How to manage recurrent swelling of the tonsils?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

From what you describe, you are having recurrent tonsillitis, which means repeated infection or inflammation of the tonsils, causing redness, swelling, fever, and throat pain.

At this age, the most common causes are viral infections or recurrent streptococcal bacterial infections.

The very high fever you mentioned previously suggests a bacterial cause may have occurred before, even if the X-ray was normal, as X-rays do not diagnose tonsillitis.

The current temperature reading of 332 ° Fahrenheit is not physiologically possible and is likely a measurement or entry error, so an accurate body temperature should be rechecked with a thermometer.

At present, the priority is proper clinical evaluation, including throat examination and possibly a rapid strep test or throat culture, especially if there is fever, painful swallowing, white patches on tonsils, tender neck lymph nodes, or absence of cough.

If bacterial tonsillitis is confirmed, antibiotics are required to prevent complications such as rheumatic fever. If viral, treatment is supportive with rest, fluids, warm saltwater gargles, and Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for pain and fever. Antibiotics should not be used without confirmation.

Because the infections are recurrent and not under control, an ENT(ear, nose, tongue) specialist review is important. Tonsillectomy may be considered if there are seven or more episodes in one year, five per year for two years, or three per year for three years, or if there is breathing difficulty, sleep apnea, or poor school attendance due to illness.

I need to ask a few important questions to guide my further advice:

1. How many times per year does she get tonsillitis?

2. During these episodes, does she have a high fever, pus on her tonsils, or painful neck glands?

3. Does she experience any difficulty breathing, snoring, or sleep-related problems?

4. Has she ever had a throat swab or blood tests performed?

5. Does the fever improve with the use of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen?

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.