The symptoms of all kinds of tonsillitis are similar. In the case of acute tonsillitis, the systemic symptoms are more severe and may include chills, high fever, headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, general malaise, constipation, etc. Some children may have convulsions, vomiting, or even lethargy due to high fever. The local symptoms of acute tonsillitis are mainly sore throat, and when the pain is severe, it can radiate to the ears, and even worsen when swallowing, and some are accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
Chronic tonsillitis is mainly characterized by chronic sore throat, but can also be characterized by dryness in the pharynx, itchiness in the throat, foreign body sensation, and even irritating cough. If there is secretion retention in the tonsillar fossa, there may even be symptoms of bad breath. In children with recurrent inflammation and excessive enlargement of the tonsils, symptoms such as poor breathing, snoring during sleep, swallowing or speech resonance disorders may occur.