Can suppurative tonsillitis heal itself?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Purulent tonsillitis is a relatively severe acute infectious inflammation of the tonsils, clinically characterized by severe throat pain and difficulty swallowing, even leading to difficulty in eating. The pain worsens during swallowing, and patients may experience symptoms like chills and fever. Therefore, purulent tonsillitis generally cannot heal on its own and requires active intervention. Active anti-infection treatment is necessary, as it cannot be expected to resolve spontaneously. Clinical treatment primarily involves the use of antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, and may even include infusion and other anti-infection treatments.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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How many days does suppurative tonsillitis generally cause fever?

Purulent tonsillitis generally causes fever that lasts for three to five days, and patients will experience persistent high fever with body temperatures above 38°C. Purulent tonsillitis is caused by a systemic and throat symptom due to infection with hemolytic streptococcus following a decrease in the body's immunity and resistance. Patients will experience sudden high fever, body temperatures above 38°C, and severe throat pain primarily around the tonsils. Additionally, patients may experience dryness, itchiness, a sensation of a foreign body, a feeling of obstruction, and irritative cough in the throat area. Upon examination, significant congestion and swelling in the throat, enlarged tonsils, and pus plugs covering the surface can be found. In treatment, since tonsillitis is generally a bacterial infection, patients can benefit significantly from orally administered cephalosporin antibiotics. Moreover, patients need to follow a bland diet, abstain from smoking and alcohol, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. Improvement is generally seen around one week. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Which department should I go to for suppurative tonsillitis?

Suppurative tonsillitis is a common disease of the pharyngeal region. Therefore, the first clinical department to consult for suppurative tonsillitis is the otolaryngology department, or the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department in some hospitals. In certain specialist hospitals, such as children's hospitals, there are pediatric otolaryngology departments. For some pediatric patients, they may initially visit the pediatrics department, and some pediatricians can also treat suppurative tonsillitis. For adults, some patients may also visit the respiratory medicine department, since the pharynx is part of the upper respiratory tract, and the department of respiratory medicine also provides relevant treatment. However, fundamentally, suppurative tonsillitis should be treated in the otolaryngology department.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How is suppurative tonsillitis treated?

Acute suppurative tonsillitis is primarily considered to be caused by acute bacterial infections. In such cases, it is primarily necessary to conduct a complete blood count test. The main purpose of this test is to examine the increased levels of white blood cells and inflammatory response proteins. If the inflammatory response is not particularly prominent, oral antibiotics are generally sufficient, and this can be supplemented with nebulization and the oral administration of traditional Chinese medicines for auxiliary treatment. If the complete blood count indicates a particularly severe inflammatory response and the symptoms are also prominent, intravenous therapy may need to be considered. In cases where conservative treatment is ineffective and particularly severe, further hospital treatment and systematic examination may be required for an accurate assessment of the condition.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Du Jun
Otolaryngology
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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.