The tonsils are masses of tissue at the back of the throat. They act as a filter to help prevent infections in the throat, mouth, and sinuses from spreading to other parts of the body. They also produce antibodies that fight throat and nose infections. Tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils get inflamed. The cause for this is a bacterial or viral infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tonsillitis include:
- Mild to severe throat pain
- Swollen lymph glands on either side of the neck or jaw
- Ear pain
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Chills and fever
- Headache
A throat culture is necessary to diagnose the cause of tonsillitis. Antibiotics are prescribed for strep or other bacterial infections, but not for viral ones.
More often than not, having tonsillitis, even when it recurs up to 7 times a year, does not mean that the tonsils should be removed (in a surgical procedure called a tonsillectomy). Don't pressure your child's doctor to remove your child's tonsils just because this was commonly done years ago. Only under certain medical conditions should a tonsillectomy be done.
Questions to Ask
Is the tonsillitis severe and/or are these problems present?
- Extreme difficulty in swallowing
- Inability to swallow saliva
- Difficulty in breathing
- Inability to say more than 3 or 4 words between breaths
- Drooling
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| Is your child unable to fully open his or her mouth? |
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Does your child have large tonsils that:
- Touch each other when not infected, or
- Result in continued mouth breathing, or
- Muffle speech, which is due to no other cause
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| Has the child with tonsillitis had rheumatic fever or a heart murmur? |
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Are any of the following present with the tonsillitis:
- Fever
- Swollen, enlarged, or tender neck glands
- Headache
- Ear pain or tugging at the ears
- Bad breath
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting or abdominal pain
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| Do the tonsils or back of the throat look bright red or have visible pus deposits? |
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| Does someone else in the family have strep throat or does your child get strep throat often? |
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| Has your child's sore throat lasted more than 2 weeks even though it is mild? |
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Self-Care Tips
You can take some steps to relieve your child's discomfort from tonsillitis. Have him or her:
- Gargle every few hours with a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 4 ounces of warm water, if your child is older than 8 years.
- Drink plenty of warm beverages such as tea (with or without honey) and soup, if tolerated. (Do not give honey to a child under 1 year of age.)
- Use a "cool-mist" vaporizer or humidifier in the room where he or she spends most of his or her time. (Use distilled water in it and clean after each use.)
- Eat foods that are soft and/or cold and easy to swallow (e.g., juices, popsicles, and ice cream). Avoid spicy foods.
- Suck on a piece of hard candy or medicated lozenge occasionally (if your child is 5 years of age or older). Corn syrup can be used periodically for younger children.
- Take the recommended dosage of acetaminophen for pain and/or fever. {Note: Do not give aspirin or any medication that has salicylates to anyone under 19 years of age, unless a doctor tells you to.}
- Avoid throat sprays. These may contain benzocaine, which could cause an adverse reaction.
- Avoid secondhand cigarette smoke.