How long does tonsillitis last?

According to Healthline, it usually takes between seven and 10 days for an individual to fully recover from tonsillitis. Symptoms may improve after a few days if a patient takes prescription drugs or tries home remedies, such as gargling with a mixture of salt and water.

WebMD reports that bacterial infections and viruses are two common causes of tonsillitis. Antibiotics prevent bacterial tonsillitis from damaging other parts of the body, but the viral form of tonsillitis does not require medication.

Healthline notes that severe cases of tonsillitis require a tonsillectomy, which is a surgical procedure where the tonsils are completely removed by a health care professional.