Medicated Throat Lozenges
Lozenges are candy-like medications intended to be slowly disintegrated or dissolved in the mouth. They contain active ingredients that help soothe and numb the throat and relieve pain caused by tonsillitis. In addition, most of them have antiseptic, anesthetic, and demulcent properties.
Experts claim that lozenges can drastically reduce inflammation since they deliver pain relief directly to the tonsils (the site of the infection). In addition, a recent study showed that lozenges also effectively fight off bacteria responsible for bacterial tonsillitis. Aside from these, throat lozenges are a practical and efficient way to soothe a sore throat and suppress a cough when the patient is in a public mode of transportation, in a meeting, or in a public place.
Lozenges are not advisable for young children since they are very prone to choking. Moreover, some of them contain benzocaine. Benzocaine is a kind of local anesthesia that provides temporary pain relief. However, benzocaine can cause side effects like high fever, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, and dizziness. This is why the FDA does not allow children younger than three years old to take products with benzocaine.
