Tonsils are often a topic of conversation among mothers who have toddlers to school age children. A number of myths related to tonsils in children have developed.
In general, the tonsils are part of the body’s defense system which plays a role in fighting viral and bacterial infections.
However, tonsils in children can become inflamed if the immune system is weak. This condition is called tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis caused by viruses is often experienced by children under the age of 5. Meanwhile, children aged 5 to 15 years tend to experience tonsillitis triggered by bacterial infections.
What is Tonsillitis in Children?
According to Kids Health , tonsils are lumps of tissue on either side of the back of the throat that help the immune system protect the body from infection. Inflamed tonsils become red and swollen and can cause a sore throat.
Causes of Tonsils in Children
Tonsils and adenoids can become enlarged due to infection or other causes or may be present at birth. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are common in children and usually do not require any treatment.
Tonsillitis is usually caused by viruses such as:
Some preschoolers and teenagers have relatively large tonsils and adenoids and it is not due to any problem.
However, the tonsils and adenoids can enlarge due to infection by viruses or bacteria that cause throat infections (sore throat) as above.
Additionally, allergies (such as seasonal allergies or year-round allergies), irritants, and possibly gastroesophageal reflux can also cause enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids.
Continued exposure to children who have bacterial or viral infections, such as children in daycare centers, increases the risk of infection.
When enlarged, tonsils sometimes interfere with breathing or swallowing, and the adenoids can block the nose or the eustachian tubes that connect the back of the throat to the ears.
Usually, the tonsils and adenoids return to normal size after the infection has cleared. Sometimes they remain enlarged, especially in children who have frequent or chronic infections.
Tonsillitis Symptoms
Tonsillitis can feel like a cold or the flu. The tonsils at the back of the throat will become red and swollen.
The main symptoms in children and adults are:
Sometimes symptoms can be more severe and include:
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swollen, painful glands in your neck (feels like a lump on the side of your neck)
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white spots filled with pus on your tonsils
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bad breath
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about symptoms and perform an examination. They will look inside the mouth, the back of the throat, and the neck.
They may use a soft cotton swab to gently collect a sample from the tonsils and the back of the throat. This can be:
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get tested quickly with a rapid strep test that provides an answer within minutes
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sent to the lab for a throat culture, which takes several days.
Very large tonsils may be normal, and chronically infected tonsils may be normal in size.
To help determine whether an infection is the cause of enlarged tonsils, doctors ask how many episodes of sore throat children have had over the past 1 to 3 years.
Typically, to view the back of the nose and throat, the doctor inserts a flexible viewing tube through the nose (called a nasopharyngoscope).
Doctors also look for redness of the tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes in the jaw and neck, and the effect of the tonsils on breathing.
Obstructive sleep apnea is suspected when parents report that the child stops breathing during sleep.
In such cases, the doctor may recommend that the child undergo a sleep study (polysomnography).
For this test, your child is monitored while sleeping overnight in a sleep lab. The doctor may also perform a chest X-ray and measure the level of oxygen in the blood.
How to Treat Tonsils
If your doctor thinks an allergy is the cause, he or she may give you a nasal corticosteroid spray or other medication, such as an antihistamine, by mouth.
If the cause appears to be a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
If these medications are not effective or if your doctor thinks they will not be helpful, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the adenoids (called an adenoidectomy) and possibly removal of the tonsils (called a tonsillectomy) during the same surgery.
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are very common surgeries for children. This procedure may be performed if they also have:
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Obstructive sleep apnea
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Extreme discomfort when speaking and breathing
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Multiple throat infections (defined by some doctors as more than six infections in 1 year, more than four infections a year for 2 years, or more than two infections a year for 3 years)
Doctors may only recommend adenoidectomy for children who have the following conditions:
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Frequent ear infections and persistent fluid collection in the middle ear
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Recurrent nosebleeds or nasal congestion causing voice changes or sleep disturbances
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Frequent sinus infections
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy do not appear to reduce the frequency or severity of colds or coughs.
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are often performed on an outpatient basis. They should be performed at least 2 weeks after the infection has cleared.
The surgical complication rate is low, but postoperative pain and difficulty swallowing caused by tonsillectomy can last up to 2 weeks.
Children usually recover from adenoidectomy within 2 to 3 days.
Bleeding from tonsillectomy is a less common complication but can occur at 2 peak times, within 24 hours of surgery or approximately 7 days after surgery.
Bleeding after surgery can be serious or even life-threatening in children. Children who experience bleeding after surgery should go to the hospital or doctor’s office.
How to Prevent Tonsillitis
Try to keep children away from anyone who already has tonsillitis or a sore throat, and make sure everyone in the family washes their hands well and often.
If someone in the family has tonsillitis, separate their drinking glasses and eating utensils, and wash them in hot, soapy water.
They should not share food, drinks, napkins, or towels with other family members. Give them a new toothbrush once they have been treated and are no longer contagious.
3 Myths About Tonsils in Children
What are the three myths?
- Swollen tonsils must be operated on
- Tonsils are caused because children often drink cold drinks or ice.
- Tonsil removal surgery can result in stupidity
Is that true? Let’s get to know tonsils in children and the myths that accompany them.
The First Myth
Mom, as previously explained, tonsils are one of the devices created by God to detect germs and bacteria that enter the child’s body, as an immunity mechanism in children .
Because they function to help protect children from disease, these tonsils often become enlarged.
This is a normal occurrence, and will shrink back down on its own when your little one is healthy.
As the child grows older, the tonsils will shrink by themselves as the child’s other immune functions develop.
However, because each child’s body condition is different, in certain children with weak immune systems, their tonsils often become infected.
This can cause children to have difficulty swallowing food or a sore throat which can result in a high fever.
How do you know if your tonsils are infected?
Characteristics of infected tonsils:
- Tonsils enlarge in size
- Child complains of sore throat and difficulty swallowing
- There are white spots around the throat
- The child’s body feels feverish
- The lower jaw is swollen
- Child complains of dizziness or headache
- His voice is hoarse or even lost
Infected tonsils do not always need to be removed or operated on. The doctor will first give medication to treat the infection that attacks the tonsils.
If the infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not needed. However, if the infection is caused by germs and bacteria that cause the tonsils to become moldy or purulent, then antibiotics are given or even surgery is performed.
Tonsillectomy in children is performed if:
- The child has recurrent tonsil infections (more than three times a month).
- Swollen tonsils block the passageway for food and air.
- Tonsils are attacked by fungus which is feared to spread and infect the lungs
- Tonsils with pus.
Myth Two
Mom, tonsils in children are not caused by them often drinking cold water/ice. In fact, in certain conditions ice is needed to cool swollen tonsils.
However, what we must be wary of is the consumption of artificial sweeteners and preservatives that are often consumed together with these cold drinks.
Infections occur more often due to low immunity, making it unable to overcome attacks by germs, bacteria and viruses that come from the air and food and drinks consumed by the child.
Myth Three
Removal of infected tonsils certainly will not cause a child to become stupid. Because tonsils are glands in the inner oral cavity located on the left and right. Generally the size of marbles.
This gland is very useful for the little one to detect diseases that enter the body. Tonsil surgery only affects the reduction of the child’s immunity, before the body has a resistance that grows with age.
But don’t worry, to increase your little one’s immune system, it’s a good idea for you to follow these tips.
- Get your little one used to taking a nap
- Give supplements such as honey (for children over 1 year old), date juice and others.
- Avoid giving foods that contain preservatives and artificial sweeteners.
Hopefully it’s useful, yeah,Parents!
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Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
