Tonsillitis is a medical condition characterized by an inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsils are lymphoid organs that filter and trap bacterial and viral organisms. As a result of their role in pathogenic filtration, the tonsils are susceptible to infection and inflammation. Symptoms commonly associated with tonsillitis include a sore throat, swollen tonsils, difficulty swallowing, fever and fatigue. Bacterial infection of the tonsils is treated with antibiotic medications.
Penicillin V
Group A streptococcus or Streptococcus pyogenes are the most common bacterial organisms that cause tonsillitis. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, these bacterial organisms are responsible for 15 to 30 percent of all reported cases of tonsillitis. Penicillin V is an antibiotic medication prescribed for the treatment of bacterial infections and according to Patient UK, penicillin V is the drug of choice for treating bacterial infections that result in tonsillitis. Penicillin V works by inhibiting the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall thereby resulting in the rupture and destruction of the bacterial organism. Penicillin V is prescribed for 10 days for the treatment of tonsillitis.
Amoxicillin
According to Drugs.com, amoxicillin is prescribed for the treatment of tonsillitis due to a bacterial infection. Amoxicillin is a synthetic, broad spectrum antibiotic prescribed for the treatment of bacterial infections due to Streptococci, E. Coli, S. penumoniae and many more. Amoxicillin belongs to the class of penicillin antibiotics that work by interacting with penicillin-binding proteins. By interacting with penicillin-binding proteins, amoxicillin inhibits the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall thereby resulting in rupture and death of the bacterial organism. Tonsillitis caused by bacterial infections is treated with a 500 mg dosage of amoxicillin taken three times per day for 10 days.
Erythromycin
Erythromycin is a broad-spectrum, macrolide antibiotic prescribed for the treatment of bacterial infections resulting in tonsillitis, notes the Wrong Diagnosis website. Erythromycin is active against a wide range of bacterial organisms, especially group A streptococci organisms. Erythromycin works by inhibiting the synthesis of proteins essential for the growth and reproduction of bacterial organisms. Erythromycin is commonly prescribed to people allergic to penicillin and is prescribed for a duration of 10 days in the treatment of tonsillitis.
