How to Care for Children With Tonsillitis

A sore throat, funny-sounding voice, fever and trouble getting food down are just a few symptoms of tonsillitis, a fairly common illness among children. Though it can become a more serious condition, for many children tonsillitis is simply painful and uncomfortable and requires careful attention from an adult caregiver to see them through it. The steps below can help your child become germ-free and back to health.

Things You'll Need

• Health care provider
• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter pain medicine
• Air humidifier

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Instructions

• 1

  Take the child to the doctor if her tonsils are redder than normal or she has trouble swallowing, a yellowish coating on the tonsils, plus a fever, headache or bad breath.

• 2

  Consult with the doctor regarding the child's symptoms, and ask how you can care for him as he recovers from tonsillitis. You may also need to discuss the possibility of the child having his tonsils removed surgically if the case of tonsillitis progresses to a chronic level.

• 3

  Immediately pick up any prescriptions the doctor orders and make sure you understand how to administer them. Doctors may prescribe penicillin pills or topical anesthetics for temporary pain relief. Make sure the child takes the prescribed daily dosage of the medication and takes all the medicine prescribed. Otherwise, use standard over-the-counter pain medications containing ibuprofen or acetaminophen to alleviate throat pain and fever.

• 4

  Have your child get plenty of bed rest and drink lots of fluids (preferably water, juice and tea), just as you would if she had a common cold. You'll also need to serve him smooth foods, such as soups, gelatin, applesauce and Popsicles while avoiding hard, crunchy fare.

• 5

  Give the child 8 ounces of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt to gargle with regularly throughout the day to help ease his throat pain. Meanwhile, consider placing an air humidifier or mist vaporizer in the child's room.