What should parents do when their child has tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis in children is an extremely common disease. So what do parents need to do to treat and take care of their children properly?

Tonsillitis in children is swelling and irritation of the tonsils, a collection of tissues located on either side of the back wall of the throat. The tonsils support the immune system to protect the body from infections that can get through the mouth. When the tonsils become infected, they become large and red and have a yellow or white coating.

Tonsil infections can be spread from person to person by touching the mouth, throat or saliva of an infected person. A person with tonsillitis may experience a sore throat , fever, swelling in the neck and difficulty swallowing.

Symptoms of tonsillitis in children

The main symptoms of tonsillitis in children are inflammation and swelling of the tonsils, sometimes very severe, which can cause airway congestion. Other symptoms include:

Sore throat

Amidan red

There is a white or yellow coating on the tonsils

Sores or ulcers on the throat

Headache

Loss of appetite

Ear hurt

Difficulty swallowing or breathing through your mouth

Swelling of glands in the neck or chin area

Fever, chills

Strange breath

Nausea

Stomachache.

Treatment of tonsillitis in children

Treatment for tonsillitis depends on whether the disease is caused by a virus or by bacteria such as group A Streptococcus bacteria. Doctors often cannot tell the difference just by looking at the tonsils, but they can detect streptococcus with a quick test or a smear from the throat.

If the tonsillitis is caused by a virus, the body fights the infection on its own. If it is caused by the strep bacteria, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics . If this is the case, parents should ensure that the baby completes the full treatment process even if symptoms have subsided.

For children with frequent tonsillitis (more than 6 times in a 12-month period) or repeated many times over the years, the doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tonsils.

How to care for and prevent tonsillitis for children

Children with tonsillitis need plenty of nutrients and rest. If your baby swallows very painful, eating is difficult, try to offer fluids and soft foods like soups, milk, smoothies.

Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids and gets plenty of rest. You can take pain relievers, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if your baby has a lot of pain in the throat. However, parents should not give their baby aspirin or other aspirin-containing products because they can put your child at risk for Reye's syndrome, a condition that can cause serious complications.

Besides, parents should let babies use cups and utensils to eat separately and wash them in hot water and soap. All family members should wash their hands often. Try to keep children away from people who already have tonsillitis or a sore throat and make sure everyone in your family wash their hands well.