Question
My child is a 5-year-old boy. Initially, he felt pain in his throat while drinking water. I noticed that he has been coughing quite severely, and now he has a persistent high fever that doesn’t seem to go away. What symptoms might occur if a child has tonsillitis?
Answer
If a child indeed has tonsillitis, the initial symptom is throat pain, and the child may frequently cry out due to difficulty swallowing. Most children will also experience a persistent low-grade fever or a sudden high fever at this time. They may also show signs of fatigue, headache, and even body pain, along with chills. At this point, the child’s tonsils will also appear red and swollen. Furthermore, not only can tonsillitis occur, but it may also progress to affect the heart and kidneys, leading to conditions such as myocarditis and nephritis. If the child’s condition continues to worsen, it is advisable for parents not to delay and to take their child for treatment as soon as possible.