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Medical Author:

Joseph Lauro, MD

Coauthor:

Erik D Barton, MD, MS

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Tonsillitis Medical and Surgical Treatment

Because most sore throats are caused by viruses, antibiotics are not routinely needed. However, penicillin is the most commonly prescribed class of antibiotics.

• The medication may be given as a single-dose injection (a shot) or may be provided as a prescription for oral antibiotics (pills taken by mouth).
• People who are allergic to penicillin may be treated with erythromycin. Treatment with oral antibiotics may be provided for 10-14 days.
• It is important to complete all the pills prescribed, even if symptoms go away and you feel better. Completion of the full course of antibiotics prevents the serious complication of rheumatic fever that may result in a form of heart disease.

Throat pain and fever may be improved with medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

It is also important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Gargling with warm salt water (8 ounces of warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon salt) will ease sore throat pain. Gargle several times a day.

Occasionally, abscesses may develop that require needle aspiration or incision and drainage to help the infection heal and to reduce throat blockage or obstruction. If patients experience six or more infections in one year, some clinicians recommend surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy). An ENT specialist is frequently consulted for treatment of the patients.