How to Treat Tonsillitis in Children


Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils which are at the back of the mouth. The tonsils are there to help protect the upper respiratory tract from becoming infected, but can be susceptible themselves to bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms include a sore throat, enlarged and red tonsils which may be covered in little yellow spots, difficulty in swallowing, a raised temperature and sometimes bad breath. The adenoids may also become enlarged. The child may also get ear ache and suffer temporary deafness.

Tonsillitis is common in children over a year old and can be a recurrent problem, although most grow out of it by the age of nine or ten.

What you can do

If your child complains of a sore throat, feeling unwell and has difficulty in swallowing, check for tonsillitis by tilting their head back, pressing down the tongue with the handle of a clean spoon and asking them to say ‘ah’. This will open up the throat to enable you to see any signs of enlargement or infection. Make sure they get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and give them food that is easy to eat, such as soup or yoghurt and drinks containing lemon and honey to help cleanse and soothe the throat.

Treatment

Aromatherapy Oils can be massaged around the neck, throat and chest area, or applied in a compress. Tea-Tree oil is known for its antiviral and bacterial qualities as well as being a useful antiseptic. Lemon is also a good antiseptic and can help to fight off infection. Ginger can be used for many ail­ments and can help combat catarrh, which can develop as a result of infection. Lavender, Chamomile, Sandalwood and Thyme all also have healing properties which can help against the infection. A therapist may recommend four drops of any of the oils mixed thoroughly in a bowl of warm water and applied as a compress, or five drops of oil to 2fl. oz (56ml) of carrier oil, such as Sweet Almond, massaged in, which should help to bring relief.

Homoeopathy

A homoeopath will ask which side of the throat is most affected before deciding on treatment. If the right side seems worse, and if the child has fever, the tonsils are very swollen and red, and the neck stiff, Belladonna may be prescribed. If the left side is affected and swollen and it hurts for the child to swallow, Lachesis may be prescribed. If the child suffers recurrent bouts, and the glands are enlarged and tender, Baryta Carb. may help reduce the symptoms.

Naturopathy

A naturopath will look for possible causes, such as what they see as excess mucus linked to a diet high in mucus-forming foods such as dairy products and low in veg­etables. A fruit diet might be recommended for up to three days and Epsom salts given to help detoxify. High doses of vitamin C may be advised and vitamin A as beta carotene can help to clear mucus. A gargle of warm water, salt, lemon and the herbal remedies Myrrh or Golden Seal may be beneficial and a throat compress of Mullein given. Also, a throat wrap using tepid water on a cotton cloth wrap for an hour at a time can help to stimulate healing by increasing circulation and lymph flow in the area.

Herbal medicine

A herbalist will work on boosting the immune system as a whole, as it is when it is weak that infec­tion such as tonsillitis sets in. Gargling with a mouthwash of Sage, Wild Indigo, Thyme or Myrrh, which all have antisep­tic and stimulating qualities, may be recommended. Other therapies that may be beneficial: osteopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture.

Filed Under: Health & Personal Care

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About the Author: Andrew Reinert is a health care professional who loves to share different tips on health and personal care. He is a regular contributor to MegaHowTo and lives in Canada.

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