Managing and Treating Tonsillitis
The next question is, how is tonsillitis treated? Usually the treatment approach will depend on the cause of the infection. While the symptoms of viral and bacterial tonsillitis can be similar, they have different treatment approaches.
Treatment for Bacterial Tonsillitis
Healthcare providers treat bacterial tonsillitis (strep throat) with antibiotics medication. Antibiotics require a prescription. They will administer antibiotics by mouth for 10 days. The type of antibiotics will determine the exact prescription. The most common antibiotics for strep throat are:
- Clindamycin [4]
- Penicillin [5]
- Cephalosporin
It is very important that you follow the instructions from your healthcare provider and complete the dosage of the antibiotics, even if you are feeling better after a couple of days. It is important that you finish the antibiotics, to ensure the infection does not come back, worsen, or spread to other parts of the body.
Treatment for Viral Tonsillitis
Your healthcare provider will give a different treatment approach for viral tonsillitis than he gave for bacterial tonsillitis. The antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis won’t work for tonsillitis caused by viruses. To relieve the symptoms of viral tonsillitis your provider will recommend:
- Fluids to stay hydrated
- Plenty of rest
- Throat lozenges [6]
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
If you have chronic or recurring tonsillitis, your healthcare provider may recommend a procedure known as tonsillectomy. This is a procedure to surgically remove your tonsils. It can only be done by a professional.