Therapy
Self-therapy: In the case of tonsillitis, the affected patient can already initiate some treatment steps from home. Especially the accompanying symptoms can be treated quite easily and quickly in most cases. If the affected person suffers from pain and/or fever, light painkillers are suitable.
Especially the active ingredients paracetamol and ibuprofen are able to effectively relieve pain and at the same time have a fever-reducing effect. In addition, cold compresses wrapped around the calves (so-called calf wraps) are said to contribute to a rapid reduction in body temperature. Even though the neck should always be kept warm in the presence of tonsillitis, care must be taken, especially in children, not to overheat the body too much.
If swallowing difficulties are pronounced, hot tea with a portion of honey can help to alleviate them. In general, people with tonsillitis should drink as much liquid as possible while they are suffering from tonsillitis. In addition, the food can be pureed to make it easier to eat.
People suffering from acute tonsillitis should refrain from eating acidic foods during the first days of illness.Drinking juice can also noticeably increase the symptoms under certain circumstances. Cold drinks and water ice, on the other hand, have a soothing effect on the sore throat and swallowing difficulties perceived by the patient. If the symptoms are severe, special lozenges can help to alleviate both sore throats and swallowing difficulties.
Patients should also avoid the consumption of nicotine and alcohol, as both substances can have a negative influence on the course of tonsillitis and can intensify the symptoms. Medical therapy: Before a suitable treatment can be initiated, the cause of the tonsillitis must be determined. In the case of viral forms of the disease, the symptoms experienced by the patient must be alleviated.
The viral infection itself is not treated in the case of tonsillitis. If tonsillitis is caused by group A streptococci (Strep A), antibiotic treatment is required. In these cases, the drug of choice is orally administered penicillin (especially amoxicillin). Alternatively, antibiotics from the macrolide group can be used.
