TONSILLITIS – DRUGS
Another drug such as erythromycin may be used in those allergic to penicillin.
Other causes of sore throat, particularly those due to viruses, don’t respond to antibiotics.
Recurrent severe tonsillitis may be an indication for removal of the tonsils. Recurrent sore throats not involving the tonsils are no reason for taking out these important organs.
In the past, few children escaped into adulthood with their tonsils intact. We now recommend against the operation except for some clearly defined indications.
Recurrent severe tonsillitis, say three or four definite attacks diagnosed by the doctor and requiring antibiotics over one or two years may be an indication, particularly if associated with complications such as ear infection.
Enlargement alone is rarely, if ever, an indication for removing the tonsils. All this lymphoid tissue may enlarge during childhood and then slowly decrease in size and become insignificant in later life.
Occasionally the tonsils may be so large that they meet in the middle and this may interfere with speech or with swallowing. But this rarely requires an operation.
The complications of recurrent tonsillitis may force the hand of the doctor in deciding on tonsillectomy.
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