Question
A 12-year-old boy, in elementary school, initially complained of pain when swallowing, noticed his voice was a bit hoarse when speaking, and now he has a persistent high fever. What symptoms should one look out for if a child has tonsillitis?
Answer
When a child has tonsillitis, they first feel throat pain, which also affects normal swallowing. Along with the sore throat, some children may also experience fever, which could be a persistent low-grade fever or even reach 40 degrees Celsius. The child may also feel fatigue, have a headache, body aches, and chills. At this time, the tonsils are also red and swollen, which is mostly due to inflammation and congestion. Moreover, not only tonsillitis but also further development may involve the heart and kidneys, leading to endocarditis and nephritis. Tonsillitis in children is very serious; parents should pay attention to this and take their child to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.