Help with tonsillitis

What is tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, which are two small lumps in your throat, get sore. This can make it hurt to swallow and can give you a sore throat. It is caused by germs like bacteria or viruses.

Helpful tips:

• If you have a sore throat, try drinking warm drinks or eat soft foods.
• Resting can help you feel better.
• Tell an adult if your throat really hurts. They might take you to see a doctor.

What signs show you might have tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, the soft part at the back of your throat, get swollen. Here are some signs you might have it:

• Sore throat: Your throat feels painful.
• Hard to swallow: It hurts when you eat or drink.
• Red tonsils: The back of your throat looks red.
• White spots on tonsils: Sometimes you see white marks.
• Fever: You feel very hot, like you have a temperature.
• Swollen neck glands: The sides of your neck may feel puffy or swollen.
• Headache: Your head hurts.
• Voice change: Your voice might sound different.

If you think you have these signs, talk to a grown-up or see a doctor.

How do doctors find out if you have tonsillitis?

Doctors look at your throat. They may ask if your throat hurts or if you feel sick.

They might use a tool to look closely at your tonsils. This helps them see if they are red or swollen.

Sometimes, doctors do a test like a swab to check for germs.

These things help doctors decide if you have tonsillitis.

Tools like pictures or videos can help explain more about tonsillitis. You can ask someone to go to the doctor with you if you need support.

Can you catch tonsillitis from someone else?

Why do you get tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils hurt and swell up. You have tonsils in your throat. They help keep you healthy. But sometimes germs, like viruses or bacteria, can make your tonsils sick.

• Viruses: Tiny germs that can cause colds. They often make tonsils sore.
• Bacteria: Small germs that can cause infections. They might make your throat hurt.

If you or someone you know gets tonsillitis, it might help to talk to a doctor. Using pictures or watching videos can also help you understand better.

How long does tonsillitis usually last?

Tonsillitis is when your throat feels hurt and swollen. It usually gets better in about 1 week.

If you are feeling sick, resting and drinking warm drinks can help you feel better. You can also ask a grown-up to give you medicine to help with the pain. A soft pillow can make resting more comfy.

If it takes longer than 1 week to feel better, tell someone so they can help you see a doctor.

Can medicine help tonsillitis get better?

Sometimes doctors give medicine called antibiotics to help with tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, the small lumps at the back of your throat, get sore and swollen.

Antibiotics can make tonsillitis better if it is caused by bacteria. But if a virus is the reason, antibiotics won't help.

If you have a sore throat, talk to a doctor. They will tell you if antibiotics are the right choice.

Helpful tip: Use pictures or a calendar to track how you feel each day. This helps you see if you are getting better.

What can you do at home to feel better?

When to Go to the Doctor for Sore Throat

Do you have a sore throat? It might be tonsillitis. Here are reasons to see the doctor:

• Your sore throat does not go away in a few days.
• You have trouble breathing or swallowing.
• You feel very sick with a high fever.
• Your neck is swollen a lot.

If you have any of these signs, tell an adult and see a doctor. You can also use picture cards or a talk board to help explain how you feel.

Can children get tonsillitis?

Yes. Children can get tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is when the tonsils, which are the small lumps at the back of the throat, get sore and swollen. If your child has a sore throat, fever, and trouble swallowing, they might have tonsillitis. It is important to see a doctor if you think your child has tonsillitis.

It can help to drink warm drinks and rest if the throat hurts. A doctor might give medicine to help your child feel better.

For extra help, you can use pictures to show what tonsillitis is and talk to your child’s doctor or nurse for advice.

What problems happen if tonsillitis is not treated?

Can having sore tonsils make you sick in other ways?

When your tonsils (the soft part in the back of your mouth) get sore and swollen, it is called tonsillitis. Sometimes, it can lead to other health problems. This means you might get other illnesses too.

Here are some tips to help you understand and remember:

• Look at pictures of tonsils. This can help you see what they are and understand where they are in your mouth.
• Ask someone to explain the words or ideas you don’t understand.
• Use a notebook to write down new words and what they mean. Drawing pictures can help too.
• Talk to a doctor or nurse if you have questions. They can give you helpful information.

How to Stop Getting Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis means your tonsils are sore. Here are some ways you can stop it:

• Wash Your Hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water. This helps keep germs away.
• Avoid Sick People: Try not to be close to people who are sick.
• Eat Healthy Foods: Eat fruits, vegetables, and healthy food. This helps keep your body strong.
• Drink Lots of Water: Water helps keep your throat clean.
• Rest: Make sure you get enough sleep every night.

You can also ask an adult for more help and ideas.

Do I need an operation for tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, which are at the back of your mouth, get sore and swollen.

Sometimes, you might need surgery to take your tonsils out.

Doctors decide if you need surgery based on how often you get tonsillitis and how bad it is.

If you have tonsillitis a lot or it makes you very sick, surgery might help you feel better.

Talk to your doctor about what is best for you. Here are some things that can help:

• Ask someone you trust to go with you to the doctor. They can help ask questions.
• Write down how often you get tonsillitis and how you feel when you have it.
• Use pictures or drawings to show how you feel. This can help explain things to the doctor.

Your doctor will help you decide if you need an operation to make you feel better.

Can I go to work or school if I have tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis can make your throat sore. It is best to stay home if you feel very sick. Rest and drink lots of water. You should see a doctor if you feel very unwell. Ask an adult or a friend to help if you need it.

Here are some things that can help:

• Stay home if you have a fever.
• Drink warm drinks like soup or tea.
• Use a soft scarf to keep your neck warm.

