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Suggest Remedies For Swollen And Tender Tonsils
I have swollen tonsils, with white and brown spots of plegm like material on them. Very tender and I m having a hard time swallowing. I have a left over z-pack that was prescribed to me when I had a few respiratory infections earlier this year. Should I consider taking it? What can I do to get some relief?
Wed, 18 Jan 2017
Hi,
Your symptoms are suggestive of bacterial tonsillitis. The treatment for this is as follows:
- Bed rest
- Lots of fluids to keep hydrated
- Ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling if no contraindications
- Topical antibacterial spray or mouth wash, that is andolex c/chlorhexidine spray or corsodyl mouth wash. Alternatively a warm salt water solution can be used to gargle
- Antibiotics. A penicillin based antibiotic is recommended for this type of infection if there are no contraindications, for example co-amoxyclav
Alternatively Azithromycin can be used if you are allergic to penicillin. Usually given 500 mg daily for three days for an adult. Z pack is Azithromycin. If there is no response to the antibiotics or if the swelling worsens and you are experiencing difficulty breathing, you might require surgical intervention. Your doctor will have to assess to determine this.
It is not recommended to take left over medication because medication needs to be stored at a certain temperature and under specific conditions in order to keep the active ingredients viable. The expiry date is also important to note. Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Felicia Manickam
Your symptoms are suggestive of bacterial tonsillitis. The treatment for this is as follows:
- Bed rest
- Lots of fluids to keep hydrated
- Ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling if no contraindications
- Topical antibacterial spray or mouth wash, that is andolex c/chlorhexidine spray or corsodyl mouth wash. Alternatively a warm salt water solution can be used to gargle
- Antibiotics. A penicillin based antibiotic is recommended for this type of infection if there are no contraindications, for example co-amoxyclav
Alternatively Azithromycin can be used if you are allergic to penicillin. Usually given 500 mg daily for three days for an adult. Z pack is Azithromycin. If there is no response to the antibiotics or if the swelling worsens and you are experiencing difficulty breathing, you might require surgical intervention. Your doctor will have to assess to determine this.
It is not recommended to take left over medication because medication needs to be stored at a certain temperature and under specific conditions in order to keep the active ingredients viable. The expiry date is also important to note. Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Felicia Manickam
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