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TONSILLITIS WITH HALITOSIS
Acute tonsillitis and recurrent tonsillitis are bacterial infections. They cause sore throat, fever and the feeling of being sick. Some individuals have a low-grade, smoldering tonsil infection, often with small white to yellow puss filled nodules. These are uncomfortable and often cause halitosis. Tonsillectomy is the conventional treatment. However, many cases can be managed with topical medication and throat irrigation.
The Grossan Hydro-pulse Nasal/Sinus Irrigation System listed as item #3 in the Handbook of Nasal Disease is the optimal delivery system. If the irrigation with warm salt water is not sufficient, you can add a diluted Burrough's solution. This is an astringent and improves the efficacy of the irrigation system. Burrough’s solution can be purchased over the counter. It is typically delivered as a tablet which should be diluted in 2 liters of water. If you were to irrigate with full strength Burrough’s solution, you would find it extremely bad tasting. However, if you dilute 1:10 or 1:20, you will find it more tolerable. The 1:10 dilution is made by adding one cup of the Burrough's solution to nine cups of water. Use this to gargle or irrigate the tonsils. This should be performed twice daily. Improvement should be achieved within one to two weeks of treatment.
Terence Davidson, M.D., F.A.C.S.
UCSD Otolaryngology Division
200 West Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92103-8895
(619) 543-6631 |