Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Tonsillitis causes a sore throat with swollen, red tonsils - sometimes with white pus - plus fever and painful swallowing; breathing or swallowing difficulty is an emergency.
Typical symptoms:
Viral vs strep clues: runny nose, cough, hoarseness and conjunctivitis point to viral. Sudden high fever, very painful throat, pus patches, tender neck glands and NO cough point to strep - worth a doctor's assessment for testing and antibiotics.
Danger signs - emergency care (call 112 or go to hospital):
See a doctor (non-emergency) if: fever above 101F for over 2 days, pus on tonsils, rash, symptoms beyond a week, or repeated attacks.
Remember: pus patches + high fever + no cough = get checked for strep; breathing or swallowing trouble = emergency.
Classical texts describe these throat presentations in dosha terms - descriptive only. Danger signs belong to emergency care.
Written By
Sanatan Ayurveda
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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Rest during the acute attack; light activity returns as fever settles; breathing practices and neck-relaxing yoga may ease recovery - no strain while ill.
Salt-water gargles, honey (over age 1), warm fluids, rest, soft food and paracetamol ease tonsillitis at home; strep still needs a doctor's antibiotics.
Prevent tonsillitis with handwashing, not sharing utensils and bottles, covering coughs, smoke-free air, and completing antibiotic courses for strep.
The main complications are peritonsillar abscess, and after untreated strep, rheumatic fever and kidney inflammation - all preventable with timely, complete treatment.
Warm salt-water gargles, turmeric and soothing Ayurvedic measures ease viral tonsillitis, but strep tonsillitis needs a full antibiotic course - no herb prevents rheumatic fever.
During tonsillitis choose soft, mild, easy-to-swallow foods and plenty of fluids; cold soothing foods are allowed, and rough, spicy foods should wait.
