One of the most common illnesses affecting children and teenagers is tonsillitis, an inflammation in the back of the throat. According to Dr. Gayle Woodson, an ENT specialist at SIU School of Medicine, many children have tonsillitis at some point between the ages of five and fifteen , and the illness can cause a lot of pain and suffering.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Redness in the tonsils
- Headache
- Hoarseness or loss of voice
- Dehydration in very small children if they have so much pain they can’t swallow
- Difficulty breathing if the tonsils are enlarged
Tonsillitis can occur any time of year but is most prevalent in the winter. It can be caused by a virus or bacteria, including strep throat.
“Usually treatment includes antibiotics when there is an acute infection going on with a lot of pain and fever,” says Dr. Woodson. “If someone has more than three infections per year for a number of years, or if they have several infections within six months, it’s clear that the child is going to continue to have these problems. In that situation we recommend taking the tonsils out.”
Tonsilitis is spread by social contact such as sneezing. If a child or adult has tonsillitis, it’s very important to see a primary care physician for evaluation and possible treatment. If left untreated, it can lead to a more serious condition called rheumatic fever.
Hear Dr. Woodson talk about tonsillitis.
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