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Tonsillectomy
When you are trying to decide whether to have the tonsils removed, you might want to think about:
- How much time a child is missing from school because of throat infections.
- How much stress and inconvenience the illness has on the family.
The risks of surgery must also be weighed against the risks of leaving the tonsils in. In some cases of persistent strep throat infections, especially if there are other complications, surgery may be the best choice.
Some people think that removing the tonsils may hurt the body's immune system, but research does not support this.
Complete the surgery information form (PDF) 
(What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: December 8, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology | |
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