Surgery to remove tonsils (tonsillectomy) may be used to treat frequently recurring tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis or bacterial tonsillitis that doesn't respond to antibiotic treatment. “In children, usually 4 to 5 infections in a year is a guide to removing tonsils; and 2 to 3 times in a year for adults, or if the tonsils are obstructing breathing, then they are removed at any age,” says ENT Dr Ken Esterhuizen.
A tonsillectomy may also be performed if tonsillitis results in difficult-to-manage complications such as:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Breathing difficulty
- Swallowing difficulty, especially meats and other chunky foods
- An abscess that doesn't improve with antibiotic treatment
Before sugery, you will need to stop taking anti-inflammatory medines, such as aspirin and ibuprofen for at least two weeks prior to surgery. These medications may increase your risk of bleeding during and after surgery.
Tonsillectomy is usually done as an outpatient procedure, and will require general aneathetic. Your child can go home the day of the surgery unless your child is very young, has a complex medical condition or if complications arise during the surgery. A full recovery usually takes 7 to 14 days.
Common risks
While this is a fairly routine procedure, like any other surgery, there are some risks. These include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Reaction to aneasthetics.
Recovery
Your child may experience some pain as they recover from the procedure. Immediately after the operation, get plenty of rest, take in sips of water, non-caffienated tea and warm broth to keep hydrated. Do not eat anything spicy, hard or crunchy for several days afterwards. Pain medication will be prescribed and patients normally resume normal routines within two weeks post tonsillectomy.
Find out more
For more information, speak to a Clicks pharmacist on the prevention and treatment of tonsillitis. You can find the contact details to your nearest Clicks Pharmacy online or call the customer care team on 0860 245 257.
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