Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Description of a Swine Infant Model of Volume-Controlled Hemorrhagic Shock
Published on: November 3, 2023
Hemorrhagic tonsillitis in an infant: A case report
J David Wilson1, Bella Zeisler2, Nancy Grover3
1University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, UConn Health 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, United States.
Insights
Severe tonsillitis caused significant bleeding in a 9-month-old infant, requiring emergency surgery. This rare pediatric case highlights the challenges of diagnosing and managing acute hemorrhage in very young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Emergency Medicine
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Hemorrhagic tonsillitis is a rare condition, particularly in infants.
- Severe tonsillar bleeding can lead to significant blood loss and requires prompt intervention.
Observation:
- A 9-month-old infant presented with severe bleeding from the mouth and nose, with a history of hematemesis.
- Initial assessment ruled out epistaxis; however, rapid oropharyngeal blood pooling indicated significant hemorrhage.
- Flexible rhinolaryngoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were performed for diagnosis and hemorrhage control.
Findings:
- Bleeding originated from a blood vessel at the left lower tonsil pole.
- The infant required emergent operative intervention for hemorrhage control.
- This is the youngest reported case of severe hemorrhagic tonsillitis necessitating emergency surgery.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diagnostic challenges in infants with active hemorrhage.
- Highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach in managing critical pediatric cases.
- Emphasizes the rarity and severity of tonsillar hemorrhage in the pediatric population, especially in infants.
Abstract:
This case report describes a case of severe hemorrhagic tonsillitis in a nine month-old child who suffered significant amount of blood loss and was emergently taken to operating room for control of hemorrhage. The child was brought to emergency room by mom after noticing blood around child's mouth and nose and a subsequent episode of hematemesis having awoken from sleep. Initial impression was bleeding secondary to epistaxis however a thorough bedside otolaryngology exam including flexible rhinolaryngoscopy ruled this out. Rapid pooling of blood in oropharynx, continued hemorrhage with significant blood loss and recent history of hematemesis prompted emergent intervention in operating room for endoscopy for control of hemorrhage including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Bleeding was identified from a blood vessel at left lower tonsil pole. Although there is a description in literature of such cases, these are uncommon in the pediatric population and none has been described in a patient this young requiring emergent operative intervention. This case report discusses the diagnostic and decision making dilemma in an infant in setting of ongoing active hemorrhage and the role of multidisciplinary team management.
More Related Videos
07:38Isolation of Tonsillar Mononuclear Cells to Study Ex Vivo Innate Immune Responses in a Human Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue
Published on: June 14, 2020
07:50A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts
Published on: September 20, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:30Tonsillitis I: Introduction
Etiology
Three primary contributing factors have been identified.
01:26Tonsillitis II: Management
01:23Chronic Pharyngitis
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...
01:30Acute Pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
01:30Epistaxis
Etiology
Possible causes of this condition include high blood pressure, trauma, low humidity, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign bodies, nasal inhalation of corticosteroids or illicit drugs, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, facial or nasal surgery, anatomic malformation, tumors, or systemic...