Tonsillitis Treatment
What
Options are Available for Tonsillitis Treatment?
Tonsils help in fighting
any infections which enter our body and work as a part of our immune
system. However, when any virus or bacteria attack our tonsils, they may
become infected, and as a result are inflamed. This swelling is called
tonsillitis. Most of the tonsillitis symptoms go away on their own and no
specific tonsillitis treatment is required. But few things can help
you and your child during the condition.
Tonsillitis can be acute,
sub-acute or chronic. All of these require different tonsillitis
treatment; therefore it is important to understand your child’s
condition before you give him any medicine. The acute tonsillitis is
usually viral, and the symptoms go away within a few days as our natural
immune systems fight them off. The treatment depends upon whether the
condition is viral or bacterial.
In case the infection is
bacterial doctors prescribe antibiotics as tonsillitis treatment.
Antibiotics help in ensuring that the patient is not contagious to others,
by attacking the bacteria and they also ensure the bacteria does not
spread further. If you stop taking antibiotics after you feel better,
before your dosage is completed you might develop antibiotics resistant.
In such cases your body does not respond well to antibiotics the next time
you are asked to take them. Although the antibiotics have side effects
such as stomach pain, it is important to take the dose for the whole
period for which you have been prescribed.
If the infection is
viral, it would most likely heal on its own as your body’s immune system
fights it off. ‘In such cases there is no need to take on any specific
tonsillitis treatment. Just making sure you are getting plenty of rest
along with water is enough. Since the tonsillitis is accompanied by fever
and pain over the counter aspirins and pain killers can be taken. However,
over dosage especially in younger patients should be avoided. Using a
humidifier also helps in soothing the dry aching throat. In case of viral
tonsillitis; antibiotics are neither needed, nor do they work. In case
your child does not feel better after two weeks or so, your doctor might
do further investigations to find out the root cause for the condition. If
your child has had repeated episodes of swollen tonsils and fever in a
short period of time, let’s say three to four times in a year. Your doctor
might suggest doing a tonsil removal surgery or tonsillectomy. This is the
very last option. The procedure is painful, requires the patient to be
hospitalized and is done under general anesthesia. Now newer methods of
tonsil surgery such as freezing, using ultrasound or laser rays have been
introduced.
However, one should keep
in mind that using surgery as tonsillitis treatment means you will
be more prone to diseases and infections for all your life. So, it is
better to look for natural methods to treat your tonsillitis. There are
several easy to use home remedies for tonsillitis too, which are neither
costly, nor do they have any side effects.
Home
remedies for tonsillitis
Can any home
remedies for tonsillitis be helpful?
If you have
been suffering from tonsillitis, you must have already tried over the
counter drugs as well as antibiotics. But by now you must be well aware
those both provide little relief and have side effects, and not to forget
the huge doctor’s bill, which just adds to the misery. The good news is
that there are home remedies for tonsillitis which are not only
much cheaper, but are as effective and come with no side effects. You will
be surprised to learn that relief from this painful condition is possible
by using some very simple ingredients present in your kitchen.
One of the most
effective home remedies for tonsillitis is squeezing the juice of a
fresh lime in warm water, and mixing it with some honey and salt provides
great relief. This should be sipped slowly while warm. Mixing a pinch of
turmeric powder and pepper powder in boiled milk and drinking in the night
also works wonders, due to the lactic acid in milk and the healing
properties of turmeric. Mixing up juices of carrot, cucumber and beet root
or even taken individually also help. Gargle made by simmering fenugreek
seeds in water for about 30 minutes and then letting it cool also helps.
The entire gargle should be consumed within twenty four hours.
Among other
home remedies for tonsillitis which not only provides relief, but also
prevents tonsil stones formation is gargling regularly with salt water.
This gargle cleanses your tonsil crypts, so that any pus or food particles
that get accumulated in our crypts are loosened and flushed out. Chamomile
tea in which honey and lemon are added is another remedy. Another gargle
can be made from using purified alum and water. If alum is applied over
the tonsils it reduces the inflammation. A mixture made by making a paste
of boiled figs and water also helps in relieving the pain.
Along with
using these simple home remedies for tonsillitis, great results can
be achieved by altering your diet slightly. When the patient is in acute
pain he should switch to an all liquid diet; making sure that he keeps in
check his water intake. Increasing your intake of water and orange juice
both help. Once the patient is a little better he should switch to an all
fruit diet. After that he should eat a well balanced diet with emphasis on
nuts, vegetables and various grains. Sour things such as yoghurt and
butter milk should be avoided. Although they have good bacteria in them
but it can sometime trigger your tonsillitis. Similarly condiment, fried
foods and foods which are overly spicy should also be avoided.
One should keep
in mind that tonsillitis should not be taken lightly. The home remedies
for tonsillitis provide great relief and are very helpful in providing
treatment; however you should consult your doctor as he may be better able
to do a correct diagnosis; as right diagnosis is the first step towards
any treatment.
Please go here for more home
remedies for tonsillitis
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