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Treatment of tonsillitis begins with preventing the spread of the virus or bacterium that can cause it. Prevention measures include avoiding contact with people who have tonsillitis. Preventive measures also include covering your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you sneeze or cough and washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. It is also important to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, with unwashed hands which can transmit the viruses and bacteria from your hands into your body.
It is a good idea not to share glasses, silverware, or personal items, such as mouth guards and toothbrushes and to regularly disinfect surfaces that commonly harbor bacteria and viruses, such as telephones and computer keyboards, especially if they are shared.
Once a person has tonsillitis, treatment includes measures to help keep up strength and hydration and to relieve symptoms so that one is comfortable enough to get the rest needed to recover without developing complications.
Treatment includes plenty of rest and using over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed to ease symptoms, such as fever, headache and sore throat. Aspirin should never be given to children or adolescents who have a fever because of the risk of developing a life-threatening disorder called Reye's syndrome. Good care also includes drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and gargling with warm salted water to ease sore throat.
Antibiotics are only prescribed for tonsillitis that is caused by a bacterial infection, such as in strep throat. The most effective antibiotics for strep throat is generally penicillin. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses that cause tonsillitis. However, antibiotics may be prescribed if a person develops a secondary bacterial infection as a complication of viral tonsillitis, such as a bacterial sinusitis.
Rarely, surgery may be recommended for a person with repeated severe bouts of tonsillitis or tonsillitis that lead to complications, such as peritonsillar abscess. This is called a tonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the tonsils.
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Tonsilitis includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Tonsilitis may include:
The first step in getting correct treatment is to get a correct diagnosis. Differential diagnosis list for Tonsilitis may include:
Hidden causes of Tonsilitis may be incorrectly diagnosed:
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Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Tonsilitis include:
Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Tonsilitis include:
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