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Key points

Viral tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils caused by viral infection. It affects mainly children during winter or spring epidemics. In France, 10-12 million people are affected each year.

  • Symptoms

You will have a mild sore throat, difficulties swallowing and may experience a fever. Coughing is also common.

Your tonsils are swollen and will sometimes appear white or show bright red patches. Your throat is red and the nearby ganglia might be visible, sensitive and/or painful.

  • Diagnosis

It relies on a clinical examination and, if your doctorconsiders it useful, a quick screening test.

  • Contagion

It can be caused by one of several different viruses. Depending on the virus, the incubation time is of several hours to several days. The viruses can be transmitted to others when coughing or spitting...

  • Development

Generally, tonsillitis is cured in a few days. If this is not the case, you may suffer from infectious mononucleosis. A blood test will allowdiagnosis. You may occasionally develop a “superinfection” (sinusitis, otitis) or the tonsillitis may recur.

Treatment

Against fever and aches:

-Drink regularly

-Take Paracetamol. If this is not sufficient, talk about it with your doctor.

Against a sore throat:

Saliva soothes sore mucous membranes. Sucking on a pastille will help by inducing its production.

N.B. pastilles with no sugar may cause diarrhoea and flatulence1.

In the case of severely inflamed tonsils:Mouthwashes may be helpful.

Associated measures

Hygiene: Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. Cover your nose and mouth with your hand when sneezing or coughing. Avoid sharing your glass or kissing others.

Contagion: You are contagious before the emergence of the first symptoms and throughout the illness.

Refrain from smoking

Contact your doctor:

Viral Tonsillitis in Children

Key points

Viral tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils caused by a viral infection. It affects mainly children during winter or spring epidemics. Before the age of three, children suffer from pharyngitis, not tonsillitis.

In France, 10-12 million people are affected each year.

  • Symptoms

Children below the age of 10 will have fever, stomach pains and headaches. They will sometimes complain of mild sore throats whereas adults and adolescents will always have a sore throat. Your child may also dribble and have trouble swallowing his saliva and swallowing food and drink. Coughing and vomiting can occur.

Tonsils are swollen and will sometimes appear white or show bright red patches. The throat is red and the nearby ganglia might be swollen, visible, sensitive and/or painful.

  • Diagnosis

This relies on a clinical examination and, if your doctor considers it useful, a quick screening test. Under the age of 3, screening is pointless as very young children do not get bacterial tonsillitis1.

  • Contagion

It can be caused by several different viruses. Depending on the virus, the incubation time lasts 24h to several days. The viruses can be transmitted when coughing or spitting...

  • Development

Generally, tonsillitis is cured in a week. If this is not the case, the child may suffer from infectious mononucleosis. A blood test will allow diagnosis.

  • Complications:

Bacterial superinfection: (sinusitis, ear-ache etc.)

Chronic tonsillitis.

Sleep apnoea linked to the swollen tonsils. If this is the case, your child will be tired and will have trouble waking up. He may fall asleep in school.

Treatment

Against fever and pain:

-Undress the child and give them plenty to drink

-Give the child Paracetamol: 1 weight-adjusted dose, 4 times a day.

Against a sore throat:

Saliva soothes sore mucous membranes/ the lining of the throat. Sucking on a pastille will help by inducing its production. However pastilles with no sugar may cause diarrhoea and flatulence2.

In case of severely inflamed tonsils:

Mouthwashes can be given to older children who know how to spit it back out.

Precautions

  • Hygiene: Wash your and your child’s hands regularly and thoroughly. If he understands, ask your child to cover his nose and mouth when sneezing.
  • Environment: Humidify the room if needed (this is a controversial issue)
  • School: Your child is contagious even before the symptoms first appear. It is preferable for him to stay at home for 48h. Avoid the swimming pool.
  • Tonsillectomy: This may be beneficial in cases of chronic infections. It does not suppress the risk of pharyngitis. Improvement may occur spontaneously without surgery.
  • Refrain from smoking around children.


Adult Acute Gastroenteritis

Key Points:

Acute Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and small intestine due to an infection of the gastrointestinal tract. It causes transit disruption, an increase in the number of stools which are more liquid1 and potential vomiting.

  • Causes

The infectious agent responsible is most often a virus (autumn and winter epidemics); it may occasionally be a bacterium (food poisoning by salmonella) and rarely a parasite. Viruses are transmitted via the hands, faeces or unclean objects, underlining the importance for you to wash your hands.

  • Symptoms

These appear one to several days after contact with the virus and include nausea and/or vomiting; soft or even liquid faeces; stomach pain; increased gas production (belching and flatulence); fever and weight loss.

