When To Remove The Tonsils In Children?

The tonsils sit in the throat and they create the antibodies that are in the respiratory system. Above all , they  help protect children from viruses, bacteria and fungi that can affect them in the first year of their lives. In some circumstances, however, doctors want to remove the tonsils in children. In this article, we will look at some of the reasons for removing tonsils that many parents think about.

The tonsils, dribble, tongue and palate make up the oral cavity. This area consists of parts where the cells are responsible for different areas of defense. Experts point out that the tonsils must be removed when certain inflammatory conditions affect the patient’s health.

When to remove the tonsils?

There are two main reasons for removing tonsils: tonsillitis and sleep apnea. The first is related to inflammation of the tonsils. In fact, this is one of the most common childhood diseases. The second, sleep apnea, is when children’s airways become blocked while they sleep.

In both cases, an ear, nose and throat doctor will decide whether the tonsils should be removed by surgery or not. When children get regular throat infections, many specialists decide to remove them. The question is: how frequent must the sore throat be in order for the children’s tonsils to be removed?

For children up to 12 years of age, specialists will remove them when there are 6 or more infections a year, for at least two consecutive years.

As for sleep apnea, it is when children have difficulty breathing at night while sleeping. This not only causes fatigue during the day, after not getting very much sleep, but it also increases their risk of other more serious ailments.

Is it possible to avoid surgery?

Today, it is usually the patient’s last resort to resort to surgery. Until recently, however, it was very common to remove the tonsils. Doctors chose to remove them at the slightest sign of inflammation.

The goal now is instead to let children develop their immune system and antibodies naturally and fully. Children under 5 years of age with frequent tonsillitis are completely normal. In addition, they build immunity, which will help them for the rest of their lives.

However, ear, nose and throat doctors will determine if surgery is necessary, based on whether their patient has breathing problems, hearing problems or the risk of other nasty side effects.

If your children have frequent viral or bacterial infections, it is important to follow your pediatrician’s recommendations step by step. By following the right treatments and not exposing your children to new infections, you give their immune system time to prevent relapse.

For children with sleep apnea, you will notice it if they snore. In general, children with a lot of mucus can breathe through their mouths while sleeping. If they are constantly having difficulty breathing and they are snoring too loudly, do not hesitate to consult your child’s doctor.

How to remove the tonsils?

The operation to remove tonsils is simple and relatively short. However, the recovery period is approx. 10-20 days of rest. This rest period is important because bleeding can occur even 10 days after surgery. It is important to prevent possible reactions to the operation.

Surgeons can perform this surgery with cryotherapy and lasers. However, adenotonsillectomy is the most common method of removing the tonsils in children. Patients are operated on on an empty stomach because they come under general anesthesia.

In terms of recovery period, both children and adults need about two hours in the hospital. Then they can go home.

Finally, the doctor must have knowledge of the patient’s medical history before they can remove the tonsils. The operation is relatively simple, although you need to be careful during the recovery. Once the first three or four weeks have passed, the patient’s life improves markedly.