Tonsillitis in Children

     Written by: Muhammad Nasir Sirat

Tonsils are the two lymph nodes located on each side of the back of our throat. They function as a defense mechanism. They help prevent our body from infection. When the tonsils become infected, the condition is called tonsillitis. Tonsillitis could occur at any age and is a common childhood infection.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people and a physician about this disease.

A mother from Kapisa province says: “my child has tonsillitis and complains from throat sore and legs pain and he suffers from fever at night.” 

A mother, a resident of Qalae Wakil, district 10th, Kabul city says: “my child has tonsillitis. She suffers from throat sore and anemia. She could not eat food easily.”

Muhammad Sharif Sailani, an ENT specialist in Indra Gandhi Child Health Care Hospital, Kabul city says about the causes of tonsillitis: "The tonsils combat bacteria and viruses that enter our body through our mouth. However, tonsils are also vulnerable to infection from these invaders. Tonsillitis could be caused by a virus, such as the common cold, pneumonia, a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, contaminated water or foods, but viruses are the most common cause of tonsillitis.

Children come into close contact with others at school, home and play, exposing them to a variety of viruses and bacteria. This makes them particularly vulnerable to the germs that cause tonsillitis.”

How do people treat tonsillitis?

Samia, a resident Qarabagh district, Kabul province says: “my niece has tonsillitis. We were giving her warm liquids, clean and soft foods and kept her from atmospheric contaminants by using a respirator.”

A mother from Maidan-Wardak province says: “my child was always suffering from tonsillitis. The doctor visited him and diagnosed that she had tonsillitis. He prescribed some medicines and we gave her soft and lukewarm foods and she became well.”

Doctor Sailani says: “giving lukewarm liquids and soft foods are useful for tonsillitis patients but they should avoid spicy foods, cold drinks and should gargle the solution of salt and water. such patients should visit ENT specialist, and he/she might recommend some medicines and if the medication doesn’t affect, a surgical operation might be needed.”