Tonsillitis

What are the signs and symptoms of tonsillitis in children?

Symptoms of tonsillitis in children may include:

• Painful, scratchy, sore throat
• Difficult or painful swallowing
• Red, swollen tonsils
• Tonsil stones (hard, sometimes painful, bits of bacteria and debris that get stuck in the tonsils)
• White or yellow coating on the tonsils
• Fever
• Swollen, painful glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
• Bad breath

  Learn how to spot the differences between tonsillitis symptoms and symptoms of other respiratory infections.

What tests do we use to diagnose tonsillitis?

Your child’s doctor may take a throat culture to check for strep throat. This involves using a cotton swab to take a sample of fluid from the back of your child's throat and tonsils.

If the throat culture is positive, your child has strep throat. Your child will need to take prescription antibiotics to treat the infection as well as medication to treat the inflamed tonsils that go along with it.

If the culture is negative, your child does not have strep throat. Since strep causes most cases of bacterial tonsillitis, this likely means that a virus is to blame for your child's tonsillitis.

How do we treat tonsillitis?

If tonsillitis is the result of a bacterial infection such as strep, your child may need to take antibiotics. If the cause is a viral infection, your child does not need antibiotics. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. For viral tonsillitis, your child’s doctor will recommend care with over-the-counter medications to help relieve pain and manage other symptoms.

Your child should get plenty of rest at home. They should also drink plenty of liquids, which can help relieve swollen or inflamed tonsils. You may need to give your child soft foods if swallowing is painful. Avoid giving them citrus, salty or spicy foods — all of which can irritate an already sore throat.

Warm liquids or cold foods, such as popsicles, may help to soothe your child's throat. Children over the age of 8 can gargle with salt water. Saltwater rinses can also help remove tonsil stones.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help to relieve your child's throat pain and decrease a fever. Ask your child's doctor how much medicine to give them and how often.

If your child experiences frequent tonsillitis, their doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy to remove the tonsils.

Why choose Children's Colorado for your child's tonsillitis or pharyngitis?

At Children's Colorado, we’re experts at working with kids. We have the knowledge and skill to meet every child’s developmental needs. Our providers who perform throat cultures are efficient and accurate, leading to more answers for you in less time.

Our Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department is home to pediatric experts who specialize in treating conditions such as tonsillitis. We are one of the largest fellowship-trained pediatric ENT teams in the western United States. Whether they need surgery — or just a quick strep test — we’re committed to providing the best care possible.

• The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery provides information about conditions related to the ear, nose and throat like tonsillitis and also promotes professional and public education, research and health policy advocacy.
• Healthy Children provides parents with health information on a variety of health issues like tonsillitis and is part of the American Academy of Pediatrics.