i have had tonsilities for ages what can i do?

Question

it has been quite painful sometimes and i have been to the doctors and he has put me on a waiting list i was wondering what i could do till i go and see a throat doctor please help!

Answer 1

your doctor should have prescribed some anitbiotics since tonsilitis is caused by bacteria. use those lozenges which num your mouth and throat for a little while it takes the problem away for about 30 mins. the salty water thing mentioed above is also good but be careful not to over do it otherwise you might cause some damage

Answer 2

Tonsillitis is a disorder involving inflammation of the tonsils. There are two tonsils, situated on either side of the back of the throat and they form part of the body's immune system. They, like the rest of the immune system, contain special cells to trap and kill bacteria and viruses travelling through the body.

When the main site of infection is within the tonsils they swell, become red and inflamed and may show a surface coating of white spots.

Tonsillitis is extremely common in children and young people but it can occur at any age. The characteristics of the disease are pain in the throat and trouble swallowing.

Tonsillitis is usually a self-limiting condition, ie it gets better without treatment, and generally there are no complications.

How do you get tonsillitis?

Whether due to viruses or bacteria, the infection is spread from person to person by airborne droplets, hand contact or kissing.

There are many different individual viruses and bacteria that can potentially cause tonsillitis. For example the Epstein-Barr virus, which is the cause of glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), is a common cause. It is typically seen in young people, particularly in situations such as university halls of residence when person-to-person spread is made easier by numerous close contacts.

Among the bacteria that cause sore throats, the streptococcus group A is the most common - often known as 'strep throat'. The incubation period between picking up the infection and the disease breaking out is two to four days - sometimes it can be less.

What are the signs and symptoms of tonsillitis?


Pain in the throat (sometimes severe) that may last more than 48 hours and be associated with difficulty in swallowing. The pain may spread to the ears.


The throat is reddened, the tonsils are swollen and may be coated or have white spots on them.


Possibly a high temperature.


Swollen lymph glands under the jaw and in the neck.


Headache.


Loss of voice or changes in the voice.


If the sore throat is due to a viral infection the symptoms are usually milder and often related to the common cold. If due to Coxsackie virus infection, small blisters develop on the tonsils and roof of the mouth. The blisters erupt in a few days and are followed by a scab, which may be very painful.

If the sore throat is due to a streptococcal infection, the tonsils often swell and become coated and the throat is sore. The patient has a temperature, foul-smelling breath and may feel quite ill.

These different appearances are however very variable, and it is impossible to tell by looking at someone's throat whether the infection is due to a virus (which cannot be helped by antibiotics) or a bacterial infection (which might be helped by antibiotics).

Good advice


If signs of a sore throat persist for more than a few days or are severe with marked difficulty in swallowing, high fever or vomiting, then you should consult your GP.


Warm drinks, soft food and the use of throat lozenges and/or a mouthwash may ease swallowing problems. Your pharmacist can advise on the most appropriate over-the-counter remedies.


Drink plenty of fluids. Understandably a sore throat can discourage swallowing but in tonsillitis it is common to lose a lot of body fluid through fever and mouth breathing. Dehydration adds considerably to feeling unwell.


It is important to ensure you have adequate rest and stay in a warm environment. How is tonsillitis treated?

In the vast majority of people, infection caused by a virus infection need only be treated with paracetamol (eg Calpol, Panadol) to bring the temperature down. Aspirin (eg Disprin) is also useful, but should not be given to children under 16 years of age, unless on the advise of a doctor.

In a small minority of patients, tonsillitis caused by bacteria is treated with penicillin or erythromycin (eg Erythroped) if the person is allergic to penicillin. If antibiotics are prescribed, it is important to complete the full course, or the infection may not be cured.

Surgery to remove the tonsils (tonsillectomy) may be necessary for those patients suffering from repeated, severe infections that refuse to respond to treatment and significantly interfere with their school or work schedule but it is now a relatively uncommon operation compared to previous practice

Answer 3

I've had loads of throat infections, and by know you would of thought that the doctors would suggest having them taken out, but they won't do it. I use Soothers throat sweets and ho warm Ribena.

Answer 4

Throat numbing spray like Cepacol will help. So will cough syrup with codeine (but don't take too much).

Answer 5

Gargle with warm salty water,it tastes horrible but kills germs and infection.