Tonsillitis treatment in Patong
Tonsillitis is a step beyond an ordinary sore throat. Swallowing becomes genuinely painful, the glands in your neck swell, and a fever leaves you flat. Tonsillitis treatment in Patong is available 24 hours a day, and getting it assessed properly matters because the treatment depends entirely on the cause.
What it looks like
The tonsils at the back of the throat become red, swollen and often coated with white or yellow patches. Swallowing hurts, sometimes enough that people avoid drinking, which causes its own problems in this heat. There is usually fever, tender swollen glands under the jaw, bad breath, and a muffled or thickened voice.
Children may complain of stomach pain rather than throat pain, and may simply refuse to eat or drink.
Viral or bacterial
Most tonsillitis is viral and settles within a week without antibiotics. A significant minority is bacterial, usually streptococcal, and that does need treating.
We use a rapid strep swab, which gives an answer within minutes. It is a small test that changes the whole plan, and it avoids both unnecessary antibiotics and missed bacterial infections.
Treatment
Pain control comes first, and it should be taken seriously rather than being told to soldier on. Regular anti-inflammatory medicine and paracetamol together work better than either alone. Medicated gargles and lozenges help locally.
Where the swab confirms bacteria, antibiotics usually bring clear improvement within 24 to 48 hours. Finish the whole course. Where pain is severe and swelling significant, a short course of steroids can reduce it noticeably, and we use that when it is appropriate.
Keeping fluids in
This is the part that most often causes trouble on holiday. People stop drinking because swallowing hurts, and in Patong heat they become dehydrated within a day.
Cold drinks, ice lollies and ice cream are genuinely useful because cold numbs the throat. If you truly cannot drink enough, we give fluids through an IV drip, which also lets us give pain relief and antibiotics directly.
Quinsy: the complication to know about
A peritonsillar abscess, known as quinsy, is a collection of pus beside the tonsil. It needs urgent treatment, usually drainage, and it will not resolve with tablets alone.
Come in immediately if the pain becomes severe and clearly worse on one side, if you cannot open your mouth properly, if your voice sounds muffled, if you are drooling because swallowing saliva is too painful, or if you have any difficulty breathing.
Recurrent tonsillitis
If you get tonsillitis repeatedly, several times a year, that is worth discussing rather than treating each episode in isolation. We can document the episodes properly, which matters if a specialist opinion about removing the tonsils is being considered at home.
Flying with tonsillitis
Swollen tonsils and blocked ears make flying painful, and a visible fever can cause problems at the gate. If you have a flight booked, come in early enough for treatment to work. Where you are fit to travel we can issue a certificate, and where you are not we will document that for your airline and insurer.
Common questions about tonsillitis in Patong
How long does tonsillitis last?
Viral cases settle in about a week. Bacterial cases improve within a couple of days of starting antibiotics.
Do I definitely need antibiotics?
No. Only if the swab or clinical picture points to bacteria. Many cases do not.
How much does treatment cost in Patong?
Consultation, swab test and medicine. Message us and we will quote first.
Can you treat my child?
Yes. Children get tonsillitis often. Bring their weight so dosing is accurate.
Can a doctor come to my hotel?
Yes, including swabs, injections and fluids if needed.