I suffered from chronic tonsillitis for over ten years. My tonsils became infected and would swell up very frequently. It was affecting my daily life, because I couldn’t speak properly or eat certain foods. I was recommended to try a new supplement called Zinc by my doctor. It has proven to be an effective aid in curing my chronic tonsillitis within a few months of taking it.
I’m here to share with you some of my research and experience in dealing with tonsillitis – from the time I was first diagnosed with it, until today. I’ll explain how it affects your body and how you can use natural remedies to help cure your condition.
vitamins for tonsillitis
A lot of people think that tonsillitis is a pretty simple infection to cure. They think that all you have to do is take some antibiotics and everything will be fine. But this is simply not true. While there are many different things you need to consider when treating your tonsillitis, the most important aspect of all is finding a balance between the various nutrients that are required in order to treat it effectively.
I remember the very first time I got tonsillitis. It was back in the year 2000 and I had just graduated from high school. There were plenty of parties going on at that time in our town. Drinking was never a problem for me, but one night my dad was not willing to drive me home because he was tired from working on his truck all day (he worked as a mechanic). This turned out to be a bad decision because I contracted strep throat that night, as well as an ear infection. I knew something wasn’t right because it didn’t feel like tonsillitis — it felt more like haywire than an actual strep throat soreness.
antibiotics for tonsillitis
I’ve had tonsillitis for over three years now, but I never really see it as a big deal. That is until every time I would cough or sneeze on accident my throat would burn ( which could be very painful) and make me break out into a cold sweat!
I was sick a lot as a kid. My mom used to say I was such a healthy eater (because I ate chicken soup for lunch everyday) that it made me sick. Tonsillitis wasn’t one of my ailments but it does feel like something you would lay claim to as a chronic illness, especially after all the years of dealing with it!
how i cured my chronic tonsillitis’
Overview
Tonsillitis is a condition that occurs when your tonsils become infected. It can be caused by both bacterial and viral infections. Tonsillitis can lead to symptoms such as:
swollen or inflamed tonsils
sore throat
pain when swallowing
fever
hoarse voice
bad breath
ear pain
Viral infections that cause tonsillitis pass on their own. Bacterial infections may require antibiotics. Treatment may also focus on relieving the symptoms of tonsillitis, such as using NSAIDs like ibuprofen to relieve inflammation and pain.
There are a number of home remedies that can effectively treat or reduce the symptoms of tonsillitis.
- Salt water gargling
Gargling and rinsing with warm salt water can help sooth a sore throat and pain caused by tonsillitis. It can also reduce inflammation, and may even help to treat infections.
Stir about ½ teaspoon of salt in about 4 ounces of warm water. Stir until the salt is dissolved. Gargle and swish through the mouth for several seconds and then spit it out. You can rinse with regular water.
- Licorice lozenges
Lozenges can help to soothe the throat, but they’re not all created equal. Some lozenges will contain ingredients with natural anti-inflammatory properties, or ingredients that can soothe pain on their own. Lozenges containing licorice as an ingredient can have strong anti-inflammatory benefitsTrusted Source, soothing both discomfort and swelling in the tonsils and throat.
Lozenges shouldn’t be given to young children due to the choking risk. Instead, throat sprays are often a much better choice for children of this age. If you’re unsure, call their pediatrician.
You can shop for licorice lozenges on Amazon.
- Warm tea with raw honey
Warm beverages like tea can help to reduce discomfort that can occur as a result of tonsillitis. Raw honey, often added to tea, has strong antibacterial propertiesTrusted Source, and may help to treat the infections causing the tonsillitis.
Drink tea warm instead of hot, and stir in the honey until dissolved. Certain teas may strengthen the benefits of this home remedy. Ginger teaTrusted Source, for example, is a strong anti-inflammatory, as is fennel tea, which can help to reduce inflammation and discomfort.
- Popsicles and ice chips
Cold can be highly effective in treating pain, inflammation, and swelling that often comes with tonsillitis. Popsicles, frozen drinks like ICEEs, and frozen foods like ice cream can be particularly helpful to young children who can’t use other home remedies safely. Older children and adults can also suck on ice chips. - Humidifiers
Humidifiers can help to relieve the sore throat if the air is dry, or you’re experiencing dry mouth as a result of the tonsillitis. Dry air can irritate the throat, and humidifiers can help sooth discomfort in the throat and tonsils by adding moisture back into the air. Cool-mist humidifiers are most beneficial, especially when viruses are the cause of the tonsillitis.
