Do you need to be hospitalized for suppurative tonsillitis?

Written by Cheng Fu Wei
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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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
Otolaryngology
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What fluid should be administered for suppurative tonsillitis?

Purulent tonsillitis is a serious infectious disease clinically, mainly manifesting as severe pain in the pharyngeal area, general malaise in patients, and even symptoms such as chills and fever. Therefore, active treatment is required. Clinical treatment is mainly anti-infection treatment. Infusion primarily uses cephalosporin antibiotics such as ceftriaxone and cefazolin for treatment. To enhance the anti-infection effect and reduce the edema of the patient's throat mucosa, corticosteroid drugs such as dexamethasone or prednisolone are often used simultaneously in the infusion treatment.

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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 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 Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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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.

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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.)