Having a hard time swallowing and your throat feels like sand paper? You may have tonsillitis, a tonsil infection caused by either a bacteria or virus.
Look at your tonsils in a mirror, in the back of your throat, to see if your they are red and swollen. You may also be able to see white patches on them. If any of this is so, you can get your initial relief by drinking warm, soothing liquids (soup, broth and tea) and gargle with warm salt water or sore throat gargle.
Signs and symptoms you may be experiencing when you have tonsillitis:
- headache
- fever and chills
- loss of your voice
- severe sore throat
- difficult/painful swallowing
- tender lymph nodes in your neck
Why this happened is when bacteria and viruses enter through your nose or mouth, your tonsils filter them by engulfing these invaders. Sometimes your tonsils get overwhelmed, and the result is tonsillitis.
Treatment for your tonsillitis depends on which type of infection overwhelmed your tonsils.
Viral tonsillitis infection you’ll need to suffer through this one and let this virus run its course, which may take a week or two. While you’re suffering, get plenty of rest, continue to drink warm, soothing liquids, and over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen helps reduce your pain and fever.
Bacterial tonsillitis infection prescription antibiotics is an option, and these will probably make you feel better in a day or two. However, you will need to take them for their full courses, otherwise your infection may come back with potentially serious complications. You’ll need a doctor’s visit for the antibiotics, do not take someone else’s.
A sore throat can make you miserable and here are some throat soothing treatment tips:
- drink warm liquids
- avoid air pollutants
- gargle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water
- no talking ~ it leads to throat irritation & loss of your voice ~laryngitis
- warm honey, lemon and water ~ honey coats and soothes, lemon helps reduce mucus
- suck on a throat lozenge or hard candy ~ stimulates saliva to bathe and cleanse your throat
Various viruses and bacteria can cause tonsillitis, including:
- mononucleosis virus
- strep throat bacterium
The tonsillitis itself usually isn’t serious, but it can lead to complications if left untreated. Call your doctor if:
- worsens
- drooling
- unable to eat or drink
- having trouble breathing
- your sore throat lasts more than 48 hours
Frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent all kinds of infections, including tonsillitis. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer are the next best thing, and avoid spreading your germs by staying away from others.
