Question
My son, just 8 months old, has started to feel a sore throat when talking, and I noticed that his voice sounds a bit hoarse. Additionally, he has a persistent fever that doesn’t seem to go away. What symptoms should I expect if my infant develops tonsillitis?
Answer
When a child has tonsillitis, the first symptom they may experience is a sore throat, which might also be accompanied by ear pain and could lead to otitis media. The sore throat is often accompanied by fever, which can range from a low-grade to a high-grade fever up to 40 degrees Celsius. Chills and headaches may also occur during the fever. Most children will feel generally weak, with the tonsils becoming inflamed and swollen. If not treated promptly, some children may develop severe complications such as nephritis and endocarditis. Pediatric tonsillitis is a very serious condition and can even pose a threat to the child’s life, so parents must take their child to the doctor for treatment without delay.