Subscribe
Acute suppurative tonsillitis
Is suppurative tonsillitis serious?
Purulent tonsillitis is an acute purulent infection of the tonsils, generally considered relatively severe. Clinically, it manifests as severe throat pain, systemic fever, and chills and discomfort, making the symptoms relatively severe. In clinical treatment, it is important to conduct aggressive anti-infection treatment, mainly through intravenous infusion, such as the use of cephalosporin antibiotics, and the concurrent use of some corticosteroids to enhance the anti-infection effect. It is important to drink plenty of water, replenish bodily fluids, and use some heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicines, such as Banlangen oral liquid, which can be used simultaneously for adjunctive treatment. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
What bacteria cause suppurative tonsillitis?
Purulent tonsillitis primarily refers to an acute purulent inflammation of the tonsils, often accompanied by varying degrees of mucosal lymphatic tissue inflammation. The primary bacterium responsible for this condition is Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, although non-hemolytic Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, as well as adenovirus, rhinovirus, and simplex herpes virus can also cause purulent tonsillopharyngitis. Mixed bacterial and viral infections are not uncommon, and in recent years, there has been an increase in yeast and Gram-negative bacilli infections. The pathogens of acute purulent tonsillitis can be transmitted via droplets or direct contact. Normally, some pathogens reside in the crypts of the pharynx and tonsils of healthy individuals. When the body's resistance is lowered, the pathogens proliferate extensively, and their toxins damage the crypt epithelium, allowing bacteria to invade the tissue and cause purulent changes. Factors such as exposure to cold, dampness, excessive fatigue, excessive smoking and drinking, and exposure to harmful gases can provoke this disease. Avoiding spicy and irritating foods, gargling with salt water, and maintaining oral hygiene are measures that can prevent or mitigate the occurrence of this condition.
What does suppurative tonsillitis look like?
Purulent tonsillitis refers to the acute purulent inflammation of the tonsils, which include the palatine tonsils, pharyngeal tonsils, and tubal tonsils. This text specifically refers to the palatine tonsils. The main cause is bacterial infection, with bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. On examination, purulent tonsillitis can be identified by enlarged tonsils with pus points on the surface. Patients may experience throat pain, fever, and sometimes accompanying symptoms such as cough and a foreign body sensation in the throat. The treatment of acute suppurative tonsillitis primarily involves penicillin and second-generation cephalosporins, and timely and effective treatment can lead to significant relief of symptoms.
How is suppurative tonsillitis caused?
The acute onset of suppurative tonsillitis is commonly due to a weakened immune system, which then leads to bacterial infection and thus suppurative tonsillitis. For example, getting chilled or getting caught in the rain, or having a persistent cold. Other common causes include irritation from smoking and alcohol environments, spicy foods, and staying up late. Also, if there is some chronic inflammation in the tonsils, these adverse stimuli make it easier to trigger this type of suppurative inflammation. Therefore, in addition to maintaining a normal routine in daily life, it is also important to check for the presence of chronic tonsillitis. If chronic tonsillitis is present, it's crucial to choose a proper opportunity for surgical treatment, which means performing surgery when it is not in an acute phase, to prevent the recurrence of suppurative inflammation.
Does suppurative tonsillitis require hospitalization?
Purulent tonsillitis refers to the acute purulent infection of the tonsils, mainly caused by bacterial infections, including Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, etc. The clinical symptoms of purulent tonsillitis are quite obvious and relatively severe. However, generally, purulent tonsillitis is not treated in the hospital nowadays, but treated in outpatient settings with oral antibiotics or intravenous infusions for anti-infection treatment. Clinically, unless purulent tonsillitis is complicated by other diseases, such as peritonsillar abscess, pharyngeal abscess, or retropharyngeal abscess, hospitalization may be considered for treatment.
Observation of the condition in suppurative tonsillitis
Suppurative tonsillitis is an emergency in clinical practice and is a more severe form of acute bacterial tonsillitis. Clinically, it mainly presents as severe throat pain and systemic symptoms such as chills and fever, indicating a serious infection state or symptoms. Therefore, the clinical treatment of suppurative tonsillitis mainly involves anti-infection treatment through infusion. Clinical observation should focus on the condition of the throat area, such as swelling in the throat and the presence of purulent secretions from the tonsils. Secondly, the overall condition of the patient should be observed, including fever, whether the fever subsides or the duration of the fever. Thirdly, the patient's complete blood count can be observed, specifically the white blood cells and neutrophils, which indicate infection, to see if their levels are returning to normal. Other observations can include the renal and urinary system, checking for the presence of red blood cells and proteins.
What medicine is used for suppurative tonsillitis?
Purulent tonsillitis is clinically mainly due to infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococcus, and other bacteria. It is an acute and severe infection of tonsillitis, and the primary clinical treatment is the use of antibiotics. For example, antibiotics that are administered orally or intravenously, mainly cephalosporin antibiotics are used. If allergic to cephalosporin antibiotics, macrolide antibiotics are used for treatment. Additionally, some Chinese patent medicines that clear heat and detoxify can also be used as adjunctive therapy, such as Ban Lan Gen oral liquid and Yi Qing capsules. The throat can also be treated with some washes; for example, hydrogen peroxide gargle or some commercially available mouthwash can be used for gargling, etc. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional doctor, do not self-medicate.)
Is suppurative tonsillitis uncomfortable?
Suppurative tonsillitis is an acute infection of the tonsils, which is relatively severe and involves purulent changes in the tonsils. Clinically, patients experience severe throat pain, which worsens during swallowing and may even lead to difficulty in eating. Patients may also experience symptoms such as chills and fever. Therefore, suppurative tonsillitis is very distressing, and we need to actively manage it. Generally, we conduct a blood test to check the routine blood parameters and observe the level of white blood cell infection, that is, the white blood cell count. Then, we administer intravenous infusions of antibiotics for treatment.
Dietary restrictions for suppurative tonsillitis
For acute suppurative tonsillitis, dietary caution is indeed necessary. Avoid spicy and stimulating foods, smoking, alcohol, overly hard foods, and allergenic foods, as these can exacerbate existing inflammation and cause further throat pain. Timely medical treatment should be considered. Typically, a complete blood count test is recommended to assess the extent of the inflammatory response. Antibiotics, commonly cephalosporins or penicillins, are generally advised for treatment. Additionally, nebulizer therapy can be considered in conjunction with regular follow-up checks to observe the effects. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)
How many days can suppurative tonsillitis get better?
The treatment and recovery time for acute suppurative tonsillitis is generally about a week, although individual differences exist. If the inflammatory response is relatively mild and the individual's resistance is strong, recovery and relief can typically be achieved within about five days through timely medication. If the inflammation is more severe, or if the individual's resistance is weak, the recovery time may be extended, such as beyond a week. Generally, the condition is primarily an acute bacterial infection, and treatment mainly involves antibiotics to fight the infection. Additionally, treatment can be supplemented with nebulization and traditional Chinese medicine orally. It is also recommended that patients maintain a light diet and regularly check routine blood tests; some may also need to monitor liver and kidney functions.