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Jonathan Hughes | Hemel Hempstead

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Tonsillitis needn’t be the scary medical condition that immediately springs to mind. That’s because our ENT doctor, Jon Hughes, is used to offering tonsillitis treatment to patients of all ages. But as a parent, how do you know if your child has tonsillitis – or is suffering from something else? We’ll go through some of the key symptoms in today’s blog, but be aware that some of these are linked to other conditions and it’s essential to follow up with our London clinic if you’re in any doubt.

  1. Sore throat

It sounds obvious, but one of the most common complaints with tonsillitis is a sore throat. That’s because the tonsils can become swollen, causing pain with swallowing or general discomfort in the area.

  1. Painful swallowing

As we’ve mentioned, this is typically a result of swelling. Your child might have swollen tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, or even a combination of the two. The swelling may not be visible from the outside of the body.

  1. Bad breath

The medical term for bad breath – halitosis – can be attributed to a wide range of medical conditions, or even just a case of poor oral health. But, it’s also a symptom of tonsillitis, though not in isolation.

  1. Fever

Tonsillitis is caused by either a virus or bacteria. As your child fights the infection, their body may raise its temperature as the first line of defense, in a bid to kill this virus or bacteria. A fever is simply a high temperature, usually 38C or above (the normal body temperature is around 36C).

  1. Headache or earache

Again, being connected to the throat and the location of the tonsils, your child may have tenderness and aching in other areas of the face and head.

  1. Tiredness

A symptom of many illnesses, your child is using more energy than usual to fight off infection – one which could be caused by tonsillitis. It’s normal to feel more lethargic in this situation.

  1. Spots or patches on the tonsils

This is often considered tonsillitis ‘giveaway’ among medical professionals. The spots may be accompanied with red or swollen tonsils. The spots themselves are usually white, yellow or creamy-coloured. Sometimes, an abscess can form. If this bursts, the material can travel to the lungs and cause more problems, so it’s important to ensure your child isn’t tempted to pop or ‘fiddle’ with their spots.

If you need help, advice or tonsillitis treatment, get in touch with our London team today.