In some cases, you may need a tonsillectomy to remove the abscess. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Strabismus is an eye disorder. It affects the muscle control in your eyes. Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria. It can lead to infections in the lungs, blood, and brain.
The vaccine…. Osgood-Schlatter disease is one of the most common causes of knee pain in young children and athletes. It can…. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Fever in Infants and Children. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy.
Vomiting and Diarrhea. Sore Throat. Strep Throat. Home Diseases and Conditions Tonsillitis. Table of Contents. What is tonsillitis? Tonsillitis is more common in children than adults. What are the symptoms of tonsillitis? Other symptoms may include: redness sore throat white or yellow spots or film on your tonsils trouble swallowing fever chills bad breath ear pain headache hoarse voice or loss of voice laryngitis trouble sleeping or sleep apnea when breathing stops briefly during sleep.
Contact your doctor if your child has symptoms of tonsillitis. This includes: A sore throat that lasts more than two days with or without a fever or stomach pain. Extreme illness, fatigue, or weakness. Labored breathing or swallowing. What causes tonsillitis? How is tonsillitis diagnosed? How is tonsillitis treated? Home treatment eases the discomfort of sore throat and symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and coughing.
Things that may help you or your child feel better include:. Ask your doctor if you can take over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve sore throat pain.
Read and follow all instructions on the label. If you give medicine to your baby, follow your doctor's advice about what amount to give. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 18 because of its link to Reye syndrome, a serious but rare problem.
Cough and cold medicines may not be safe for young children or for people who have certain health problems. Before you use these medicines, check the label. Many over-the-counter remedies, including antiseptic mouthwashes, decongestants , and antihistamines , contain extra ingredients that don't relieve discomfort.
These remedies are not recommended for children, since these ingredients have not been proved to have any benefits in the treatment of acute tonsillitis. A sore throat along with sudden fever and swollen lymph nodes , and without symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection , may point to a bacterial infection.
Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor to be tested for strep throat , which requires treatment with antibiotics. It is important to get plenty of rest and take all the prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed. Keep your child home from school for the first 1 to 2 days of antibiotic treatment. He or she is still contagious during this time and might pass the infection to others.
Tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus and does not require prescription medicine. For information on over-the-counter pain medicine and other self-care options, see Home Treatment. An antibiotic , usually amoxicillin or penicillin, is used to treat tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria.
Although tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria usually will go away on its own, antibiotics are used to prevent the complications , such as rheumatic fever , that can result from untreated strep throat. If antibiotics are prescribed, be sure you take them exactly as directed by your doctor until the medicine is gone.
Even if the symptoms go away completely before the prescription is gone, all pills should be taken as directed to make sure the infection is completely destroyed.
Bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat tonsillitis antibiotic resistance if prescriptions aren't taken as directed or if they are prescribed when they aren't needed. Tonsillectomy for tonsillitis is generally used for children who have serious complications or recurrent infections that do not respond to other treatment, especially when they interfere with daily life.
But tonsillectomy should only be done after you and your doctor carefully consider your child's medical history and overall health. Researchers in a recent study concluded that tonsillectomy may be no better than watchful waiting for children who have mild symptoms, which was defined as tonsillitis occurring fewer than 3 times a year.
But for some children, tonsillectomy can greatly improve their quality of life. Children who are most likely to benefit from tonsillectomy are those who have:. Tonsillectomy for strep throat may be done in cases of recurring tonsillitis that do not respond to antibiotics or if an infection threatens the child's well-being. Tonsillectomy is still the most common major surgical procedure done on children in Canada. But it is not done as often as it was in the past.
Upper respiratory infections and tonsillitis usually occur less frequently as a child gets older. Consider whether your child's tonsillitis infections are manageable until you can wait to see if he or she outgrows them. A child who has tonsillectomy will need special care and close monitoring for at least a week after the surgery.
Consider your ability to provide this care for your child before deciding on tonsillectomy. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is tonsillitis? What causes tonsillitis?
What are the symptoms? How is tonsillitis diagnosed? How is it treated? Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems.
Cause Tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus. How tonsillitis is spread Tonsillitis is spread by close contact with an infected person. Symptoms The main symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat.
Some or all of the following may be present: Fever Bad breath Nasal congestion and runny nose Swollen lymph nodes Red, swollen tonsils covered completely or in patches by pus Difficulty swallowing Headache Abdominal belly pain Raw, bleeding patches on the tonsils When you have sore throat plus cold symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing, the cause is most likely a virus.
What Happens Tonsillitis, in most cases, lasts 4 to 10 days. Complications of tonsillitis Tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria that is not treated with antibiotics may result in complications , such as ear and sinus infections or pockets of infection outside the tonsils peritonsillar abscess. What Increases Your Risk Close contact with an infected person is the main risk factor for tonsillitis. When should you call your doctor?
Sore throat, along with any two of these signs of bacterial infection: Fever of Persistent mouth-breathing, snoring, or a very nasal- or muffled-sounding voice. Signs of dehydration , such as a dry mouth and tongue and urinating less than normal. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your or your child's symptoms or condition without using medical treatment.
Who to see Your family doctor or general practitioner can evaluate tonsillitis, perform quick tests or throat cultures, and prescribe antibiotic treatment if needed. Examinations and Tests Diagnosis of tonsillitis is based on a medical history and a physical examination of the throat. Treatment Overview Tonsillitis is most often caused by a virus, which resolves on its own. Tonsillitis caused by a virus Tonsillitis caused by a virus will usually go away on its own.
Tonsillitis caused by bacteria Antibiotics are prescribed for tonsillitis caused by strep bacteria. Surgery Surgical removal of the tonsils tonsillectomy is still a common procedure, particularly for children. Prevention A wide variety of viruses and bacteria can cause tonsillitis, so the best prevention is to follow basic health and hygiene precautions. These steps are especially helpful for children: Avoid close contact with others who are sick.
If possible, keep your child away from children who are known to have tonsillitis or a sore throat. Often remind your child about the importance of proper handwashing, especially when around people who appear to be sick.
Also tell your child not to share toothbrushes or eating utensils with other children. Wash and disinfect surfaces and toys. Teach children to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, preferably using a tissue so that germs do not get on their hands. Also show them how to use tissues to wipe their noses. Carry disposable wipes and a hand sanitizer to clean hands and to wipe off shopping carts or other shared items in public places.
Do not smoke around your child. Home Treatment The goal of home treatment of tonsillitis caused by a virus is to manage symptoms as the body fights off the infection. Things that may help you or your child feel better include: Gargling often with warm salt water if your child is age 8 or older. You can make your own salt water by mixing 1 tsp 5 g salt with mL 8 fl oz warm water. Sometimes you can get a pocket filled with pus abscess between your tonsils and the wall of your throat.
This is called quinsy. Page last reviewed: 10 February Next review due: 10 February Check if you have tonsillitis Tonsillitis can feel like a bad cold or flu. The main symptoms in children and adults are: a sore throat problems swallowing a high temperature of 38C or above coughing a headache feeling sick earache feeling tired Sometimes the symptoms can be more severe and include: swollen, painful glands in your neck feels like a lump on the side of your neck white pus-filled spots on your tonsils bad breath What tonsils with pus-filled spots can look like Tonsils with pus-filled spots at the back of the throat.
Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and stir until it has dissolved. Gargle with the salty water do not swallow it , then spit it out.
0コメント