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Suggest Treatment For Enlarged Tonsil
Question: I am 57 years old and have never had any tonsil problems. About a month ago I noticed a lump or swollen tonsil. I let it go for a week and when it started getting worse went to the doctor. He put me on a 10 course of augmentin. I felt better but not totally and then I relapsed. I thought perhaps it was an abscess in my mouth so I went to the oral surgeon and she said it was still my tonsils. I called my gp and he put me on augmentin again. I began to feel better but still had the swelling in my tonsil. I saw him again and he suggested that I see an ent which I did. She gave a nasal scope and noticed that my tonsil was enlarged. She is suggested that I go for a scan which I plan to do. In the meantime she said stop the augmentin which I have. Not sure why but I am starting to feel better and the swelling is starting to go down on its own. Any ideas?
Brief Answer:
swelling in mouth
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
Welcome to health care magic!
I am Dr. Saddiq Ul Abidin. I have read your problem in detail and will try to help you in best way possible.
First if all it is sad to know about the issue that you have been facing lately. Having said that, according to the history and details you shared, it was natural for your GP to put you on augmentin as symptoms were suggestive of tonsillitis, and is considered to be a top diagnosis in such swellings with in the mouth.
It is also quite common for the tonsils to have recurrence and in such cases normally surgical intervention is required, but jumping straight to that after only two courses of augmentin would not be a wise decision, as there are other antibiotics which are given as second line, if penicillins fail like levofloxacin, moxifloxacin or macrolide antibiotics. Using anti histamines alongwith anti inflammatory drugs would have helped too.
Getting a second opinion with an ENT specialist was a commendable decision. If he or she stopped you from using antibiotic, it can either be due to satisfactory improvement or may be he had doubted the diagnosis at all. To know any other cause of swelling the scan or biopsy would be the right option. Scan being the less invasive one, it is going to lead your doctor to some diagnosis or will help to exclude others. I would also like to second with his suggestion to stop antibiotic as it is good sign for the swelling to regress but finding out the primary cause would be a good strategy as been advised by your ENT specialist.
Hope this has answered your query, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. kindly rate me generously before closing, and leave your feedback if possible.
Regards,
Dr. Saddiq Ul abidin.
swelling in mouth
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
Welcome to health care magic!
I am Dr. Saddiq Ul Abidin. I have read your problem in detail and will try to help you in best way possible.
First if all it is sad to know about the issue that you have been facing lately. Having said that, according to the history and details you shared, it was natural for your GP to put you on augmentin as symptoms were suggestive of tonsillitis, and is considered to be a top diagnosis in such swellings with in the mouth.
It is also quite common for the tonsils to have recurrence and in such cases normally surgical intervention is required, but jumping straight to that after only two courses of augmentin would not be a wise decision, as there are other antibiotics which are given as second line, if penicillins fail like levofloxacin, moxifloxacin or macrolide antibiotics. Using anti histamines alongwith anti inflammatory drugs would have helped too.
Getting a second opinion with an ENT specialist was a commendable decision. If he or she stopped you from using antibiotic, it can either be due to satisfactory improvement or may be he had doubted the diagnosis at all. To know any other cause of swelling the scan or biopsy would be the right option. Scan being the less invasive one, it is going to lead your doctor to some diagnosis or will help to exclude others. I would also like to second with his suggestion to stop antibiotic as it is good sign for the swelling to regress but finding out the primary cause would be a good strategy as been advised by your ENT specialist.
Hope this has answered your query, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. kindly rate me generously before closing, and leave your feedback if possible.
Regards,
Dr. Saddiq Ul abidin.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you for the answer. One last thing. My GP did not do blood work when I originally went in for the first consultation. Is this unusual?
Brief Answer:
closing remarks
Detailed Answer:
Hi! No its not unusual. Normally blood work is done for reassurance and support of a diagnosis or sometimes also to rule out some disease. He would have thought tonsillitis to be conclusive enough that he didn't want to need to run extra tests.
Hope this has answered your query. Kindly spare sometime to rate generously or leave a review for encouragement. Hoping you a speedy recovery. Regards.
closing remarks
Detailed Answer:
Hi! No its not unusual. Normally blood work is done for reassurance and support of a diagnosis or sometimes also to rule out some disease. He would have thought tonsillitis to be conclusive enough that he didn't want to need to run extra tests.
Hope this has answered your query. Kindly spare sometime to rate generously or leave a review for encouragement. Hoping you a speedy recovery. Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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