Tonsillitis
About Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is a common condition in children of all ages, but especially in those between 2 and 7 years old. It happens when the tonsils (two small glands at the back of the throat) become inflamed, usually due to a viral or bacterial infection.
Tonsillitis can cause:
- A sore throat and painful swallowing
- Fever, headache and tiredness
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Bad breath and changes in voice
In some children, tonsillitis happens over and over again (recurrent tonsillitis) and it can take a real toll on a child’s well-being, sleep and school attendance. In rare cases, tonsillitis can lead to complications like quinsy (a pus-filled pocket near the tonsil) or difficulty breathing, especially if the tonsils are very enlarged.
Diagnosis
When I assess a child for tonsillitis, I start with a thorough history—how often the episodes occur, how severe they are, and how much they affect daily life. I will then conduct some or all of the following:
- I’ll gently examine your child’s throat and neck, looking for signs of infection or swelling.
- Reviewing previous records of GP visits or frequency of antibiotics prescribed in the last few years
- An assessment of your child’s sleep, especially if enlarged tonsils are disturbing your child’s bedtime
This helps build a full picture of whether specialist treatment is needed.
Treatments
When I see your child in clinic, I begin by listening closely to your concerns — from the number of infections to hearing changes, disrupted sleep or possible speech delays.
In most cases, tonsillitis settles on its own with rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain relief. If a bacterial infection is diagnosed, antibiotics may be prescribed. However, if your child has:
- Frequent episodes (for example, 7 or more in one year, 5 or more episodes over 2 years, or 3 or more episodes over 3 years)
- Ongoing problems with sleep or eating due to large tonsils
- Missed a lot of school or nursery
- Or has complications like quinsy
…then it may be time to consider a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils).
About Tonsillectomy (coblation intracapsular tonsillectomy)
Tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. This is a well-established, safe procedure that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life. The operation is done under general anaesthetic, so the child is asleep and feels no pain during the procedure. It typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes, and most children go home the same day or the day after. Recovery involves managing throat pain, encouraging eating and drinking to aid healing, and watching for signs of bleeding or infection.
There are several methods to remove tonsils – bipolar dissection tonsillectomy (this is the traditional tonsillectomy) and more recently, coblation intracapsular tonsillectomy (now the most common and safest method in children).
In some cases, we may also recommend removing the adenoids at the same time (adenotonsillectomy), especially if there are signs of nasal blockage from enlarged adenoids or sleep disordered breathing. I will always talk you through the options clearly, so you can feel confident in any decision we make together. Recovery from the dual procedure is straightforward.
Make an Enquiry
If your child suffers from frequent or severe tonsillitis, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I am happy to help you understand the options and give my advice on the best approach for your child.
