Therapy
The most difficult part of the therapy of acute tonsillitis is that a lot of fluid should be drunk, but extreme pain is experienced when swallowing. Especially children suffer so quickly from a lack of fluid. Bed rest, lozenges and mouthwashes are recommended as general measures.
Medicines that can be considered for acute tonsillitis with fever are painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), ibuprofen and paracetamol. However, aspirin should be avoided, especially in children and asthmatics. If streptococcal angina is present, antibiotics should be used to prevent the development of rheumatic fever or chronic kidney inflammation.
The antibiotics penicillin and cephalosporins are recommended here. When taking antibiotics, it is always important to take the medication for as long as the doctor has ordered it and not to stop taking the antibiotic as soon as the pain and fever have improved, as this can lead to a recurrence of tonsillitis with resistance forming in the bacteria, which makes renewed treatment considerably more difficult. Common side effects of antibiotics are gastrointestinal complaints (for example: diarrhoea and nausea).
Women can get a vaginal fungal infection during and after taking antibiotics. There are some home remedies that are recommended for angina:
- Envelopes with curd cheese
- Envelopes with mixed healing earth
- Fresh ginger tea with honey and lemon
- Gargle with sage tea, camomile tea or salt water (caution, gagging!) – Oil extraction
If tonsillitis is very common, surgical removal (tonsillectomy) of the tonsils may be considered.
The prerequisite for the operation is a tonsillitis that occurs at least four times a year with a fever above 38.3 degrees and enlarged jaw angle lymph nodes. In addition, previous tonsillitis must have been medically confirmed and well treated with antibiotics. The main risks associated with an operation on the palatine tonsils are secondary bleeding, which can occur up to three weeks after the operation.
Complications
A possible complication of bacterial angina is an accumulation of pus in the tissue around the palatal tonsils, the so-called peritonsillar abscess. This abscess must then be split and removed, and the operation usually includes removal of the tonsils. Subsequently, an antibiotic therapy against streptococci, staphylococci or also haemophilus influenzae bacteria is necessary.
The bacteria of the tonsillitis can cause blood poisoning (sepsis). Beta-hemolytic streptococci can cause acute kidney disease (acute glomerulonephritis) or rheumatic fever. This is caused by an autoimmune reaction by antibodies which are falsely directed not only against the streptococci but also against the body’s own tissue, which is actually healthy.
Infectiousness of tonsillitis
The tonsillitis is very infectious due to its transmission through saliva droplets, as appropriate amounts can already be distributed during normal speech. Sick people should stay away from school, kindergarten, public transport and open-plan offices, as large crowds of people are particularly conducive to infection. The duration of infection depends on the pathogen. Streptococcus angina, for example, is no longer contagious after just one day of antibiotic treatment, whereas viral tonsillitis can be contagious for much longer. Freedom from fever and symptoms serve as a rough guide.
