Question
My son is 1 year old. He recently started complaining that drinking water hurts his throat, and it seems he has difficulty swallowing. He also has a low-grade fever. What clinical symptoms might appear in infants with tonsillitis?
Answer
The tonsils are located in the throat area, so one of the most obvious symptoms of acute tonsillitis is throat pain and difficulty swallowing. Infants may also experience varying degrees of fever, and some may even have seizures due to high fever. Accompanying the high fever are chills, weakness, and headaches. At this time, the child’s tonsils are also red and swollen, and they may be larger than usual. If the condition worsens further, more severe complications such as sepsis and endocarditis may occur. If the child’s condition continues to deteriorate, it is advisable for parents not to delay treatment and to take their child to see a doctor as soon as possible.