Question
Dear Baby, she is currently 6 years old and has just started saying that her throat is sore. Upon checking, she also has a slight cough, and it seems like she has a low-grade fever that hasn’t subsided. What symptoms should be expected if a child develops tonsillitis?
Answer
If a child indeed has tonsillitis, the initial symptom is usually throat pain, which may cause the child to have difficulty swallowing and frequent crying. Most children will have a fever, with temperatures potentially rising to 39-40 degrees Celsius in severe cases. They may also experience symptoms such as headache, body ache, fatigue, and chills. One characteristic of tonsillitis is that the tonsils become significantly congested, red, and swollen, which can lead to serious complications such as nephritis or sepsis that can be life-threatening. It is recommended that parents seek medical treatment promptly if they notice these symptoms.