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SALT LAKE CITY – The world of health and medicine can be confusing to many parents. But Nurse Suzy is here to help clarify some of the issues that are important to you and your family.
Question:
What are your tonsils good for and should you have them removed?
Answer:
The tonsils are part of the lymphatic system, which helps to fight infections. These tissues represent the first line of defense against ingested or inhaled foreign bacteria. However, as WebMD.com states, removal of the tonsils does not seem to increase susceptibility to infection.
Ask Nurse Suzy
Do you have a question for Nurse Suzy, or maybe a topic you'd like her opinion on? Email her at <a href="mailto:nursesuzyksl@gmail.com">nursesuzyksl@gmail.com</a>.
Tonsils vary widely in size and swell in response to infection. While many people have no trouble with their tonsils during their life, many others do. If the tonsils are too large they can obstruct your airway — the most prominent sign of this being snoring or frequent interrupted sleep. If your tonsils hold more bacteria than they can filter out, they become more harmful to keep than remove. The most common infection related to your tonsils is strep throat, but it is only one of many.
If you are considering a tonsillectomy, whether for yourself or a family member, ask yourself the following questions:
- Has the person been diagnosed with strep throat 3-5 times in the last year? If so, it's probably time to have the tonsils removed.
- Does the person have very large tonsils, and have a lot of trouble sleeping or snore very loudly? If so, it's probably time to have the tonsils removed.
Still, one needs to remember there are other times it would be important to have the tonsils removed. If your child is frequently sick with colds and fever, you should consider having a discussion with your doctor about a tonsillectomy. In some cases like this, removing the tonsils will help remove a source of constant infection in the child's body. This is something I have personally dealt with.
If your child is frequently sick with colds and fever, you should consider having a discussion with your doctor about a tonsillectomy. In some cases like this, removing the tonsils will help remove a source of constant infection in the child's body.
At age 3, my daughter had her tonsils removed because I insisted the doctor take them out. She was constantly sick with fever, cold, runny nose and occasional strep throat, ear infections, etc. It seemed no matter what we did she continued to get sick every few weeks or months. When the doctor removed her tonsils they were so badly scarred they had to be dug out.
And just recently, my 3-year-old granddaughter had her tonsils removed after being diagnosed with PFAPA (Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis). The condition caused cold-like symptoms, accompanied by a high fever and sores on her tongue, every six weeks. Because studies have shown that removal of the tonsils greatly decreases the episodes of PFAPA until the child grows out of the disease, her doctor opted to perform the surgery.
You may find yourself with a similar problem. Now that we limit antibiotic therapy, fevers and cold-like illnesses have become more frustrating, as a parent, to treat.
Another consideration is to have the adenoids removed at the same time tonsils are removed. Adenoids are found behind your nose and can be a source of airway swelling and poor drainage. When a person's tonsils are large, it is very common for their adenoids to be large as well. And if the tonsils harbor bacteria, so do the adenoids. It is very easy to remove both at the same time, thus preventing a probable second surgery in the future.
Your tonsils and adenoids are glands you can live without. If they are not filtering bacteria correctly, they are more dangerous to keep than to have removed.
If you’re considering a tonsillectomy, have them removed when your child is young. The longer your wait, the more painful the surgery becomes. My best advice is to have the surgery done before adulthood. Complications during adult tonsillectomies are more frequent and dangerous.
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
