Question
A 5-year-old boy, initially, felt pain when swallowing water, noticed that his voice was a bit hoarse when speaking, and had been a bit feverish. What symptoms might occur with pediatric tonsillitis?
Answer
If a child has tonsillitis, the first symptoms often include throat pain, and the child may also experience varying degrees of difficulty swallowing. Fever is another common symptom of tonsillitis, with severe cases potentially reaching temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius. With fever, many children may also experience headaches or body aches, as well as chills. At this point, the tonsils become inflamed and may swell. If not promptly addressed, this condition can lead to complications such as rheumatism, nephritis, and sepsis. Therefore, it is advised that parents should take their child to the doctor for treatment as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration of the condition and avoid unnecessary harm to the child.