Tonsillitis and Peritonsillar Abscesses
Date issued: February 2025
For review: February 2027
Ref: A-568/NB/ED/Tonsillitis and Peritonsillar Abscesses v2
PDF: Tonsillitis and Peritonsillar Abscesses.pdf[pdf] 178KB
To help with your recovery you should:
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Take plenty of rest and sleep
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Drink plenty of fluids
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Take pain relief before meals to aid swallowing and eat normally
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Paracetamol 1g as required – up to 4 times a day
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Ibuprofen 400mg as required – up to 3 times a day
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Oramorph 10mg as required – up to 4 times a day
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Complete the course of antibiotics prescribed
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For tonsillitis: Penicillin V 500mg 4 times a day for 10 days (or Clindamycin 450mg 3 times a day for 10 days if penicillin allergic)
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For peritonsillar abscess: Penicillin 500mg 4 times a day (or Clindamycin 450mg 3 times a day for 10 days if penicillin allergic) + Metronidazole 400mg 3 times a day for 10 days
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Use the prescribed mouthwash (Difflam) 4 times a day for 7 days
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If you smoke, stop for at least 7 days, as it may make your throat sore and may slow down healing
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Try to avoid people with colds and coughs and stay out of public places
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If your symptoms return and you have difficulty swallowing, contact Lynher Ward on 01752 792274