Keep your humidifier on as needed, especially when you sleep at night, until the tonsillitis subsides. If you don’t have a humidifier and want fast relief, sitting in a room filled with steam from the shower can also provide humidity that can reduce symptoms.
You can shop for humidifiers on Amazon.
When to see your doctor
Certain symptoms indicate that you may need to see your doctor for treatment. Certain types of bacterial infections that can affect the tonsils, like strep throat, require prescription antibiotics for treatmentTrusted Source.
You should make an appointment to see your doctor if you experience a combination of the following symptoms:
fever
persistent sore or scratchy throat that doesn’t go away within 24 to 48 hours
painful swallowing, or difficulty swallowing
fatigue
fussiness in infants and young children
swollen lymph nodes
These symptoms may indicate a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.
Outlook and recovery
Many cases of tonsillitis resolve quickly. Tonsillitis caused by viruses typically resolve within 7 to 10 days after rest and plenty of fluids. Bacterial tonsillitis may take about a week to go away, though many people start feeling better a day or so after taking the antibiotics.
Whether you’re getting prescription treatment or sticking to home remedies, drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest to help your body recover.
In rare, severe cases, a tonsillectomy (or surgical removal of the tonsils) may be used to treat recurrent and persistent cases of tonsillitis. This is typically an outpatient procedure. Many people, children and adults alike, will make a full recovery within fourteen days.
Your tonsils are the two lymph nodes located on each side of the back of your throat. They work as a defense mechanism and help prevent your body from getting an infection. When an infection develops on your tonsils themselves, the condition is called tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis can occur at any age and is a common childhood illness. Doctors most often diagnose it in children from preschool age through their mid-teens. Symptoms include a sore throat, swollen tonsils, and fever.
The pathogens that trigger tonsillitis can pass to others, and a variety of common viruses and bacteria can cause it. Tonsillitis-causing microorganisms include Streptococcal bacteria. Tonsillitis caused by strep throat can lead to serious complications without treatment.
Tonsillitis is easy to diagnose. Symptoms usually resolve within 7 to 10 days.
Here’s what you need to know about tonsillitis, from its symptoms to treatments that can help.
Causes
Tonsils are your first line of defense against illness. They produce white blood cells that help your body fight infection.
The tonsils combat bacteria and viruses that enter your body through your mouth and nose. However, tonsils are also vulnerable to infection from the very pathogens they help keep away.
A virus, such as the common cold, can trigger tonsillitis. Bacterial infections, such as strep throat, are also possible causes.
Symptoms
Possible symptoms of tonsillitis include:
a very sore throat
difficulty or pain while swallowing
a scratchy-sounding voice
bad breath
fever
chills
earache
stomachache
headache
a stiff neck
jaw and neck tenderness from swollen lymph nodes
tonsils that appear red and swollen
tonsils that have white or yellow spots
In very young children, you may also notice increased irritability, poor appetite, or excessive drooling.
Treatment
A mild case of tonsillitis doesn’t necessarily require treatment, especially if a virus, such as a cold, causes it.
Treatments for more severe cases of tonsillitis may include antibiotics or a tonsillectomy. If a person experiences dehydration due to tonsillitis, they may also need intravenous fluids. Pain medicines to relieve the sore throat can also help while the throat is healing.
Tonsillectomy
Surgery to remove the tonsils is called a tonsillectomy. Your physician will generally only recommend a tonsillectomy if you experience chronic or recurrent tonsillitis, or if tonsillitis has caused complications or symptoms don’t improve.
If you’ve had tonsillitis or strep throat at least 5 to 7 times in the past year, a tonsillectomy may help you to stop these recurrences. The surgery can also relieve the breathing or swallowing problems that can result from tonsillitis.
A tonsillectomy may reduce the number of throat infections in children during the first year after surgery, according to a 2017 study. However, a 2018 studyTrusted Source found that adults who underwent the procedure as children faced an increased risk of respiratory and infectious diseases long-term.
