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Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy may be done in the following cases:
- A person has ongoing or recurring episodes of tonsillitis.
- A person has recurring episodes of strep throat in a single year despite antibiotic treatment.
- Abscesses of the tonsils do not respond to drainage. Or an abscess is present in addition to other indications for a tonsillectomy.
- A persistent foul odor or taste in the mouth is caused by tonsillitis and does not respond to antibiotic treatment.
- A biopsy is needed to evaluate a suspected tumor of the tonsil.
- Especially in children, the tonsils are so large they affect nighttime breathing, called sleep apnea.
Large tonsils are not a reason to have a tonsillectomy unless they are causing one of the above problems or they are blocking the upper airway, which may cause sleep apnea or problems with eating.
| 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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