Introduction
The duration of an acute tonsillitis depends largely on the type of pathogen. There are two main groups, bacteria and viruses. Acute viral tonsillitis is more common, but usually less severe.
Unfortunately, a viral infection can only be treated symptomatically, i.e. one only combats the symptoms and gives the body enough time to recover. Therefore, viral infections usually have a much longer course. It should be noted that acute viral tonsillitis in the majority of cases develops at the bottom of a classical flu (influenza).
This usually only subsides completely after a period of more than 8 weeks. Many patients are often unsettled because they have the feeling that the prescribed therapy will not work or that the medication is not effective. Understandably, a duration of 2 months is not necessarily pleasant for the patient.
In the case of acute viral tonsillitis, improvement can be expected after just one to two weeks. However, any previous flu-like symptoms remain, so that complete freedom from symptoms can only be expected after a period of 1-2 months. The unpleasant acute tonsillitis will subside within 1-2 weeks after treatment. The healing process can be accelerated by fluid intake and bed rest.
Acute bacterial tonsillitis
The situation is different with bacterial infections: For them, they come quickly and go quickly – but only with drug therapy. In the case of acute bacterial tonsillitis, antibiotic therapy is indispensable. There are some household remedies, anaesthetic throat sprays and cooling compresses.
However, an acute bacterial tonsillitis can quickly become very unpleasant and can include everything from sore throat to difficulty swallowing to acute shortness of breath. The drug of choice is penicillin. It is taken over a period of about 10 days, usually twice a day.
Already after the 2nd day a significant reduction in symptoms should have been achieved. After five days, the symptoms have usually subsided to such an extent that many patients stop taking the remaining antibiotic tablets – a mistake, as there are usually still bacteria in the mouth-throat area which promote a renewed infection. The antibiotics should continue to be taken beyond the duration of the symptoms until the pack is used up, unless the treating doctor has made other therapy recommendations. After the first day of antibiotic use, you are no longer infectious.
Chronic tonsillitis
A special form of tonsillitis is the chronic recurrent tonsillitis. This is the name given to a tonsillitis that lasts at least 3 months. It usually develops after a single infection and then manifests itself in the throat area.
Recurrent tonsillitis means recurrent, meaning that new attacks occur all the time, while no final cure occurs. In these cases, tonsillectomy, i.e. removal of the tonsils, may be considered, as other organs such as the kidneys are also affected and complications from the rheumatic form may occur.
