11/02/2026
What are the symptoms of tonsillitis?
The main symptoms are usually:
A sore throat
Pain when swallowing
A high temperature (fever) of 38C or above
A cough
A headache
Feeling sick
Earache
Feeling tired
Remember that tonsillitis is usually caused by a virus, so antibiotics aren’t going to help and there is no specific treatment for viral tonsillitis. The symptoms should clear up within 3-4 days on their own
How to help your child:
Make sure they have plenty to eat and drink, even if it is painful. Try soft, cold fruits and vegetables (avoiding really acidic ones). If drinking is difficult, try ice lollies. If your child doesn’t eat and drink, they’ll develop other symptoms like headaches and could even become dehydrated, so encourage them as much as possible.
Give them the age recommended dose of ibuprofen or paracetamol to ease pain – perhaps try timing a meal or drink 30 minutes or so after you’ve given the painkillers to ease pain when swallowing.
Ask a pharmacist if there are any appropriate lozenges or throat sprays for your child’s age.
Do not try a salt gargle as recommended for adults unless you are confident your child is old enough to be able to not swallow the liquid.
Make sure they get plenty of rest – they are likely to feel more tired as a result of the tonsillitis anyway.
When should I seek medical help for my child?
You should ring 111 or visit your doctor if:
You can see white pus-filled spots on your child’s tonsils.
The sore throat / lumpy glands are so painful they are really struggling to eat or drink.
The symptoms last longer than a week.
Complications from tonsillitis are rare, but can include conditions such as quinsy (abcesses in the throat) or glandular fever. This is why it is important to seek medical help if your child is experiencing the above more serious symptoms. If the tonsillitis proves to be from a bacterial infection then your child may be prescribed antibiotics, although this won’t always be the case. This is because they don’t always speed up recovery and can cause nasty side effects like a sore tummy, when your child is already feeling poorly.
