
Tonsillitis and Strep Throat: What’s the Difference?
- Health Hub 101, Taboo Topic
- 23 Dec, 2022
Tonsillitis
Your doctor won't be able to directly treat tonsillitis brought on by a virus. Your doctor could advise taking antibiotics to treat the infection if bacteria are the cause of your tonsillitis. Make sure to follow your doctor's instructions for taking antibiotics exactly.
Utilizing medicines can also assist you in lowering your danger of spreading an infection to others. The average time that symptoms last can be cut by antibiotics is 16 hours.
In more severe situations, you could be unable to breathe due to the swelling of your tonsils. Steroids will be recommended by your doctor to reduce inflammation. They will advise a procedure called a tonsillectomy to remove your tonsils if that doesn't work. Only rarely is this option used.
Strep Throat
Your doctor will prescribe an oral antibiotic within 48 hours of the onset of the sickness because bacteria are the cause of strep throat. This will lessen your symptoms' duration and intensity, as well as their complications and chance of spreading to others. Home remedies can also be used to treat sore throat and irritated tonsils.
Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of strep throat and tonsillitis are identical. The reason for this is that tonsillitis is a kind of strep throat. However, those who have strep throat will also experience other, distinct symptoms.
Causes
Viruses and bacteria are just two of the pathogens that can cause tonsillitis. However, viruses like these are typically responsible for their occurrence:
- HIV
- Herpes simplex
- Coronavirus
- Adenovirus
- Epstein-Barr virus
Only one of these viruses' symptoms is tonsillitis. To identify which virus, if any, is the root of your tonsillitis, your doctor will need to do tests and examine all of your symptoms.
Group A Streptococcus is the bacteria that causes strep throat, and is the most prevalent infectious bacteria. It isn't brought on by any other kind of bacteria or virus. Only those who have tonsils can develop tonsillitis. In severe situations, consequences from strep throat and tonsillitis might include rheumatic fever, renal irritation, and scarlet fever.
When should you visit a physician?
If you have tonsillitis or strep throat, you might not need to visit the doctor. Most of the time, symptoms can be treated at home with rest, warm liquids, or sucking throat lozenges for a few days.
However, you might have to visit a doctor if: you have severe symptoms, such as a fever over 102.6°F (39.2°C), difficulty breathing or drinking, extreme pain that won't go away, or you have had many instances of tonsillitis or strep throat in the past year.
Treatment
Instead of genuinely addressing your ailment, the majority of treatments only soothe your symptoms. For instance, anti-inflammatory drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen can be used to treat fever and inflammation-related pain (Advil and Motrin).
Contagious illnesses such as tonsillitis and strep throat should ideally be avoided while you are ill. Your sore throat should go away in a few days with the help of home remedies and plenty of rest. If your symptoms are severe or last a long time, see a doctor.
Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/health/tonsillitis-vs-strep-throat#treatment