Tonsillitis (cont.)

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your doctor for advice if you have the following symptoms:

• Fever
  
  
• Pain with swallowing
  
  
• Social contact with a person with strep throat
  
  
• Tender glands in the neck
  
  
• Rash
  
  
• Pain is not relieved with home care
  
  
• Pain is worsening
  
  
• Unable to control secretions; unable to eat, drink, or take medicines
  
  
• Change in voice, such as muffled speech or "hot potato" voice
  
  
• Difficulty breathing

Tonsillitis can develop into more serious medical conditions in some people. Anyone with tonsillitis who is drooling, unable to eat or drink, or has any breathing difficulty needs to go to a hospital's Emergency Department immediately for evaluation.

• Sometimes the tonsils may swell or form a peritonsillar abscess resulting in blockage of the feeding and breathing pathways. You may have difficulty breathing or eating.

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