Dr Bernadette Carr answers your questions on tonsillitis and acne

My six-year-old son has had two episodes of tonsillitis in the last year. Is there any way to prevent further episodes?

Tonsillitis affects children and adults of all ages but is most common in children between the ages of five and 10 years. Caused by an infection of the tonsils, either viral or bacterial, it spreads in the same way as other upper respiratory infections through coughing and sneezing and hand contact.

It takes between two and four days to develop symptoms from the time you pick up the infection. The majority of sore throats and tonsillitis are caused by viral infections and do not respond to antibiotics. Some are bacterial (usually ‘strep throat’) and will respond to antibiotics, although, your own immune system is normally able to clear these infections itself.