How to Relieve Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is an infection of the throat characterized by inflamed tonsils, sore throat, pain when swallowing and headache and fever. A single occurrence of tonsillitis is not a serious condition. While it is recommended that you consult your doctor to discover the cause, its symptoms can be treated at home. However, if you suffer from recurrent tonsillitis, you should see your doctor. He may provide you with antibiotics or suggest that you have them surgically removed.

Things You'll Need

• Aspirin
• Throat Lozenges containing phenol
• Vaporizer or humidifier

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Instructions

How to Relieve Tonsillitis

• 1

  Visit your doctor to identify the cause of your tonsillitis, which can either be bacterial or viral. Tonsillitis is diagnosed through visual examination and a throat culture taken with a cotton swab. While there is no cure for viral tonsillitis, a bacterial infection can be easily cured with a course of penicillin G.

• 2

  Relieve the pain. Take an aspirin, gargle with saltwater every 2 to 3 hours, suck on a throat lozenge that contains phenol and drink cold or hot liquids (like peppermint tea with honey or clear soup).

• 3

  Keep your throat well moisturized. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids (stay away from acidic liquids that can aggravate tonsillitis). Put a humidifier or vaporizer in the room with you.

• 4

  Avoid excessive talking and crispy or hard foods until the pain is gone.