Question

Dear Parent, my son is just over 8 months old. He’s recently started saying that drinking water feels painful in his throat, and his cough seems more severe. Moreover, he has a persistent high fever that won’t go down. What symptoms should I expect if my child has tonsillitis?

Answer

When a child has tonsillitis, they may experience the following symptoms:

  • Sore throat, which may also affect the ears and potentially lead to otitis media.
  • Fever, which could be a persistent low-grade or high-grade fever (up to 40 degrees Celsius).
  • Headache.
  • General body aches, especially in severe cases.
  • Chills and fatigue.
  • Swollen and red tonsils that are easily observable. Additionally, tonsillitis can trigger other serious diseases such as myocarditis and nephritis. Therefore, pediatric tonsillitis is a serious condition that may pose a threat to a child’s life. Parents should seek medical treatment for their child promptly.