What should I do if I have a fever with suppurative tonsillitis?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Acute purulent tonsillitis often comes with a fever, which is generally caused by an acute bacterial infection. The first step is to check the body temperature. If the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, consider using antipyretic medication. It is also advised to perform a routine blood test to assess the extent of the inflammatory response. Typically, antibiotic treatment is considered to combat the infection, and this may be accompanied by nebulization and the oral intake of traditional Chinese medicine. Most patients can effectively recover with timely treatment. If the treatment does not yield good results, further hospitalization and intravenous therapy might be necessary, along with investigating the possibility of infectious mononucleosis. (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 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.

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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 Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.