Prevention:
To prevent tonsillitis, avoid exposure to anyone who already has tonsillitis or a sore throat. At home, when someone is infected with tonsillitis, be sure to keep drinking glasses and eating utensils separate, and wash dishes in hot, soapy water. All family members should wash their hands frequently.
Incubation
When tonsillitis is caused by group A streptococci, the incubation period is usually 2 to 7 days. For tonsillitis caused by viruses, the incubation period varies widely: 18 to 72 hours for influenza virus; 3 to 6 days for parainfluenza, herpes, or coxsackie virus; and 4 to 8 weeks for Epstein-Barr virus.
Duration
When tonsillitis is caused by group A streptococci, fever usually stops within 48 hours, and the sore throat disappears soon afterward. With antibiotic treatment, the illness is usually cured within 1 week, but it may take several weeks for the tonsils and swollen glands to return to normal size.
When tonsillitis is caused by viruses, the length of illness depends on which virus is involved. Most people are almost completely recovered within 1 week. With parainfluenza virus, children may feel better after only 2 to 3 days of illness. With Epstein-Barr virus, the sore throat is most severe for the first week of illness, but then gradually improves.
Contagiousness
All forms of tonsillitis, whether caused by bacteria or viruses, are contagious illnesses. Tonsillitis usually spreads from person to person by contact with the throat or nasal fluids of someone who is already infected. This is why parents who care for a child with tonsillitis should keep the child's drinking glass and eating utensils separate from those of other family members. They should also wash their hands frequently as they care for a child who is sick with tonsillitis, especially if they are also caring for younger children who are not ill.
Infections caused by streptococci cause special problems. Estimates are that in a home where someone already has strep, about one out of every four family members will get it, too. Some children can be carriers of strep bacteria without having any symptoms. Among school-age children, up to 20% may be asymptomatic carriers of strep bacteria.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor
Call your child's doctor whenever your child has symptoms of tonsillitis, including sore throat, painful swallowing, headache, fever, chills, or swollen neck glands.
If your child is already being treated for tonsillitis, call your child's doctor immediately for any of the following symptoms: fever that returns after several days of normal temperature; skin rash; earache; nasal discharge with discolored or bloody mucus; cough, especially if it produces mucus; chest pain, shortness of breath, or extreme tiredness; convulsions; painful, red, or swollen joints; nausea or vomiting.
Treating Tonsillitis
How doctors treat tonsillitis depends on whether it was caused by a virus or by group A streptococci bacteria. Doctors often can tell the difference just by looking at the tonsils, and can detect strep bacteria with a rapid strep test or a throat culture.
If your child's tonsillitis is caused by a virus, the body will fight off the infection on its own. If it's caused by strep bacteria, the doctor probably will prescribe an antibiotic. If so, make sure that your child completes the full course of treatment to prevent the development of any complications.
If your child gets frequent bouts of tonsillitis (more than 5 to 7 times during a 12-month period) or repeat infections over several years, the doctor may consider a tonsillectomy to remove the tonsils.
Caring for a Child With Tonsillitis
A child with tonsillitis needs plenty of nourishment and rest. If your child finds swallowing so painful that eating is difficult, try serving liquids and soft foods, like nutritious soups, milkshakes, smoothies, popsicles, or ice cream.
Make sure that your child drinks lots of fluids and gets plenty of rest, and take his or her temperature regularly. Use a nonprescription pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for throat pain.
All forms of tonsillitis are contagious. Tonsillitis usually spreads from person to person by contact with the throat or nasal fluids of someone who is already infected. Be sure to keep your sick child's drinking glasses and eating utensils separate, and wash them in hot, soapy water. All family members should wash their hands frequently. After a bout of tonsillitis that's caused by the strep bacteria, throw out your child's toothbrush and replace it with a new one.
Preventing Tonsillitis
To prevent tonsillitis, avoid letting your child near anyone who already has tonsillitis or a sore throat. Make sure to practice good hand-washing habits, and teach your child to do the same. If you are concerned that your child has the symptoms of tonsillitis, or has been exposed to someone who has been infected, talk with your child's doctor. |
