Tonsillitis

The job of the tonsils is to trap infections as they enter the body through the mouth, and localize them in the throat. For this reason tonsillitis is usually part of a throat infection.

The tonsils also send warning signals to the rest of the body when an infection is beginning so the body can alert all its defences. The adenoids serve exactly the same function but are at the back of the nose instead of in the throat. It is fairly logical, therefore, for the tonsils and adenoids to be thought of together. Tonsils are most important to a child up to the age of ten years and this coincides with the time they are most likely to meet infection and their defences have to be very strong. If your child has tonsillitis he will complain of a very sore throat and his tonsils will look red and swollen; they'll probably have white patches on them.

What to do

You'll need to ask for medical advice - usually your child will be prescribed an antibiotic to combat the infection. To make your child's throat feel better give him as much ice cream and cold liquid as he wants.

Despite their useful function it used to be fashionable to remove tonsils and adenoids. Nowadays, ear, nose and throat surgeons feel that certain criteria must be fulfilled before tonsillectomy can be considered. These would probably include recurrent, severe attacks of tonsillitis, possibly associated with ear infections and deafness. Despite these criteria tonsils are rarely removed in a child under the age of four. The most serious side effect of tonsillitis is infection of the middle ear, which can lead to chronic deafness. Always be on the look-out for signs of deafness if your child has recurrent attacks of tonsillitis.

Dr Miriam Stoppard

New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard

Posted 03.11.2010

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