Bacteria are transmitted in the air we breath or the food we eat. The mouth and nose are continually exposed to these bacteria and it is the tonsils and adenoids which play a part in our resistance to the ever present germs. If we are exposed to repeated waves of infection, and our resistance is lowered, an infection can occur. This produces acute inflammation of the tonsils which are located at the back of the throat and also inflammation of the adenoid tissue located behind the nose.

The onset is sudden with a general feeling of being unwell, followed by a fever and a sore throat. The tonsils become swollen and red with beads of pus on their surface and there is an associated tenderness and swelling of the lymph glands on either side of the neck.

The local complications include an extension of the infection up to the ear, the nose and the sinuses.

Repeated attacks can produce chronic tonsillitis where the bacteria gets a hold in the tonsillar tissue producing a focus of infection.

A child with chronic tonsillitis is a constant worry to the parents. Repeated infections, sore throats and a generally run-down child add to the worries. In these circumstances there may be a definite justification in having the tonsils removed under these circumstances. The argument that the child will eventually grow out of the complaint may or may not be justified depending upon just how severe the childhood symptoms are.

The treatment of recurrent attacks of is surgical removal in between acute attacks and this is generally less hazardous in the child than it is in the adult.

Treatment of the acute attack consists of bed rest, a light fluid diet, pain killers, (not aspirin in the young child) and antibiotics if considered necessary.