Complications resulting from tonsillitis are uncommon. Some of the problems that occur are outlined below.
Middle ear infection
Middle ear infection (otitis media) is when the fluid in the middle ear, between the eardrum and inner ear becomes infected by bacteria. In most cases, the infection clears by itself.
Quinsy
A much less common complication of tonsillitis is called quinsy. This is a collection of pus (an abscess) that develops between the back of one of the tonsils and the wall of the throat.
If your child develops quinsy their symptoms will become rapidly worse.
Quinsy is relatively rare. Only 1 in 1,000 children with tonsillitis will go on to develop quinsy.
Quinsy is usually treated using a combination of antibiotics and surgery to drain the pus from the abscess.
Sleep apnoea
If your child has persistent or recurring tonsillitis (chronic tonsillitis) it may cause breathing difficulties during sleep. This is known as obstructive sleep apnoea.
Your child will not usually wake up during sleep, but their deep sleep will be disturbed. This can make them feel very tired during the day.
Children affected by sleep apnoea will often snore or gasp loudly as they sleep.
If your child develops sleep apnoea due to tonsillitis, it would usually be recommended that their tonsils are surgically removed (tonsillectomy).
Other complications
Other complications of tonsillitis are now very rare and usually only occur if an underlying bacterial infection is left untreated. They include:
- scarlet fever – a condition that causes a distinctive pink-red skin rash
- rheumatic fever – this causes widespread inflammation throughout the body, leading to symptoms such as joint pain, skin rashes and jerky body movements
- glomerulonephritis – an infection (swelling) of the filters in the kidneys that can cause vomiting and loss of appetite
