Besides acne, erythromycin is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, from ear infections to rosacea. It’s a prescription medication and there is no over-the-counter alternative. Erythromycin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Important Information Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with erythromycin. Tonsillitis is common in children and young people, but can occur at any age. Characteristics include pain in the throat and trouble swallowing. Get expert advice on symptoms, causes and treatment. A one-time injection of penicillin is occasionally used to treat bacterial tonsillitis. Other penicillin-like antibiotics include ampicillin, augmentin and azithromycin. Other penicillin-like antibiotics include ampicillin, augmentin and azithromycin. In the treatment of streptococcal infections of the upper respiratory tract (e.g., tonsillitis or pharyngitis), the therapeutic dosage of erythromycin should be administered for at least ten days. Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, typically of rapid onset. It is a type of pharyngitis. Symptoms may include sore throat, fever, enlargement of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, and large lymph nodes around the neck. Complications include peritonsillar abscess. Erythromycin is also used to prevent whooping cough in people who've been exposed to whooping cough and haven't been vaccinated against it. Infections of the nasal passages, sinuses or throat, eg. Erythromycin is an antibiotic. It's widely used to treat chest infections, such as pneumonia, skin problems, such as acne and rosacea, dental abscesses, and sexually transmitted infections. If you or your child is known to be allergic to penicillin, an alternative antibiotic, such as erythromycin, can be used. Hospital treatment may be required for particularly severe or persistent cases of bacterial tonsillitis that don't respond to oral antibiotics. If tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most common antibiotic treatment prescribed for tonsillitis caused by group A streptococcus.