Question
My child is a 4-year-old boy. He recently started saying that he has pain when swallowing, and I noticed that his voice is a bit hoarse during speech. Moreover, he has a persistent high fever that doesn’t seem to go away. Can you please tell me what clinical symptoms may appear in pediatric tonsillitis?
Answer
If a child indeed has tonsillitis, the initial symptom is usually a sore throat, which may cause the child to cry and struggle with swallowing. Some children may also experience fever, ranging from persistent low-grade to as high as 40 degrees Celsius. Besides fever, the child may also exhibit symptoms such as chills, fatigue, and headache. At this time, the tonsils are typically red and swollen. Severe cases may lead to complications such as acute glomerulonephritis, acute rheumatic fever, and rheumatic myocarditis. Therefore, if any of these symptoms are observed in a child, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly to prevent complications.