DD Recurrent Tonsillitus

[TAG]

I just wondered if any of you have had any experience with your little ones and recurrent tonsillitus?

DD is on her 3rd attack since starting back to school in September. She is otherwise a healthy and happy child.

First time she had it she was rough for a couple of days. Was given some antibiotics from the nurse, but her tonsils never went back down again.

Four weeks later, again she was a bit rough, complaining of a headache and had a temperature. And was poorly enough to be sent home from school. Had a look at her throat and could see what I thought were white spots. Took her to the walk in centre. Saw 2 nurses who said she had ulcerated tonsils. Antibiotics won't work and to just treat the symptoms. Explained that the tonsils probably won't reduce in size and that 'children grow into them'. Though they were very large for her age.

Anyway just picked her up from school, school said she was complaining of feeling unwell. DD complaining of a headache and again feels quite warm. Had a look at her throat and her tonsils are huge. Almost touching each other in fact. The amazing thing is, that she never says at any point her throat hurts. Looking at it today, if it were mine, I'm sure I'd be in agony.

Does anyone have any experience of this or any handy hints?

Also I'm concerned that if this is going to happen often, she'll be missing school and I'm going to end up with a visit from the 'truancy people'. The school has only just sent home a letter stating that the head can't authorise any absences. Any child who's attendance drops below 80% or 85%, I can't remember which, will be getting a visit.:eek:

[betterlatethannever]

Hi Tag.
Tonsillitus is such a horrible thing to keep getting.
My daughter was having 4-7 attacks a year and seemed to be on anti biotics all the time. She had an attendance of 72% at one point.
Eventually they will probably suggest having them removed if it continues.
She may well build up a natural resistance to this but in the mean time its unpleasent.
I don't know if this is any help but i took my daughter to see an alternative therapist (reiki) and she did her stuff on her, suggested giving her zinc and vit c lozengers, and since then she's never had another bout of tonsilitus..maybe just luck, i don't know.
(if you use vit c and zinc do check the age at which she can safely use them)

[kitchen buff]

My 10 year old constantly gets sore throats. She had so many that we took her to docs. Doc sent her to a paediatrician to discuss taking them out. He said it was not her tonsills that was causing the problem and was quite annoyed that she had been sent to him. She is waiting to see an allergy specialist as he thinks this is the root cause. So discuss with GP all possible causes, play devils advocate, dont mention tonsilitus, because it is easier for the GP to agree with you. Not saying GPs dont do there job properly. I love my GP he saved my life.

[BlondeHeadOn]

I've had recurrent tonsilitus all my life, but never had them out. The doctor used to prescribe antibiotics, but not any more - apparently the received wisdom now is to leave them and just treat the symptoms, as your nurse said. They get better within a week usually anyway.

With me I get attacks when I am tired or under a lot of stress - natures way of telling me to slow down I suppose!

The best news is that I have had fewer attacks as I've got older, and now only get it very occasionally - about once every year/18 months.

If ypur GP says leave them to get better I would take that advice - I'd check out all the other options with the Doc as well though, as other posters mentioned.

Hope this helps.

[TAG]

She's not to bad at the moment. I think the accompanying headache bothers her more than anything else. Calpol seems to help a lot.

I'll treat the symptoms again this time, unless she gets worse. See how long she goes before it flares up again and then prehaps take her back to the doctors and go from there.

Thanks for your input guys.

[SPANIEL36]

i have so much symapthy for your daughter i really do. From the age of about 6 i've had reccurring tonsilitus and each time i've been given anti biotics. To be very honest each time i had it, it made me feel like i had the flu, achey muscles, head aches, aching limbs, didnt like bright lights, in the end i got so fed up with it i asked the doc to refer me to have them out. I apparantly had the biggest tonsils he'd ever seen and i wasn't under attack at the time!!!

Although it took 2 weeks to heal and around day 9 was THE WORST day ever!!!... its the best decision to have them out. Its supposed to be alot worse for adults too.

My friends little ona also had the same problem and it it was 10 times worse when she had a cold as her tonsils would swell and she'd be stuffed up anyway so they decided to take out her tonsils and do her addenoids too

[blondeandbroke]

My daughter suffered until they were removed when she was 7. The surgeon said I should have been advised to throw her toothbrush away after each attack as she may have been getting re-infected. Have you tried this, may be worth a go.

[TAG]

Hi spaniel36 and blondeandbroke.

It's interesting what you say about a cold and tonsils swellling spaniel. She has a cold at the moment, well a bit of sneezing and a sniff. Also, ever since she was a baby, every cold she has leaves her so bunged up for a few weeks. She coughs alot at night too, where it runs down her throat. She used to cough to the point of being sick and all this clear mucus would come up. Hasn't done that for a while though.

It must be awful for her, but as I said she doesn't complain. In fact today, you can see in her eyes IYKWIM that she's not 100% but otherwise you'd think she was fine. I just worry as they are so big. I've never seen tonsils as big as hers. They are literally touching each other.

She has a coating on the back of her tongue as well. Obviously where she has this mucus running down her throat. So it must be irritating her throat and tonsils all the time.

I'll try changing her toothbrush as well - bab. See if that makes a difference.