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How Long Do Pus And Swelling Take To Clear When On Amoxicillin For Sore Throat?

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Posted on Fri, 3 Jul 2015
Question: Recently, I went to the doctor and he prescribed amoxicillin for a my sore throat and swollen tonsils from sinusitis. However, white patches started to appear and "pus" can be seen on my tonsils. Not tonsil stones, but pus that comes from within the tonsils. I have started feeling better after a few days of the antibiotics and self-care, but should I be more worried about the pus?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Pus should go away within 2-5 days with the effect of the antibiotic

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thank you for using HCM,

Pus come from the infection, and the antibiotic is given for the purpose of fighting the infection, so removing pus.
In general Amoxicillin is the first choice to treat that kind of infection. You should be better after 2 days of using it, so pus will start to clear up also.
If after 2 days, you still have fever, pus, pain and swollen tender nodes...then you should consider antibiotic resistance, and other alternatives of antobiotic are recommended according the the case. 1 tablet of Amoxicillin 500mg 3 times/day should be enough.,
Do gargles with salt about 3-4 times/day or use an antiseptic spray in the tonisils.
If needed take Ibuprofen 400mg maximum 3 times/day, to relive the pain.

Hope this is helpful.
If you need any more clarification, please let me know. I will be happy to answer.

Take care,
Dr. Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (35 minutes later)
I wrote a lot more than that, I wonder what happened to it haha.

Anyway, I received that antibiotics on a Friday evening and have been taking them since then. There is still pus, slight swelling, but everything seems to be getting better. I never had a fever.

I will gargle with salt more. I also used hydrogen peroxide to gargle and that helped remove some of the pus. I was worried because I'm not sure if the pus can cause scarring on the tonsils - will that heal?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes it will heal if you are not resistant from the antibiotic

Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX

Thank you for asking a follow-up question.

The fact that its getting better is a good sign. If the antibiotic was not working then you would have gotten worse.
The recommendations about the use of the antibiotic in these cases are to use amoxicillin for 10 days, 500 mg 3 times/day. Its longer than other infections to prevent it from getting chronic or from getting repeated.

If the antibiotic is the right one, and you are not resistant, it should heal without problems in few days.
Anyway, as I mentioned above, it is not healed by the end of the use of antibiotic, you may need to consider doing a throat culture which will determine which is the best antibiotic to use in case this infection develops again.

Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you have other questions. Otherwise please kindly close and rate the answer.

Take care,
Dr. Papaqako
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Klarida Papaqako

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1804 Questions

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How Long Do Pus And Swelling Take To Clear When On Amoxicillin For Sore Throat?

Brief Answer: Pus should go away within 2-5 days with the effect of the antibiotic Detailed Answer: Hello XXXXXXX Thank you for using HCM, Pus come from the infection, and the antibiotic is given for the purpose of fighting the infection, so removing pus. In general Amoxicillin is the first choice to treat that kind of infection. You should be better after 2 days of using it, so pus will start to clear up also. If after 2 days, you still have fever, pus, pain and swollen tender nodes...then you should consider antibiotic resistance, and other alternatives of antobiotic are recommended according the the case. 1 tablet of Amoxicillin 500mg 3 times/day should be enough., Do gargles with salt about 3-4 times/day or use an antiseptic spray in the tonisils. If needed take Ibuprofen 400mg maximum 3 times/day, to relive the pain. Hope this is helpful. If you need any more clarification, please let me know. I will be happy to answer. Take care, Dr. Papaqako