What often begins as a side effect of a cold and is interpreted by us as a harmless sore throat can later turn out to be tonsillitis. The symptoms are severe difficulty swallowing, a reddened throat and swollen lymph nodes.
If tonsillitis is not treated adequately, the tonsils can poison the blood and attack vital organs.
How do you treat tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis can be caused by a virus or by bacteria.
In children aged 5 to around 15 years, tonsillitis is usually viral. In this case, only rest, sufficient fluids and, if necessary, painkillers should be prescribed. The virally infected tonsillitis will then subside on its own after a few days.
The body has its own defence system, but we can support it in a natural way. The following points are mainly aimed at improving well-being during illness. However, by alleviating your symptoms, you help the body to heal itself, especially by sleeping more restfully and soundly.
Treatment with proven household remedies
You should gargle several times a day with lukewarm salt water. However, please do not swallow the water, but spit it out again.
Cold drinks should be avoided in favour of hot drinks such as tea (herbal tea). If possible, avoid caffeine drinks such as coffee, as caffeine stimulates the body and encourages it to use up its energy, which it should save for the healing process.
If possible, only eat soft food that does not irritate the inflamed throat when swallowing.
Take painkillers to relieve the sore throat. Paracetamol or Dolo-Dobendan are the most suitable. You can drink sage tea as a natural painkiller.
Cold throat compresses provide temporary relief.
Make sure that the air is not too dry. In the bedroom or living room, you should set up humidifiers or spray the air with water.
Stop smoking at all costs. Smoking depletes the body's vitamin C reserves and thus weakens the immune system. Cigarette smoke is also too irritating for the throat.
In addition, take vitamin C, preferably in the form of natural citrus juices, to support the body's own defence system.
However, if the tonsillitis is diagnosed as bacterial, caused by streptococci, you will need to have antibiotics prescribed by your GP. Bacterial tonsillitis is usually accompanied by severe headaches. Earache may occur as well as dehydration and suppuration of the tonsils.
Treatment with antibiotics lasts 3 to 5 days, during which time the medication must be taken carefully, as the bacteria can develop resistance to the active substance if treatment is interrupted.
Do not take inflamed tonsils lightly
If tonsillitis is taken lightly, it can develop into a chronic illness. If you have regular symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor.
If tonsillitis is chronic or occurs frequently, you should consider having the tonsils surgically removed in order to avoid blood poisoning and long-term consequences for the organs.
As the tonsils are not vital for the body, it is often the best decision to have the tonsils removed. However, this must be decided by a doctor who knows the medical background of his patient.
