The Mother of a 6-Year-Old Child Brings Her Daughter to the Pediatrician's

Multiple Choice

The mother of a 6-year-old child brings her daughter to the pediatrician's office because she has had a sore throat, cough, and fever for several days. She reports a fever up to 104°F that worsens at night, but seems to respond to treatment with acetaminophen. The child has not been eating or drinking well because she says, "it hurts to swallow." She is ill appearing, and does not seem interested in playing with the toys that are in the examination room. The physician notes a thick, white exudate on both of the patient's tonsils, which also seem enlarged. A throat culture and complete blood count with differential is ordered.
-What is the most likely cause of the patient's swollen tonsils? 

A) Her intense cough caused rupture of the tonsils,and swelling is part of the normal wound-healing process.
B) Tonsils consist of lymphatic tissue,and became swollen by filtering out microbes and their toxic products.
C) She is dehydrated from poor fluid intake,so the tonsils are retaining fluid.
D) Tonsils are sensitive to stimulation,so they became swollen from her constant coughing.