Common Illnesses & Injuries
Sore Throat, Tonsillitis and Tonsillectomy
Overview
The tonsils help fight infections, but they can become infected themselves, especially when a child has a sore throat. Acute tonsillitis goes along with many throat infections, including strep throat. It is most common in children between the ages of five and 10. It usually lasts four to six days. Tonsillitis can become a chronic or recurring problem in children or adults.
Acute tonsillitis begins with a mild to severe sore throat. Other symptoms may include:
- Obvious swelling of the tonsils
- Fever
- Swollen, tender neck glands
- Headache, muscle and joint pain
- No appetite, problems swallowing, breathing through the mouth
- Earache
- Nausea or vomiting
How it is Diagnosed
A person with tonsillitis should see the doctor for a throat culture to check for strep throat. This is especially important for children. Strep throat requires antibiotics. Many viruses cause tonsillitis. These infections do not require antibiotics, and antibiotics don’t do ay good.
How it is Treated
Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Coax him or her to take plenty of fluids, even though it may hurt. Give soft foods, such as ice cream, soup, or pudding. If your child is old enough, it may help to gargle with warm salt water.
If your child is on an antibiotic, it is very important to finish all the medicine even if symptoms go away. Don’t save it for the next attack! If medicine cannot get rid of the infection, or the infection comes back often, tonsillectomy may be the only way to stop it.
Chronic tonsillitis produces recurrent sore throats. In severe cases, an abscess develops or the tonsils become quite large, obstructing the airway or making swallowing difficult. Sometimes the surgeries for tonsils, adenoids, and ear tubes are all done at the same time, if the child needs all of them.
These are all simple procedures, requiring only a short general anesthesia.
Ear tubes
Overview
“Tubes,” also called ”PE Tubes,” “PETs,” or “pressure equalizing tubes,” allow air to get into the ear space behind the eardrum. Air is needed in this space to allow the eardrum to move. Normally tubes (Eustachian tubes) at the back of the throat do this, but in many children the Eustachian tube is immature, or temporarily not built right, preventing the air from getting into the ears. If there is no air in the ear, fluid can build up and/or infections can start. With the buildup of fluid or infection, hearing can be affected, either temporarily or permanently. If medicines have not worked, PE tubes can prevent these problems.
When are Ear Tubes Needed?
Often, a who child snores very loudly may not breathe well while asleep, and may actually stop breathing for several seconds. If severe and not treated, this can put strain on the heart and lungs. If this is the case, you should see your doctor. The doctor may refer you to our Sleep Clinic.
Another reason for the placement of ear tubes is if your child has ear infections that just keep coming back (recurrent). Recurrent ear infections may be treated with either long-term antibiotics or ear tubes. Because of developing bacterial resistance, many ear doctors are returning to ear tube placement as treatment.
What is the Process for Placing Ear Tubes?
Putting in tubes takes only a few minutes, but it is done with the child asleep in the operating room. If your child is cooperative, the tubes may be placed in the doctor’s office under light sedation. Using a microscope, a small opening is made in the eardrum and any fluid behind it is suctioned out. The small tube is then put in.
Services We Offer
The type of doctor that treats this condition is called an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist. To find this type of doctor, click here.