What is tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, which are two small lumps in your throat, get sore. This can make it hurt to swallow and can give you a sore throat. It is caused by germs like bacteria or viruses.

Helpful tips:

• If you have a sore throat, try drinking warm drinks or eat soft foods.
• Resting can help you feel better.
• Tell an adult if your throat really hurts. They might take you to see a doctor.

What signs show you might have tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, the soft part at the back of your throat, get swollen. Here are some signs you might have it:

• Sore throat: Your throat feels painful.
• Hard to swallow: It hurts when you eat or drink.
• Red tonsils: The back of your throat looks red.
• White spots on tonsils: Sometimes you see white marks.
• Fever: You feel very hot, like you have a temperature.
• Swollen neck glands: The sides of your neck may feel puffy or swollen.
• Headache: Your head hurts.
• Voice change: Your voice might sound different.

If you think you have these signs, talk to a grown-up or see a doctor.

How do doctors find out if you have tonsillitis?

Doctors look at your throat. They may ask if your throat hurts or if you feel sick.

They might use a tool to look closely at your tonsils. This helps them see if they are red or swollen.

Sometimes, doctors do a test like a swab to check for germs.

These things help doctors decide if you have tonsillitis.

Tools like pictures or videos can help explain more about tonsillitis. You can ask someone to go to the doctor with you if you need support.

Can you catch tonsillitis from someone else?

Why do you get tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils hurt and swell up. You have tonsils in your throat. They help keep you healthy. But sometimes germs, like viruses or bacteria, can make your tonsils sick.

• Viruses: Tiny germs that can cause colds. They often make tonsils sore.
• Bacteria: Small germs that can cause infections. They might make your throat hurt.

If you or someone you know gets tonsillitis, it might help to talk to a doctor. Using pictures or watching videos can also help you understand better.

How long does tonsillitis usually last?

Tonsillitis is when your throat feels hurt and swollen. It usually gets better in about 1 week.

If you are feeling sick, resting and drinking warm drinks can help you feel better. You can also ask a grown-up to give you medicine to help with the pain. A soft pillow can make resting more comfy.

If it takes longer than 1 week to feel better, tell someone so they can help you see a doctor.

Can medicine help tonsillitis get better?

Sometimes doctors give medicine called antibiotics to help with tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, the small lumps at the back of your throat, get sore and swollen.

Antibiotics can make tonsillitis better if it is caused by bacteria. But if a virus is the reason, antibiotics won't help.

If you have a sore throat, talk to a doctor. They will tell you if antibiotics are the right choice.

Helpful tip: Use pictures or a calendar to track how you feel each day. This helps you see if you are getting better.

What can you do at home to feel better?

When to Go to the Doctor for Sore Throat

Do you have a sore throat? It might be tonsillitis. Here are reasons to see the doctor:

• Your sore throat does not go away in a few days.
• You have trouble breathing or swallowing.
• You feel very sick with a high fever.
• Your neck is swollen a lot.

If you have any of these signs, tell an adult and see a doctor. You can also use picture cards or a talk board to help explain how you feel.

Can children get tonsillitis?

Yes. Children can get tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is when the tonsils, which are the small lumps at the back of the throat, get sore and swollen. If your child has a sore throat, fever, and trouble swallowing, they might have tonsillitis. It is important to see a doctor if you think your child has tonsillitis.

It can help to drink warm drinks and rest if the throat hurts. A doctor might give medicine to help your child feel better.

For extra help, you can use pictures to show what tonsillitis is and talk to your child’s doctor or nurse for advice.

What problems happen if tonsillitis is not treated?

Can having sore tonsils make you sick in other ways?

When your tonsils (the soft part in the back of your mouth) get sore and swollen, it is called tonsillitis. Sometimes, it can lead to other health problems. This means you might get other illnesses too.

Here are some tips to help you understand and remember:

• Look at pictures of tonsils. This can help you see what they are and understand where they are in your mouth.
• Ask someone to explain the words or ideas you don’t understand.
• Use a notebook to write down new words and what they mean. Drawing pictures can help too.
• Talk to a doctor or nurse if you have questions. They can give you helpful information.

How to Stop Getting Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis means your tonsils are sore. Here are some ways you can stop it:

• Wash Your Hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water. This helps keep germs away.
• Avoid Sick People: Try not to be close to people who are sick.
• Eat Healthy Foods: Eat fruits, vegetables, and healthy food. This helps keep your body strong.
• Drink Lots of Water: Water helps keep your throat clean.
• Rest: Make sure you get enough sleep every night.

You can also ask an adult for more help and ideas.

Do I need an operation for tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is when your tonsils, which are at the back of your mouth, get sore and swollen.

Sometimes, you might need surgery to take your tonsils out.

Doctors decide if you need surgery based on how often you get tonsillitis and how bad it is.

If you have tonsillitis a lot or it makes you very sick, surgery might help you feel better.

Talk to your doctor about what is best for you. Here are some things that can help:

• Ask someone you trust to go with you to the doctor. They can help ask questions.
• Write down how often you get tonsillitis and how you feel when you have it.
• Use pictures or drawings to show how you feel. This can help explain things to the doctor.

Your doctor will help you decide if you need an operation to make you feel better.

Can I go to work or school if I have tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis can make your throat sore. It is best to stay home if you feel very sick. Rest and drink lots of water. You should see a doctor if you feel very unwell. Ask an adult or a friend to help if you need it.

Here are some things that can help:

• Stay home if you have a fever.
• Drink warm drinks like soup or tea.
• Use a soft scarf to keep your neck warm.