Table of contents:
- Choice of drugs from doctors for swollen tonsils
- Antibiotics
- Pain relievers
- Choice of natural remedies to treat swollen tonsils
- Gargle with salt water
- Sucking on lozenges
- Drink honey
The tonsils are a part of the immune system that protects the body from infection. When the tonsils are infected, these fleshy bumps at the front of the throat will swell and get bigger. Here are various drug options for swollen tonsils that you can use, both from a doctor and a natural.
Choice of drugs from doctors for swollen tonsils
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medications for swollen tonsils caused by a bacterial infection.
One example is penicillin. Penicillin is usually prescribed to treat inflamed tonsils. This medicine is usually taken for a full 10 days to kill bacteria that cause disease. However, if you have an allergy to penicillin, your doctor will prescribe an alternative antibiotic.
The antibiotics prescribed by the doctor must be spent according to the rules. Not depleting it can make the bacteria resistant to the drug so that the infection spreads to other parts of the body.
Pain relievers
To relieve the pain that arises from swollen tonsils, you can take pain relievers. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are usually enough to help relieve annoying pain.
Not only relieves pain, ibuprofen is an NSAID class drug that also functions as an anti-inflammatory. Both types of drugs can be obtained directly with or without a doctor's prescription.
However, if you want to buy medicine at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription, make sure that you are fully aware of the benefits and side effects of the drug.
Acetaminophen or paracetamol is intended to relieve mild or moderate pain and relieve fever. These drugs tend to be safe for consumption by children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Paracetamol usually will not cause any side effects if taken according to the rules.
While the pain relieving effect of ibuprofen is stronger than paracetamol. Ibuprofen works to reduce hormones that cause pain and inflammation in the body. This medicine is not recommended for consumption by pregnant and lactating women to treat swollen tonsils or other pain. Unless your doctor prescribes it for you.
Ibuprofen is a class of drugs that can cause side effects such as:
- Headache
- Keliyengan
- Nausea
- Gag
Choice of natural remedies to treat swollen tonsils
In addition to medicines from doctors, there are various natural remedies that can also help treat swollen tonsils, such as:
Gargle with salt water
Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, gargling with warm salt water can help relieve pain and reduce swelling of the tonsils.
Salt water will not cure bacterial and viral infections that attack the tonsils. However, this natural method is very useful for reducing the various symptoms that accompany swelling.
You only need to dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Next, gargle for a few seconds before regurgitating it. You can repeat this method 2 to 3 times a day or whenever needed.
Sucking on lozenges
Swollen tonsils can make your throat feel sore. For that you can suck on lozenges to relieve it.
There are many choices of tablets or lozenges that you can take when the tonsils are swollen. Some of them contain anti-inflammatory properties and other ingredients that can help relieve pain.
Lozenges containing licorice, for example, contain a fairly strong anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, this type is suitable for helping relieve swelling of the tonsils and throat. But be careful not to give lozenges to children as they may choke.
Drink honey
Honey is a natural remedy that contains antimicrobial properties. With this ingredient, honey can help fight bacteria and viruses that cause disease.
You can consume honey immediately without adding anything else or add it to a cup of tea. Although it does not cure disease, honey helps relieve symptoms that arise due to swollen tonsils.