When your child has a sore throat, often your doctor will diagnose tonsillitis--an infection of the tonsils, two oval-shaped areas at the back of the throat. As part of the lymphatic system, tonsils help to protect against viruses and bacteria that attack the immune system. That may make tonsils vulnerable to inflammation and infection, particularly during childhood, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, tonsillitis symptoms can include red or swollen tonsils, trouble swallowing, swollen lymph glands in the neck, fever, chills, ear pain and headache. Difficulty with breathing or swallowing merits a call to the doctor, along with persistent illness or sore throat, the academy advises.
Diagnosis
Your child's doctor will check her throat, ears, nose, glands and breathing. Viruses cause most cases of tonsillitis, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, but the doctor might swab your child's throat to check for possible bacterial infection. In 15 percent to 30 percent of cases, the infection is bacterial, usually caused by a type of streptococcus or "strep" bacteria, the academy advises.
Complications
Although tonsillitis is common between the preschool and mid-teen years, complications can be serious, the Mayo Clinic warns. These complications can include difficult or disrupted breathing, infection that spreads into surrounding tissue or creates an abscess, a worsening strep infection that causes rheumatic fever or a serious inflammation of the kidneys.
Treatment
The doctor will prescribe antibiotics if a bacterial infection caused your child's tonsillitis, the Mayo Clinic advises. Give the full course of medication, usually over 10 days. If the infection is viral, antibiotics won't help. Mayoclinic.com says that in both cases, you can help the recovery by encouraging your child to get plenty of rest and fluids, gargle with warm saltwater, take non-aspirin pain relievers and suck on lozenges to relieve soreness.
Tonsillectomy
Removing the tonsils by surgery--a tonsillectomy--is not as common as it used to be, the American Academy of Family Physicians says. The National Institutes of Health warns that a tonsillectomy may be needed if there are recurrent bouts of tonsillitis, cases that are not cured by antibiotics, extreme growth of the tonsils, tonsil abscesses or recurring middle-ear infections. Surgery also may be recommended for a child who has strep throat six or more times in one year, the Mayo Clinic advises.
References
- National Library of Medicine-National Institutes of Health: Tonsils and Adenoids
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Tonsillitis
- Mayo Clinic: Tonsillitis
- Mayo Clinic: Recurring Strep Throat: When Is Tonsillectomy Useful?
- National Library of Medicine-National Institutes of Health: When It's Time for a Tonsillectomy
