Question
A seven-year-old boy, just starting elementary school, reported pain while swallowing, accompanied by severe coughing and a low-grade fever. What dietary taboo should be observed to help alleviate tonsillitis symptoms?
Answer
When children show signs of tonsillitis, in addition to timely medical treatment, adjusting their diet can also aid in alleviating discomfort. Here are some dietary suggestions:
- Consume fresh fruits and vegetables: Light and nutritious fruits and vegetables, such as apples and kiwis, can help regulate bodily functions, have the effect of resolving phlegm and clearing heat, and are beneficial for relieving tonsillitis.
- Choose easily digestible foods: Provide foods that are easy for children to digest and absorb, such as thin gruel, soft noodles or dumpling skins that have been cooked until tender. These can reduce the burden on the digestive system and aid in the body’s recovery.
- Maintain a light diet, avoid irritants: In terms of diet, it’s best to keep it light and avoid overly greasy or spicy foods. Additionally, reduce the intake of triggering foods such as poultry eggs, donkey meat, and beef and mutton to prevent exacerbating symptoms.
- Cultivate good eating habits: Parents should help children develop good eating habits, maintain dietary hygiene, and cultivate the habit of not being picky or biased in their eating to ensure that children receive balanced nutrition and enhance their immunity.