Question
A 5-year-old boy says he has pain when swallowing, and his voice sounds hoarse when speaking. He has also had a slight fever. What symptoms might appear if a child has tonsillitis?
Answer
If a child indeed has tonsillitis, the initial symptom is a sore throat. Due to this, the child may frequently cry and struggle to swallow. At the same time, the child may also experience fever, either low-grade or possibly a high fever of 39-40 degrees Celsius. They may also have headaches, body aches, fatigue, and chills. Upon close observation, you can notice that the child’s tonsils are red and swollen. In severe cases, complications such as acute glomerulonephritis, acute rheumatic fever, and rheumatic endocarditis may occur. It is clear that pediatric tonsillitis is a very serious disease and can even threaten a child’s life. Parents must take their child for treatment in a timely manner.