Q:
What are the medications for tonsillitis treatment?
A:
Medications used to treat tonsillitis include:
- Pain and fever reducing medications such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen
- Antibiotics
If the tonsillitis is caused by group A streptococcus, then antibiotics are useful, with penicillin or amoxicillin being primary choices.
Cephalosporins and macrolides are considered good alternatives to penicillin in the acute setting.
A macrolide such as erythromycin is used for people allergic to penicillin.
Individuals who fail penicillin therapy may respond to treatment effective against beta-lactamase producing bacteria such as clindamycin or amoxicillin-clavulanate.
Aerobic and anaerobic beta lactamase producing bacteria that reside in the tonsillar tissues can “shield” group A streptococcus from penicillins.
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