Tonsils or tonsils are one part of the body's defense system against viral and bacterial infections. However, the tonsils can become inflamed if the invading bacteria and viruses are too strong to be resisted by the immune system, or the tonsils are not functioning properly. This condition is called inflammation of the tonsils or tonsillitis.
Children under the age of five are a group of children who are often attacked by tonsillitis due to viral infections, while children aged over five years to 15 years are more susceptible to bacterial infections.
Recognizing Symptoms of Tonsillitis in Children
Children who have tonsillitis or other diseases, often cannot describe the symptoms or complaints they feel well. Before knowing how to treat tonsils in children, it's a good idea to recognize some of the symptoms of tonsillitis in the following children:
- More fussy than usual
- Refuse to eat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Removing accidental saliva
- Tugging at the ear because it hurts
- Sore throat
- Breath of bad smell
- Snoring while sleeping
- Fever
- Swollen glands in the neck
You can also check the child's tonsils by placing the handle of a spoon on his tongue, if possible, asking him to say "aaaaa" while you see the tonsils with the help of a flashlight. Tonsils that experience inflammation will look reddish and swollen.
How to Treat Tonsils in Children
Inflammation of the tonsils caused by viral infections usually improves by itself through treatment that can be done at home. Meanwhile, for children with tonsillitis caused by bacterial infections, doctors will prescribe a series of antibiotic treatments, and children can still be treated at home.
In addition to increasing rest, maintaining the nutritional needs of the child's body, and ensuring adequate fluid intake is sufficient so that the child is not dehydrated, how to treat tonsils in children can also be done by:
- Ensuring children can eat foods that are easy to swallow, such as soup, warm water mixed with honey (for children over 1 year), tea is caffeine-free, so that a piece of ice can reduce the pain in his throat.
- Gargling uses a mixture of one teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of water 3 times a day to reduce pain.
- You can use a device that keeps the air humidity in the room to reduce dry air and sore throats.
- Create clean air by avoiding cigarette smoke or cleaning products that can trigger irritation in the throat.You can also use a bottle of warm water to compress the neck that has swelling.
- Ask for medication that can be given if the child has a high fever at home. Fever that is still relatively low generally does not require drug administration.
Apply various ways to treat tonsils in the child above and immediately see a doctor if the child's condition does not improve during treatment at home. Especially if the child has symptoms of tonsillitis complications, such as ear pain that does not improve, dehydration, frequent vomiting, or bleeding that is characterized by saliva that looks mixed with blood.