees F, you’ll want to see your doctor to get it checked out, Dr. Clark says. Here’s what to expect. Tonsillitis is most often a clinical diagnosis, which means it is usually diagnosed based on signs and symptoms of tonsillitis, so your doctor will start by asking you about your symptoms and giving you a physical exam, says “I make sure to look in the back of their throat to see if the tonsils are red or inflamed, and have white patches or some [pus],” Dr. Rowan says. “I look to see if one side is more swollen than the other and feel their neck to check for swollen lymph nodes.” Your doctor will also likely do a throat swab, which, like it sounds, is when the doctor uses a cotton swab to collect a sample of fluids from the back of the throat. ( Doctors want to rule out strep throat as an underlying cause when tonsillitis is suspected because strep throat does require treatment with antibiotics, since it is a bacterial infection. It’s important to make sure there aren’t any other underlying causes for throat pain that require other treatment, Clark says. RELATED: Diagnosing tonsillitis might also include these actions: (2) • Using ...

tonsillitis. This condition is inflammation of the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat, one tonsil on each side. Signs and symptoms include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck. Most cases are caused by infection with a common virus, but bacterial infections also may cause tonsillitis. Because the appropriate treatment depends on the cause, it’s important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Surgery to remove tonsils, once a common procedure to treat this condition, is usually performed only when bacterial tonsillitis occurs frequently, doesn’t respond to other treatments or causes serious complications. Tonsillitis Symptoms This condition most commonly affects children between preschool ages and the mid-teenage years. Common signs and symptoms include: • Red, swollen tonsils • White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils. • Sore throat • Sore head and neck. • Difficult or painful swallowing. • Fever • Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck. • A scratchy, muffled or throaty voice. • Bad breath • Stomachache, particularly in younger children. • Stiff neck • Headache In young children who are unable to describe how they feel, signs of tonsillitis may include: • Drooling due to difficult or painful swallowing. • Refusal to eat. • Unusual fussiness. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis if your child has symptoms that may indicate tonsillitis. Call ou...