Question
My son is 8 years old. Initially, he complained that it hurt to swallow water, and I noticed that his voice was a bit hoarse when he spoke. Now, he has a persistent high fever. What symptoms should parents look out for if their child has tonsillitis?
Answer
If a child indeed has tonsillitis, the primary symptom is a sore throat. This may cause the child to frequently cry out in pain as they struggle to swallow. Along with this, the child may experience fever, either low-grade or a high fever of 39-40 degrees Celsius. They may also feel fatigued, have headaches, body aches, and chills. In cases of tonsillar congestion, redness and swelling can be observed. Some children may also develop complications such as bronchial asthma, sepsis, and nephritis. Therefore, it is advised that parents take their child to the doctor as soon as possible to prevent the condition from worsening and causing unnecessary harm.