Question
A 11-year-old boy, in elementary school, has recently been experiencing pain when talking and drinking water. He has difficulty swallowing and has a slight fever with a lack of energy. What symptoms should one expect when a child has tonsillitis?
Answer
The tonsils are located in the throat area. When a child has tonsillitis, common symptoms include a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, persistent low-grade fever or sudden high fever, headache, general body ache, fatigue, and chills. At this time, the child’s tonsils may become red and swollen, and they may also develop severe complications such as glomerulonephritis or sepsis. Immediate medical attention is required to avoid life-threatening situations.