Both bacteria and viruses can cause tonsillitis. Below is a list of common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms of strep throat and tonsillitis. Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks. In: Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child: Ages 3 to 11. A one-time injection of penicillin is occasionally used to treat bacterial tonsillitis. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Your child has not urinated in 12 hours or is very weak or tired. Adenotonsillectomy. Schedule an appointment online or call your doctor’s office. Amoxil, Acute tonsillitis is acute inflammation of the tonsils. They help fight infection. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Talking with Your Child About Medical Care, Sala Institute for Child & Family Centered Care, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. PlushCare. Most PlushCare articles are reviewed by M.D.s, Ph.Ds, N.P.s, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals. Accessed Oct. 8, 2020. Duricef, Drug class: Strep throat can cause serious complications if it isn’t treated properly. Follow us on LinkedIn. The PlushCare blog, or any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The liquid form is easier for young children to swallow. If your child has tonsillitis because of a bacterial infection, such as group A Streptococcus, which causes strep throat, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. Tonsils are the lumps of tissue on both sides of the back of your child's throat. Not completing the full course of antibiotics can, in particular, increase your child's risk of rheumatic fever and serious kidney inflammation. However, if the strep throat lab test is negative, the CBC may be needed to help determine the cause of tonsillitis. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 2 Nov 2020), Cerner Multum™ (updated 2 Nov 2020), ASHP (updated 23 Oct 2020) and others. Get your at-home COVID-19 test kit delivered. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. If symptoms get worse or your child can't even swallow water, see your GP or call 111. Last edited 03/2020 and last reviewed 03/2020 A-Z Drug Facts, Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition, Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition, FREE book offer – Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Aspirin use by children to treat symptoms of cold or flu-like illnesses has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. At-home care strategies to use during the recovery time include the following: Treat pain and fever. School-age children are more prone to bacterial tonsillitis, but younger children are more prone to viral tonsillitis. These conditions can be caused by infection or allergy. Follow us on Facebook. If the rapid in-clinic test comes back positive, then your child almost certainly has a bacterial infection. Children should not take any product containing aspirin. We can help you find a Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital doctor. Opens in a new window. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reye's syndrome information page. Opens in a new window. Ferri FF. Tonsils are the lumps of tissue on both sides of the back of your child's throat. Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Your child has increased swelling or pain in his jaw, or he has trouble opening his mouth. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear,-nose,-and-throat-disorders/oral-and-pharyngeal-disorders/tonsillopharyngitis. Infectious mononucleosis. AHFS DI Monograph, Using a lighted instrument to look at your child's throat and likely his or her ears and nose, which also may be sites of infection, Checking for a rash known as scarlatina, which is associated with some cases of strep throat, Gently feeling (palpating) your child's neck to check for swollen glands (lymph nodes), Listening to his or her breathing with a stethoscope, Checking for enlargement of the spleen (for consideration of mononucleosis, which also inflames the tonsils), At least seven episodes in the preceding year, At least five episodes a year in the past two years, At least three episodes a year in the past three years, Swallowing difficulty, especially meats and other chunky foods, An abscess that doesn't improve with antibiotic treatment. Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters). Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Whether tonsillitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, at-home care strategies can make your child more comfortable and promote better recovery.