Question
Dear Parent, my 9-year-old daughter has just started experiencing pain when swallowing and drinking water, and it seems a bit difficult to swallow. She also has a low fever. What should a child with tonsillitis avoid eating?
Answer
It’s very important to focus on diet when trying to help a child with tonsillitis recover quickly. Firstly, ensure the child consumes plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. The reason for encouraging the consumption of vegetables and fruits is to supplement vitamins and trace elements, which help boost the immune system and promote a quick recovery. Fruits like pears and apples, which have cooling and anti-inflammatory properties, can be eaten more. Also, it’s important to choose easily digestible foods for the child, such as thin gruel or well-cooked noodles and pasta. For this stage, avoid giving the child foods like beef, mutton, poultry eggs, and seafood as they are considered irritants. Of course, this also includes spicy foods like spicy hotpot and hotpot. Lastly, it’s essential to help the child develop good eating habits, avoiding picky eating and preferences. This ensures a balanced diet and reduces the incidence of tonsillitis.