  • Risk= dehydration

Young children and elderly people are the most at risk1.

N.B. Due to inappropriate contents, avoid Cola drinks1.

  • Development

With simple dietary guidelines, gastroenteritis is cured in 48 to 72 hours. If this is not the case, you should get in touch withyour GP. He will decide whether to run complimentary tests (stool sample analysis for bacteria or parasites; blood test...etc.)

Treatment:

  • How to compensate for the loss of water and minerals?

-Drink sugary water and salty broth.

-Drink oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for children and elderly people.

Even if rehydration seems to temporarily increase diarrhea, it must be continued. In case of major dehydration, injections may help elderly people1.

  • Other drugs

They aim to alleviate symptoms:

-Paracetamol suppresses fever and aches,

-Antispasmodics suppress spasms of sharp pain,

-Other drugs increase faecal consistency for diarrhoea1.

Beware: Certain drugs are to be avoidedif faeces contain blood or mucus1.

  • Antibiotics

If there is blood or mucus in the stools or there is a possibility of food poisoning, bacteria may be responsible (e.g. Salmonella) and antibiotics could be necessary. As several other illnesses present the same symptoms, your GP will prescribe a stool sample analysis to confirm diagnosis.

Prevention

Cleanliness: Wash your hands several times a day, after each visit to the toilet and before eating2.

Beware: Clean door handles, flushes;wash clothes and bedding at high temperatures1.

Breast-feeding: Keep doing it, it protects your baby!

Nutrition:

-Avoid milk, dairy products, coffee, smoked meat, meat in sauce, fried food, raw vegetables and citrus fruit.

-In case of severe diarrhoea, stick to rice, boiled potatoes, pasta, oats and wheat1. Have your fruit and vegetables cooked (e.g. stewed apple)

-Drink frequently (avoid fizzy, alcoholic or reduced-fat drinks)

Contact your doctor

  • If the symptoms last more than 5 days.
  • In case of mucus or blood in the stools.
  • If you are not tolerating the infection.
  • In case of weight loss in elderly people.


Gastroenteritis in Children and Infants

Key points

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and small intestine most frequentlydue to a viral infection. It causes frequent and often loose stools, diarrhoea and loss of weight.

  • Symptoms

Your child experiences repeated watery diarrhoea which « drains him». He loses weight and is thirsty, which is unusual for an infant.

Beware of repeated vomiting as your child could become dehydrated in a few hours.

  • Contagion

Epidemics are frequent during autumn and winter. The cause is viral in 70-80% cases. It is very easily transmitted by the hands, stools and soiled objects1. The incubation time lasts several hours to several days.

  • Risk= dehydration

Some viruses are very virulent and admission to the hospital can be necessary even after suitable treatment.

N.B. Due to inappropriate contents, avoid Cola drinks1.

  • Development

With treatment, recovery from acute gastroenteritis is a matter of days. If this is not the case, your doctormay prescribe a stool sample analysis and possibly antibiotics. Foul smelling, doughy faeces may appear after recovery but are not pathological2.

Treatment: rehydration

  • Using Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)3: 1 packet in 200ml of water to be drunk gradually.

-In the case of vomiting, give the child 1 teaspoon every 2min for 30min to an hour. Some will be absorbed even if the child vomits.

-In case of “isolated diarrhoea” give him 30ml every 10min if he is willing (do not force it on him)

-Later, give him sugary water if there is persistent isolated vomiting

  • Your doctor may offer additional treatments to reduce diarrhoea.
  • Look out for:

-Your child’s weight: every 4 hours during the acute phase (you can borrow scales from the chemists store if needed). If he has lost more than 5% of his weight, contact a doctor right away.

-Thirst: Offer oral rehydration drinks saltsto your child regularly.

-Child’s appearance and behaviour: Contact a doctor immediately if the child is drowsy, passive, pale, and if his/her eyes are hollow and surrounded by dark circles.

-If vomiting continues: reduce the quantity and increase the frequency of ORS. Consult a doctor if your child refuses to drink it and if vomiting does not stop.

Helpful Tips

-Hygiene: Wash your hands before and after you touch your baby.

-Do not stop breast-feeding.

-Milk:

Infants <3 months: Your doctor will prescribe a milk adapted for the child with diarrhoea (hydrolysed protein prepared from cow’s milk) to replace his usual milk. This is to avoid the development of an allergy towards the proteins in cow’s milk.

Infants >3 months: They can be kept on their usual milk. If the symptoms persist for more than 10days, switch to lactose-free milk.

-Re-nourish promptly1every few hours is advised (apple or carrot puree, rice …). Avoid raw fruit and vegetables