Question
A boy, aged 8, has recently started experiencing throat pain, accompanied by severe coughing and persistent low-grade fever. What clinical manifestations might he exhibit?
Answer
When a child develops tonsillitis, the primary symptom is severe throat pain, which may even cause difficulty in swallowing. Most affected children will have a fever, with temperatures reaching 39-40 degrees Celsius, accompanied by chills and headaches. Many children may feel overall weakness at this time, with the tonsils becoming red and swollen. If treatment is delayed, some children may develop serious complications such as nephritis and endocarditis. Severe tonsillitis symptoms can even be life-threatening, so timely treatment is essential.