Having a tonsillectomy may reduce your overall risk of developing strep throat, but you can still get strep throat and other throat infections after removal. It’s also possible for your tonsils to grow back after surgery, but this is rare.
You should be able to go home the same day as your surgery, but it will take 1 to 2 weeks to fully recover. Learn what to do before and after getting a tonsillectomy.
Tonsillitis antibiotics
If a bacterial infection caused your tonsillitis, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection.
Antibiotics may help resolve your symptoms slightly faster. However, they increase the risk of antibiotic resistance and may have other side effects, like an upset stomach. Antibiotics are more necessary for people at risk of complications from tonsillitis.
If your doctor prescribes you antibiotics, it’s likely to be penicillin for tonsillitis due to group A streptococcus. Other antibiotics are available if you’re allergic to penicillin.
It’s important that you complete the full course of antibiotics. Even if your symptoms appear to be completely resolved, the infection can get worse if you don’t take all of the medicine as prescribed. Your doctor may want you to schedule a follow-up visit to make sure that the medication was effective.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will examine your throat to reach a diagnosis. Your doctor may also take a throat culture by gently swabbing the back of your throat. The culture will be sent to a laboratory to identify the cause of your throat infection.
Your doctor may also take a sample of your blood for a complete blood count. This test can show whether your infection is viral or bacterial, which may affect your treatment options.
Types
Tonsilitis can present in several different ways.
Acute tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is incredibly common in children. In fact, almost every child will probably get tonsillitis at least once.
If symptoms last around 10 days or less, a physician will consider it acute tonsillitis. If symptoms last longer, or if tonsillitis comes back multiple times during the year, it may be chronic or recurrent tonsillitis.
The symptoms of acute tonsillitis will likely improve with home treatments. But, in some cases, you may require other treatments, like antibiotics.
Chronic tonsillitis symptoms continue longer than the acute presentation. You may experience the following symptoms on a long-lasting basis:
sore throat
bad breath (halitosis)
tender lymph nodes in the neck
Chronic tonsillitis may also cause tonsil stones, where materials like dead cells, saliva, and food build up in the crevices of your tonsils. Eventually, the debris can harden into small stones. These may come loose on their own, or a doctor may need to remove them.
Your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy to surgically remove your tonsils if you have chronic tonsillitis.
As with chronic tonsillitis, a standard treatment for recurrent tonsillitis is a tonsillectomy. Recurrent tonsillitis is often defined as:
a sore throat or tonsillitis at least 5 to 7 times in 1 year
occurrences of at least 5 times in each of the previous 2 years
occurrences of at least 3 times in each of the previous 3 years
Research from 2018Trusted Source suggests that chronic and recurrent tonsillitis may occur due to biofilms in the folds of the tonsils. Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that have developed antibiotic resistance, and they can cause repeated infections.
Genetics may also be a reason for recurrent tonsillitis.
A 2019 studyTrusted Source examined the tonsils of children who had recurrent tonsillitis. The study found that genetics may cause an insufficient immune response to group A streptococcus bacteria, which causes strep throat and tonsillitis.
When to see a doctor
You should see a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
fever that’s higher than 103°F (39.5°C)
muscle weakness
neck stiffness
a sore throat that doesn’t resolve after 2 days
In rare cases, tonsillitis can cause the throat to swell so much that it causes trouble breathing. If this happens, seek immediate medical attention.
While some tonsillitis episodes resolve without treatment, some may require other treatments.
Is tonsillitis contagious?
Tonsillitis isn’t contagious, but the infectious organisms that cause it can pass to other people for 24 to 48 hours before you develop any symptoms. They may still be able to spread to others until you’re no longer sick.
After around 24 hours of taking antibiotics, the bacteria or virus won’t be able to transmit to other people.
You can develop tonsillitis if someone carrying a pathogen coughs or sneezes near you, and you breathe in the droplets. If you touch an object that potentially contains infectious organisms, like a doorknob, and then touch your nose or mouth, you may also develop tonsillitis.
Being in contact with a lot of people increases the risk of exposure to the bacteria and viruses that cause tonsillitis. This is why school-age children often get the illness. If you have symptoms, it’s best to stay home to avoid spreading tonsillitis.
It typically takes 2 to 4 days to develop symptoms after exposure. Find out how to reduce your risk of getting or spreading tonsillitis.
