Question
A 9-year-old boy, initially, felt pain when drinking water, noticed that he had a severe cough, and also had a bit of a fever and seemed lackluster. What are the common symptoms that may occur with pediatric tonsillitis?
Answer
If a child indeed has tonsillitis, the initial symptom is throat pain, which may cause the child to have difficulty swallowing and frequent crying. It is usually accompanied by fever, which can be low-grade or persistently high, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. The child may also experience chills and weakness. Due to the congestion of the pharyngeal mucosa, the tonsils can be visibly enlarged. If not promptly addressed, it may lead to complications such as rheumatism, nephritis, and sepsis. Therefore, if any of these symptoms are observed in a child, medical attention should be sought immediately to prevent complications.