Pharyngitis/tonsillitis is inflammation of the throat and tonsils characterized by fever, difficulty in swallowing, runny nose, cough with throat inflammation and painful tonsillar lymph nodes.
Medications:
Treatment as per Centor criteria (see below for Centor criteria)
- Score 0 to 1 – Syrup Calpol (Paracetamol 250 mg/5ml) – 10 ml 3 times a day for 10 days.
- Score 2 and above – Cap. Wymox (Amoxicillin 500 mg) 1 capsule twice a day for 10 days OR
- Score 2 and above – Tab. Monocef-O (Cefpodoxime 200 mg) 1 tablet twice a day for 5 days.
Investigations:
- Complete blood count – to rule out raised white cell count.
- Streptococcal Rapid Antigen test (RADT)/ throat culture – for Streptococcus infection.
General advice:
- Drink boiled water, bed rest and soft diet
- Chicken soup, honey and soft foods
- Saltwater gargles
- Avoid acidic foods
Referral:
Consider further referral to ENT specialist or secondary care in case of clinical deterioration or if patient has any other complications.
Modified Centor criteria (calculate the score as below, add the score as per findings and age):
- Inflammation of tonsils with exudate – +1
- Enlarged or tender cervical lymph nodes – +1
- Fever over 101 F – +1
- Cough – +1
- Age 3 to 14 years – +1
- Age 15 to 45 years – 0
- Ages over 45 years – subtract 1