Tonsillitis

About tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is when your child’s tonsils get inflamed.

Tonsillitis is usually caused by viruses like the common cold, flu or glandular fever.

Sometimes a bacterial infection can cause tonsillitis, but it’s often hard to tell the difference between viral and bacterial causes.

Bacterial causes include streptococcal infection (Streptococcus A). If left untreated, this kind of infection can cause complications like scarlet fever, and, occasionally, rheumatic fever and kidney damage (glomerulonephritis).

Children under three years don’t often get bacterial tonsillitis.

The tonsils are two pieces of tissue at the back of the mouth. You can often see them if your child ‘opens wide’ and you look into his mouth. The tonsils work as part of the immune system.

Tonsillitis symptoms

If your child has tonsillitis, she’ll complain of a sore throat. She might also have:

• difficulty swallowing
• a fever
• swollen, tender glands in her neck
• a headache
• a runny nose and other cold symptoms.

Depending on the cause of the infection, your child could also have a rash.

Tonsillitis symptoms usually improve after a few days and go away within a week.

Does your child need to see a doctor about tonsillitis?

You should take your child to see a doctor if your child:

• refuses to drink fluids
• vomits
• complains of an intense headache
• is pale and sleepy
• has trouble breathing or swallowing his saliva
• has a stiff neck
• feels tightness in his jaw.

If you’re worried about your child’s symptoms, also see a doctor.

Tests for tonsillitis

Your doctor might order a throat swab to check whether a virus or bacteria is causing the infection.

The doctor might also suggest a blood test, which can help look for glandular fever.

Tonsillitis treatment

If the infection is caused by a virus, your child won’t need antibiotics.

Antibiotics is rarely needrd for trearment of tonsillitis in children younger than 3 years.

Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics only if the doctor concluded that the infection is caused by bacteria.

Antibiotic treatment no later than 9 days from the appearance of symptoms will prevent rheumatic fever. 

You can treat your child’s symptoms by giving your child:

• small, frequent sips of water to help your child stay hydrated
• paracetamol in recommended doses to help with the pain.

Tonsillectomy is when you have your tonsils taken out. Tonsillectomy isn’t a routine operation. The main reason for tonsillectomy is severe obstruction of air flow to the lungs by the enlraged tonsills mailny during night sleep (upper airway obstruction). Another reason for tonsillectomy is that the child has tonsillitis that keeps coming back. very often. If your doctor feels your child might benefit from tonsillectomy, the doctor will send you and your child to an ear, nose and throat specialist.