What does suppurative tonsillitis look like?

Written by Du Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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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.

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Written by Cheng Fu Wei
Otolaryngology
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Do you need to be hospitalized for suppurative tonsillitis?

Purulent tonsillitis is a relatively severe type of tonsillitis, mainly caused by bacterial infection leading to inflammation and pus formation in the tonsils. If symptoms are severe, such as intense pain that interferes with eating and swallowing, or even high fever reaching above 38.5 degrees Celsius, hospitalization for intravenous therapy is recommended. If the condition is mild, with no fever and less severe pain and swallowing discomfort not affecting eating, oral medication or outpatient intravenous therapy can be administered.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
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Can suppurative tonsillitis heal itself?

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 Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Recurrent fever due to suppurative tonsillitis

Acute suppurative tonsillitis is primarily caused by acute bacterial infection, which may cause recurrent fever and sore throat. Initially, a routine blood test is required to determine the extent of the inflammatory response. If the inflammation is severe, it is necessary to consider timely antibiotic treatment for infection, with commonly used antibiotics being cephalosporins or penicillins. If the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, antipyretic medication should also be considered. Generally, the treatment period is about one week, and it is necessary to regularly recheck the routine blood test and perform laryngoscopic examinations to dynamically assess the recovery of the condition.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What is suppurative tonsillitis?

Purulent tonsillitis is generally caused by an acute bacterial infection, though a small number of patients may also have a viral infection. It is a relatively common disease in the field of otolaryngology. In terms of examination, the first step is to perform an indirect laryngoscopy to observe the extent of inflammation in the throat. In addition, a complete blood count and inflammatory protein tests can be considered to help assess the severity of the inflammatory response. Additionally, bacterial culture and drug sensitivity tests of the purulent secretion can be considered, allowing for a more targeted choice of medication. Empirical treatment mainly involves the use of antibiotics to combat the infection, and it is recommended to combine this with nebulization. Oral administration of traditional Chinese medicine can also be used as supplementary treatment, generally needing about one week. Note: Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.