Question
My son is 1 year old and has recently been experiencing pain while swallowing, accompanied by a slight cough and fever. It seems he might have tonsillitis. What dietary restrictions should I be aware of?
Answer
When a child has tonsillitis, in addition to timely medical treatment, a proper diet is also crucial. Here are some suggestions:
- Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables: These are rich in various nutrients that can help boost the child’s immunity and promote the repair of the tonsils. For instance, pears are cooling and have the effects of reducing fever, soothing the throat, expectorating phlegm, and alleviating pain, which can help relieve throat discomfort caused by acute tonsillitis.
- Choose easily digestible foods: Provide soups that are well-thickened and soft noodles that are easy to chew and digest to reduce the child’s discomfort.
- Avoid irritating foods: Do not let the child consume spicy or irritating foods and beverages as this may worsen throat discomfort.
- Correct poor eating habits: Help the child correct picky eating or anorexia and ensure balanced nutrition intake to promote overall recovery. In summary, during the period when a child has tonsillitis, parents should pay attention to their child’s diet, providing nutritious and easy-to-digest foods, avoiding stimulating foods, and helping the child develop good eating habits to promote throat healing and boost immunity.