Are your tonsils white and swollen? Does it feel like someone injected a series of bee stings into her throat that made her throat swell like a balloon? If so, you most likely have a tonsil infection.
Tonsil infections are generally classified into a bacterial or viral infection. The most common symptom is inflamed or swollen tonsils, also called tonsillitis. However, you may also experience fever, headache, earache, sore throat, chills, and aches. You are also likely to have trouble tasting, swallowing, and speaking.
There are several different ways to treat tonsillitis depending on what type of infection it is. For viral infections, you can relieve symptoms by taking pain relievers and throat lozenges. However, there are no prescription medications for viral infections. Like a cold or the flu, the virus will go away after a few days.
You can help relieve symptoms by bathing in Epsom salts, which can stop fever and aches. You can also drink plenty of vegetable juice which will boost your immune system and help your body fight infection. You can also mix pure boiled water with turmeric and pepper powder which can coat your throat and stop the pain. Or you can mix lime with salt and water, which can also soothe a burning throat.
To treat a tonsil infection caused by bacteria, you will need to take antibiotics. You should first visit your doctor, who will take a swab from your throat to confirm the presence of strep bacteria. He will usually prescribe penicillin, which you must take for the allotted time. If you only take the pills until you feel better, the tonsil infection may come back. You should finish your pills, even if you feel 100 percent better after a couple of days.
Unfortunately, penicillin or not, some people are prone to recurrent or chronic tonsillitis. In some severe and recurring cases of swollen tonsils, or when the tonsils are constantly becoming infected, you may consider having your tonsils removed. This is also called a tonsillectomy. Although the procedure is considered safe, there are certain costs and precautions that you should consider and discuss with your doctor.
So if you look in the mirror and notice that your tonsils are swollen, there’s no need to panic. Get some rest and take care of your body so that the infection goes away and you can get back to your normal self, free of swollen tonsils.