Children are more prone to Tonsillitis

A large majority of children are prone to sore throat and enlarged tonsils, especially with the changes in weather and climate.

Human body has its own defence and repair mechanism, which protect it from various diseases and attacks from viruses. Tonsils are one of these complicated self-protective systems of human body. These are two small glands located at the back of the throat behind the tongue.

Dr Carmen Chiran Specialist ENT Surgeon, Aster Medical Centre

They are considered as a protective guard against infection, especially in those children whose immune system is still developing. But sometimes bacteria or viruses get into the tonsils and infect them. This is referred to as tonsillitis.

Patients with tonsillitis feel difficulty in swallowing food and in case of severe conditions even liquid food becomes painful.

Dr Carmen Chiran, Specialist ENT Surgeon of Aster Medical Centre, says, “The patient may complain of difficulty in swallowing. They might have a fever or swollen, tender glands in the throat. They may also often complain of a headache, a runny nose and many of the symptoms of a cold.”

“When tonsils are infected, it usually prevents the infection from spreading further into the body.”

“Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between the age of preschool and mid-teenage. tonsillitis is often caused by viral infections, such as influenza etc. In other cases it is caused by bacterial infection,” she adds.

A strain of bacteria called Group A Streptococcus Bacteria is usually the cause of tonsillitis.

“Tonsillitis is contagious if the cause is bacterial and may be contagious if the cause is viral, depending on whether a person has been previously exposed to that particular virus,” Dr Carmen explains.

The common symptoms of tonsillitis are:

• Sore throat
• Nausea, abdomen pain
• omiting
• Cough
• Runny or Stuffy Nose
• Rashes on the body or mouth
• Bad Breath
• Yellow or white patches on the back of the throat.

If the patient has above mentioned symptoms, then he/she would need to consult a general physician. Proper treatment for tonsillitis depends on its cause. It is important to get an accurate diagnosis first.

Normally the patient undergoes two tests.

• Throat Culture: In this test the doctor rubs a cotton swab against the back of patient’s throat. It may help in identifying the type of germ that has caused the tonsillitis.
• Blood Test: This can be done to find out if the infection is caused by a virus or bacteria.

In some cases, surgery is also carried out called tonsillectomy where the tonsils are removed.

Like any other disease, tonsillitis has risk factors too. If bacterial infection is not treated with antibiotics, it may spread into patient body causing breathing problems and fever. In severe cases, it can lead to rheumatic fever and meningitis.

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