Viral tonsillitis
Viruses are the most common cause of tonsillitis. The viruses that cause the common cold are often the source of tonsillitis, but other viruses can also cause it, including:
rhinovirus
Epstein-Barr virus
hepatitis A
HIV
Since the Epstein-Barr virus can cause both mononucleosis and tonsillitis, sometimes people with mono will develop tonsillitis as a secondary infection.
If you have viral tonsillitis, your symptoms may include coughing or a stuffy nose. Antibiotics aren’t effective against viruses, but you can treat standard symptoms by staying hydrated, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, and resting to help your body heal.
Bacterial tonsillitis
Bacterial tonsillitis is most common in children between the ages of 5 to 15 years. Around 15 to 30 percentTrusted Source of tonsillitis cases in this age group result from bacteria. Most often, it’s strep bacteria, which causes strep throat. But other bacteria can also cause tonsillitis.
Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial tonsillitis, though they may not be necessary. Besides antibiotics, treatment is the same for most cases of viral and bacterial tonsillitis.
Home remedies
There are several treatments you can try at home to ease the throat pain from tonsillitis:
Drink plenty of fluids.
Get lots of rest.
Gargle with warm salt water several times a day.
Use throat lozenges.
Eat popsicles or other frozen foods.
Use a humidifier to moisten the air in your home.
Avoid smoke.
Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation.
Use throat sprays rather than lozenges for young children, and always check with your doctor before giving children medications. Find out more ways to care for tonsillitis at home.
Tonsillitis vs. strep throat
Tonsillitis and strep throat can occur as a result of the same bacteria in some cases — but they’re not the same thing.
A number of different bacteria or viruses can cause tonsillitis, including group A streptococcus bacteria. This same bacteria is the only cause of strep throat.
Both conditions are contagious, so you should try to stay away from other people if you think you have either one.
In addition to tonsillitis symptoms, people with strep throat may develop:
aches in other parts of the body
nausea
vomiting
small red spots at the back of the mouth
white pus around the tonsils
a rash
Your doctor can use the same tests to diagnose both conditions. Treatments for bacterial tonsillitis and strep throat are also similar. Learn more about the differences between tonsillitis and strep throat here.
Tonsillitis in adults
Tonsillitis is most common in children, because they come into close contact with others every day at school and play. This potentially exposes them to a variety of viruses and bacteria. However, adults can get tonsillitis too.
Frequent exposure to other people increases the risk of encountering a person with tonsillitis. As a result, taking public transportation or doing other activities alongside large groups of people might increase your chance of being exposed to tonsillitis.
Symptoms of tonsillitis and treatments are similar for both adults and kids. If you get a tonsillectomy as an adult, though, it’s likely to take longer for you to recover than it would for a child. Learn what to do if you develop tonsillitis as an adult.
Complications
If you don’t take a full course of antibiotics or the antibiotics don’t kill off the bacteria, it’s possible that complications could develop from tonsillitis. These include rheumatic fever and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, as well as:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). People who experience chronic tonsillitis may start to experience obstructive sleep apnea. This happens when the airways swell and prevent a person from sleeping well, which can lead to other medical issues without treatment.
Tonsillar cellulitis. It’s also possible the infection will worsen and spread to other areas of the body. This is known as tonsillar cellulitis.
Peritonsillar abscess. The infection can also cause a person to develop a buildup of pus behind the tonsils, called a peritonsillar abscess. This can require drainage and surgery.
Taking prescribed medicines as instructed by your doctor can reduce your risk for these complications.
Prevention
To decrease your risk of getting tonsillitis:
Stay away from people who are displaying active symptoms. If you have tonsillitis, try to keep away from others until the pathogens are no longer transmissible.
Make sure you and your child practice good hygiene habits. Wash your hands often, especially after coming into contact with someone who has a sore throat, or is coughing or sneezing.
Outlook
Swollen tonsils may cause breathlessness, which may lead to disturbed sleep. Without treatment, tonsillitis-causing pathogens can spread to the area behind the tonsils or to the surrounding tissue.
Symptoms of tonsillitis due to a bacterial infection usually improve a few days after you begin taking antibiotics. The infection is considered transmissible until you’ve been taking antibiotics for a 24-hour period.