Two of the most common causes of sore throats are strep throat and tonsillitis. Since both of these conditions involve the throat pain and inflammation as well as the tonsils (lymph nodes in the back of the mouth/throat), it’s easy to confuse the two conditions, especially when your child is miserable and in pain. The fact is, strep throat and tonsillitis are very different conditions that require different types of treatments. Let’s take a quick look at what the differences between strep throat ... [Read More]
Tonsillitis
What Vaccinations Does My Child Need for School?
Starting a new school year is always exciting! While you shop for new school supplies and winter clothes and get ready for your child’s next stepping stone in life, don’t forget about a critical part of your child’s health – vaccinations! Of late, many parents are very concerned their child will contract certain diseases or conditions from the vaccination themselves. It’s important to know that vaccines are extremely safe – they are highly monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ... [Read More]
All About Your Toddler
Watching nature shows on television, one can’t help but marvel at the level of independence of many critters born in the wild. For example, within a few hours, baby giraffes are taking their first steps, baby turtles are swimming out to sea, and tiny birds are contemplating their first (big) steps out of the nest. Human babies, on the other hand, are completely and utterly helpless. For a while, that is, until they earn their sea legs when they become toddlers. From that moment on, be ... [Read More]
Could Frequent Tonsillitis Indicate the Need for a Tonsillectomy?
Frank recalls the first time his son, Ben, slept soundly through the night. He remembers it because it was the first time in as many months that he slept soundly, too. Only a week before, Frank was wondering if he was doing the right thing, bringing Ben to outpatient surgery for a tonsillectomy. He was somber as he watched his son being wheeled away in an induced sleep to the operating room. Frank’s wife Gayle, a pediatric nurse herself, reassured him. “It’s going to be OK. Actually, ... [Read More]
Treating Your Child’s Tonsillitis
“Mommy, my throat hurts when I swallow.” It’s not something a parent likes to hear, and it’s certainly nothing to take lightly. While your child may have simply caught whatever virus has been going around at school, their discomfort could also be something more serious – namely tonsillitis. A Pain in the Neck Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils. It is caused by viruses or some form of bacteria. Tonsils are lumps of tissue on both sides of the back of the throat that help the immune ... [Read More]