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Q: Since the school year has started, my son has had strep throat three times. When should we start thinking about having his tonsils removed?
Tonsils are collections of lymphatic tissue on both sides of the back of the mouth. Tonsils can become enlarged or infected. Signs of tonsillar infection, or tonsillitis, include fever, sore throat, white plaques on the tonsils and difficulty swallowing.
Tonsillitis can be caused by certain bacteria (such as strep) or viruses.
Surgical removal of the tonsils, or tonsillectomy, is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children.
Although tonsillectomies are considered minor outpatient surgery, any surgical procedure carries certain risks. Risks associated with tonsillectomy include infection, bleeding and dehydration. There are also risks associated with anesthesia.
In 2011, the American Academy of Otolaryngology released updated guidelines to assist physicians in making the decision to proceed with a tonsillectomy.
According to these guidelines, a tonsillectomy should be considered if a child has any of the following:
Seven or more throat infections during the past year.
Five or more throat infections per year in the past two years.
Three or more episodes of tonsillitis per year for the past three years.
There are other factors that weigh into this decision, such as sleep problems, history of an abscess in the tonsils and behavioral problems, to name a few.
If your child has recurrent sore throats, it is important to discuss the topic of tonsillectomy with your child's primary care provider.
