What should you know about bacterial tonsillitis treatment?

Treatment starts with deciding whether bacteria are likely. A GP may inspect the tonsils and throat, check the neck and ask about fever, swallowing, contacts and other symptoms. Because viruses can look similar, antibiotics are not automatically needed for every episode of tonsillitis.

When an antibiotic is appropriate, it targets the suspected bacteria. It does not relieve every cause of sore throat and may cause side effects, so the choice should reflect allergies, pregnancy, other medicines and relevant health conditions.

Take frequent drinks and rest. Soft foods, cool fluids or warm drinks may make swallowing easier. Ask a pharmacist about suitable pain or fever medicine, and follow the label carefully. Avoid smoking and do not use numbing products or combination remedies without checking that their ingredients are suitable.

Take prescribed antibiotics at the instructed times. If you miss a dose or develop nausea, diarrhoea or a rash, ask the prescriber or pharmacist what to do. Never share antibiotics or use old medication.

Contact a clinician if symptoms are worsening, fever continues, you cannot drink well or the prescribed treatment is difficult to tolerate. Get emergency help for breathing difficulty, drooling, inability to swallow saliva, one-sided throat swelling, a muffled voice or sudden facial swelling after medicine.

Ask how bacterial tonsillitis was identified, how long improvement may take, what to do about a missed dose and which symptoms indicate an abscess or another complication requiring prompt review.