Information for Parents

Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils at the back of the throat. It can feel like a bad cold or flu. The tonsils at the back of the throat will be red and swollen.

It is a common childhood illness, but teenagers and adults can get it too.

Symptoms will usually go away after 3 to 4 days. The main symptoms include:

• a sore throat
• problems swallowing
• a high temperature of 38C or above
• coughing
• a headache
• feeling sick
• earache
• feeling tired

Sometimes the symptoms can be more severe and include:

• swollen, painful glands in your neck (feels like a lump on the side of your neck)
• white pus-filled spots on your tonsils
• bad breath

Tonsillitis is not contagious, but most of the infections that cause it are. To stop these infections spreading:

• Keep your child at home until they feel better
• Use tissues when you cough or sneeze and throw them away
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing

What do I need to know?

Natural remedies to help tonsillitis include

• Get plenty of rest
• Drink cool drinks to soothe the throat

Pharmacy medicines such as

• paracetamol or ibuprofen (do not give aspirin to children under 16)
• Lozenges
• Throat sprays
• Antiseptic solutions

Treatment will depend on what caused the tonsillitis. Most children and adults get viral tonsillitis (caused by a virus), which clears up on its own. For bacterial tonsillitis (caused by bacteria), a doctor may prescribe antibiotics

When to be concerned

Complications with tonsillitis are very rare. Sometimes you can get a pocket filled with pus (abscess) between the tonsils and the wall of the throat. This is called quinsy.

You should return to The Children’s Urgent Care Centre (0800-2000 Monday-Sunday) or Accident and Emergency (out of hours) if your child has any of the following symptoms:

• Swelling inside the mouth and throat
• Difficulty breathing or strangulating feeling in the throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty opening the mouth
• Severe pain

Further Information

If you need any more information or advice between the hours of 0800-2000 Monday-Sunday please call The Children’s Urgent Care Centre on 02073906150.

Out of hours please contact NHS 111.

Call NHS 111 if you need medical help fast, but its not life threatening- for example, if you:

• Think you need to go to hospital
• Don’t know who to call for medical help
• Don’t have a GP to call
• Need medical advice or reassurance about what to do next.

In case of emergency please call 999 or attend your local Children’s Emergency Department.