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Read Dr. Elena Krasnov's Weekly Column in the Health & Fitness section of the 24 Hours Magazine. Look for new articles every week!

Monday, October 06, 2008

Taming Tonsillitis

Q: I am a 27 year-old male, and a year ago I had a severe case of tonsillitis for the first time in my life. I took antibiotics and it went away, but then came back about three more times but not as severe as the first time. The last time I had it was in january, but I am starting to feel the symptoms of it again. What could be the cause? What can I do to cure myself of having this reoccur?

A:Whenever anyone is faced with severe tonsillitis, it must be treated aggressively to prevent possible complications. The fact that your infection kept coming back probably means that it was not totally eradicated the first time. You should have had a throat swab to diagnose the causing bacteria and to test for antibiotic sensitivity. That would make sure you took the right medication for your problem. The fact that now it has come back may imply that you have developed a fungal infection, that often occurs after antibiotics wipe out the friendly gut bacteria. It is possible that you have developed thrush. It is a Candida overgrowth in the mouth and throat that can occur after antibiotic use. Your doctor should be able to diagnose that. Candida overgrowth can cause sore throat and burning in the mouth especially around areas of inflammation. Again a throat swab of the area should be able to provide diagnosis. Blood work to look at your immune profile should also be ordered.

If in fact it is fungal in nature, you can treat it naturopathically by using herbs known to counteract yeast and fungus. Oil of Oregano is a good start. Try taking it several times a day and gargle with a weak solution of either tee tree oil or oil of oregano mixed is some warm water. Citricidin, a grapefruit seed extract is also effective against fungal infections. Whenever dealing with infection, Vitamin C is always a good thing to add to your regiment. Taking 3000 mg per day in divided doses should be helpful. Avoid drinking milk and eating dairy as it will make your mucous congestion worse and would slow down your progress. Also avoid eating foods high in processed sugar. Sugar lowers immune function and will not be helpful. Make sure that your progress is monitored by a health professional to spot any potential spread of infection or complications.

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Dr. Elena Krasnov is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and Clinic Director of the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic. Submit your questions online at 24hrs.ca

Co-written by Miranda Tallon-Malisani Holistic Nutritionist