Tonsillitis is inflammation (swelling and irritation) of the tonsils caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Most kids feel better in a few days. You can do things at home to make your child more comfortable and to prevent dehydration.

• Give any medicines prescribed by your health care provider as directed.
• If antibiotics were prescribed, be sure your child takes all the doses exactly as directed, even if they feel better. This is the best way to kill the harmful germs.
• Make sure your child drinks lots of liquids and gets rest as needed.
• If swallowing is painful, try serving liquids and soft foods, like soups, gelatin, smoothies, ice pops, or ice cream.
• Avoid acidic beverages like orange juice and lemonade, which can irritate the throat.
• You can give medicine for pain or fever if your health care provider says it's OK. Use these medicines exactly as directed:
  • acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand)
  OR
  • ibuprofen (such as Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• Don't give aspirin to your child. It could lead to serious medical problems.
• Saltwater gargling may help your child feel more comfortable, but should be used only for kids over 6 years old. Mix ¼ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Have your child gargle and spit 2–4 times a day. They should not swallow the saltwater.
• Older kids and teens can suck on hard candy or throat lozenges. Do not give to children younger than 4 years old because they're a choking hazard.
• Talk to your health care provider about when your child can return to child care or school.

Your child:

• is not drinking any liquids
• has throat pain that gets worse
• has symptoms that continue after you've followed the health care provider's instructions
• gets a rash

Your child:

• appears dehydrated; signs include a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, peeing less or darker than usual pee, crying with little or no tears
• can't swallow
• has a swollen or stiff neck
• is drooling
• has trouble breathing

What are the symptoms of tonsillitis? Common symptoms include a sore throat, fever, swollen glands in the neck, and pain when swallowing. Some kids with tonsillitis will have other symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose or a cough.

How do health care providers diagnose and treat tonsillitis? Health care providers will ask about symptoms and examine the throat. They may use a soft cotton swab to gently collect a sample from the tonsils and back of the throat. Most use a rapid strep test to check for bacteria. Results are available in minutes. If the test is negative, they'll send the sample to a lab for a throat culture (results take 1–2 days).

Tonsillitis caused by strep is treated with antibiotics. Kids with tonsillitis due to a virus get better without treatment.