Does tonsillitis normally go away on its own?

[Imthekingsmummy]

I started feeling unwell with fever on Thursday then the sore throat, swollen tonsils with white spots came on Friday. I've been feverish and barely able to eat since.

Does it normally go on its own? I feel miserable and not having much sleep either but it's a nightmare trying to get through to the drs if they aren't going to prescribe something..

You need antibiotics, in my experience no it doesn’t go away in its own.

No it won't - you need antibiotics

From the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary:

Consider the person's signs and symptoms, and use the FeverPAIN or Centor clinical prediction score to determine the likelihood of streptococcal infection (and therefore the need for antibiotic treatment):

Google FeverPAIN score and see what it says for your symptoms.
I’d call the GP and ask for a telephone consult too if you are worried.

I personally think that ABs are needed if there is pus or white spots on tonsils.

When I had it I wasn't given anything just told to take paracetamol. I didn't have white spots on mine! Think you will prob need antibiotics due to having white spots in them. Hope you feel better soon

Most cases it does go away on it's own.

But obviously if you're not well you need to see a doctor who can check you over.

It generally clears up in a week. Most cases are viral and antibiotics will not make any difference
www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/childrens-health/tonsillitis

Get medical advice, OP. I get tonsillitis every year, and my GP told me a few years back they were trying to cut down on antibiotic overuse and that some cases of tonsillitis self-resolve. Anyway to cut a long story short, I didn't push for antibiotics, and ended up in hospital for 4 days with quinsy (tonsil abscess). I get antibiotics each time now, the GP practically throws them at me!

In the case where the tonsillitis is viral, it may well self resolve, but with a fever I wouldn't take the risk of it possibly being bacterial... Without a throat swab the GP really wouldn't know for sure.

Gargling with hot Salty water several times a day helps as does going to bed with paracetamol at the normal intervals.

He gave me antibiotics. I'm still feverish and after 4 days of barely eating or sleeping he thought it was necessary.
I never knew tonsillitis make you feel so awful!
Hopefully I'll start to feel better tomorrow

DH and I had proper tonsillitis years ago. Him first, wouldn't go, took a few weeks to go, As soon as I got feverish and noticed pus on my tonsils I went and got antibiotics, cleared up within a few days.

If you sent feeling better go back and ask for different antibiotics or for a swab to be taken, some species can be resistant to penicillin

Tonsillitis can be viral or bacterial. Antibiotics will have no effect if it's viral.

But you have my sympathies, OP. I've only had it twice, but it made me more ill than I've ever been in my life. My temperature hit 104 both times, and I was pretty much delirious. Hope you get better soon.

I've had tonsillitis a few times in the past few years and never bothered with antibiotics, all cleared up within 5 days to a week. Was miserable though!

Gargle with hydrogen peroxide solution, it's less than £1 in Boots or any chemist. It will oxidise the bacteria on your tonsils and you'll feel better quickly.

When I ignored tonsillitis thinking it would go away on its own it turned into a quinsy which is not a nice thing.

The gp gave me antibiotics yesterday and I was hoping I'd wake up feel a lot brighter but I feel shocking. My throat is hurting like I've never known before. This is awful ☹️