Tonsillitis, an infection of the tonsils, is a common condition among children. Symptoms include a severe sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and a fever. When your child develops tonsillitis, there are a few treatment options available, including antibiotics if the infection is bacterial and pain-relieving medication and home remedies to manage symptoms. Another effective treatment and prevention option your child’s ENT specialist may discuss with you is a tonsillectomy—a surgery to remove the tonsils.
What Does a Tonsillectomy Entail?
We perform a tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. We’ll use one of the following methods to remove your child’s tonsils:
- Electrocautery is a surgical method that uses heat to remove the tonsils and control bleeding.
- Coblation tonsil surgery removes all or part of the tonsils using a combination of radiofrequency energy and a plasma ion field
- A Microdebrider removes part of the tonsils with a rotating shaver device
The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes, and most children reach full recovery in about two weeks.
When Will an ENT Recommend a Tonsillectomy?
There are a few situations in which your child’s ENT may recommend a tonsillectomy.
- Your child has repeated tonsil infections. Frequent infections can be uncomfortable and disruptive. Tonsil removal helps prevent future episodes.
- Your child has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Enlarged tonsils can block the airway during sleep. Removing them, occasionally along with the adenoids, can improve or eliminate OSA. Your child will need to complete a sleep study for us to diagnose them with sleep apnea.
- Swollen tonsils obstruct your child’s breathing. If their tonsils block airflow, a tonsillectomy can relieve the obstruction and improve breathing.
- Your child has tonsil stones. When your child has tonsil stones that are uncomfortable or cause bad breath, a tonsillectomy can help.
If a cup of warm tea with a dollop of Heavenly Honey isn’t quite doing the trick to soothe your child’s tonsillitis, or they have symptoms of another underlying condition like sleep apnea or tonsil stones, contact ENT for Children today. We’ll examine your child’s tonsils and go over their medical history to help you make an informed decision about a tonsillectomy.