$Unique_ID{PAR00170}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Tonsillitis}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Tonsillitis Sore red throat Inflamed tonsils tonsil inflammation
white yellow spots Fever Drool Drools Drooling adenoid adenoids lymph
lymphatic system infected germs common cold strep throat infectious
mononucleosis diphtheria tuberculosis swallow swallows swallowing mouth
breathing hearing loss middle ear infection infections snore snores snoring
nasal speech bad breath quinsy sore throat peritonsillar abscess abscesses pus
acetaminophen tonsillectomy tonsillectomies adenoidectomy adenoidectomies
tonsillar tumor tumors sleep apnea decongestant decongestants antibiotic
antibiotics}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Tonsillitis


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Sore, red throat
     - Inflamed tonsils, often with white or yellow spots
     - Fever

     HOME CARE
     - Treat as you would treat a cold or sore throat.
     - Give acetaminophen for fever and pain.
     - Give the child plenty of fluids.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Drooling accompanying a sore throat should be brought to the attention
       of your doctor immediately.
     - Between the ages of three and nine, children often have enlarged
       tonsils and adenoids.  This enlargement is normal and should not be
       confused with infection.
     - White, cheesy material on the tonsils is normal and does not indicate
       infection.
     - If a child is eating poorly, the cause is usually something other than
       enlarged tonsils.


     The tonsils (located in the throat) and the adenoids (located in the back
of the nose) are part of the lymphatic system.  Their function--to destroy
disease-causing organisms--places them at risk for becoming infected
themselves with germs from a common cold, strep throat, infectious
mononucleosis, diphtheria, or tuberculosis.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The child will complain of a sore throat and will have a fever.  The
throat will appear red, and sometimes there will be white or yellow spots on
the tonsils.  Acute infection of the tonsils is diagnosed from the appearance
of the throat and the results of a throat culture or blood cell count.  This
enlargement of the tonsils rarely produces symptoms by itself but, in extreme
cases, can make it hard for the child to swallow.  Enlargement of the adenoids
can result in mouth breathing, hearing loss, middle ear infection, snoring,
nasal speech, and bad breath.  Adenoids can be examined with special
instruments and can be seen on an x-ray study.
     One form of infection of the tonsils is quinsy sore throat (known
medically as peritonsillar abscess).  In quinsy, a large abscess (a cavity
containing pus and surrounded by inflamed tissue) forms behind a tonsil,
producing intense pain and a high fever (103 degrees_F or 104 degrees_F).  The
abscess eventually pushes the tonsil across the midline of the throat.  The
child will have difficulty speaking ("hot-potato speech") and swallowing and
will drool.  A peritonsillar abscess requires treatment by a doctor.

HOME CARE

     In general, treat tonsillitis as you would treat a common cold or a sore
throat.  The child should drink a lot of liquids, but should eat only if he
wants to eat.  Give acetaminophen for fever or pain.  Bed rest is not
necessary, but most children will prefer it.  Older children may gargle with
warm salt water to relieve the sore throat.  Inhaling steam may also ease the
discomfort of the sore throat.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  If drooling occurs with a sore throat, the child should be seen by a
     doctor immediately.
  -  Enlarged adenoids and tonsils are common in healthy children three to
     nine years of age.
  -  A white, cheesy material on the tonsils is normal and does not indicate
     infection.
  -  Tonsils and adenoids may be infected without becoming enlarged.
  -  Enlarged tonsils do not cause poor eating habits.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     The decision to perform a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils)
or an adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids) requires careful
evaluation.  Some doctors insist that they should never be removed; others
recommend routine removal.  Both groups are mistaken.
     The tonsils can be removed as part of the treatment of a quinsy sore
throat.  Other indications for tonsillectomy include frequent infections (for
more than a year) of the tonsils, a tonsillar tumor, or infection of the
tonsils by the organisms that cause diphtheria.
     Upper airway obstruction resulting in sleep apnea (a temporary halt in
breathing) is an indication for adenoidectomy.  The adenoids can also be
removed to stop snoring or to correct a nasal voice or a nasal obstruction
that has led to facial peculiarities, such as a pinched face, narrow nostrils,
or a constantly open mouth.  In some cases, it may be wise to have the
adenoids removed if their enlargement is causing a hearing loss or frequent
middle ear infections.  Alternatives to adenoidectomy include prolonged use of
decongestants and antibiotics.
     Your doctor will treat a peritonsillar abscess with antibiotics; surgical
drainage is occasionally necessary.

RELATED TOPICS:  Common cold; Diphtheria; Earaches; Fever; Frequent illnesses;
Glands, swollen; Hay fever and other nasal allergies; Infectious
mononucleosis; Sore throat; Strep infections