When is Tonsillectomy Necessary in Children
While the tonsils play a crucial role in the immune system of children, certain conditions can cause tonsil diseases that significantly impact health. In these cases, doctors may recommend a tonsillectomy. Here are some common situations where tonsillectomy should be considered:
Local Tonsil Diseases
- Recurrent Acute Tonsillitis: Occurs three or more times a year, persisting for 2 to 3 years.
- Peritonsillar Inflammation or Abscess: Children who have had peritonsillar inflammation or abscess.
- Tonsillar Hypertrophy: Enlargement affecting swallowing, breathing, speech, or development, especially if it causes obstructive sleep apnea or cardiopulmonary complications.
- Nighttime Paroxysmal Cough: Caused by saliva accumulation due to tonsillar hypertrophy, leading to frequent nighttime coughing and often associated with tracheobronchitis.
- Other Tonsil Diseases: Includes tonsillar keratosis, stones, benign tumors, or early-stage malignant tumors.
- Diphtheria Carriers: Children who are carriers of diphtheria bacteria and do not respond to conservative treatments.
Chronic Tonsillitis Leading to Other Organ Diseases
- Chronic Rhinitis, Sinusitis, or Recurrent Colds: Chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, or frequent colds caused by chronic tonsillitis.
- Cervical Lymphadenitis: Persistent cervical lymphadenitis without other oral diseases or non-active pulmonary tuberculosis with cervical lymphadenitis that does not heal.
- Eustachian Tube Obstruction: Affects hearing and is associated with chronic suppurative otitis media without other causes and does not respond to treatment.
- Focal Tonsillitis: Causes rheumatic fever, rheumatic myocarditis, rheumatic arthritis, or acute glomerulonephritis, necessitating early surgery once the condition stabilizes.
- Persistent Low-Grade Fever: Unexplained low-grade fever after thorough pediatric evaluation.
- Nutritional and Developmental Issues: Poor appetite and malnutrition in children with no other underlying cause.
Although the tonsils have an important immune function during childhood, in certain cases, diseased tonsils can significantly affect health and should be considered for removal. Doctors will evaluate the child's overall health and specific condition to determine the need for tonsillectomy.
