The anti-biotics will prevent any other infections from setting in, but won't do anything to the tonsilitis because it's caused by a virus, not bacteria. All you can do is ease the discomfort until it clears itself. Cold drinks and sucking on ice will help, as will a child-safe liquid paracetamol such as kid's Panadol.

I know that is going to sound a bit weird but my oldest has always had problems with tonsilitis one day he was complaining of a tooth ache so i tried to get him into a dentist but i could not get him in so i finally booked him into the doctors that arvo as he was crying in pain .When the doctor looked at him it was tonsilitis(it was relly bad tonsilitis) i got the antibiotics but the old indian doctor told me every now and then give my son some COKE as it cleans the stuff of the tonsills i looked at him and laughed .the next day even with the antibiotics he was still sore and could not swallow properly so i thought i would give the coke thing a go then that arvo my sons throat was feeling better.so every time when i looks like the are about tio flare up again i will give him half a cup of coke .He has never had problems with them again

Hello. I have a 6 year old who had her tonsils and adenoids out and grommets in her ears last month. We had at least 3 years of doctors refusing to take them out and running us around with natural remedies and continuous antibiotics. I'm afraid the only answer is to have them removed, but that is an uphill battle as they are very funny about taking them out these days. It ended up affecting my daughters speech and she was deaf and then when they did finally do it they said it was really bad and she should have had it done years ago!?! Hope this helps.

panadol is great and on doctors advice can be rotated with nurofen and antibiotics is generally needed but if your child is having tonsillitus regularly insist on seeing a specialist, two of my sons had is consistently saw the specialist and has their tonsils removed and have not been seriously sick since, some children do seem prone to getting it.

My four year old has had tonsillitus 7 times in the past year.  I 've found once it gets to the stage were there is puss, you need the antibiotics.

Just keep up the panadol, and give them lots of cool fluids to drink. Icy poles to suck on, and soft foods are the best.  Make up a bed on the couch if they're just for lying in front of the tv, as they'll probably want to be close to you, because they're feeling crappy.

Good luck, hope they get better soon.