How infection of tonsils is usually treated?
If your child shows any of these signs or symptoms of enlargement of the tonsils or the adenoid, and doesn’t seem to be getting better over a period of weeks, talk to your pediatrician. In many children, the tonsils and adenoid become enlarged without obvious infection. They often shrink without treatment. According to the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, your pediatrician may recommend surgery for the following conditions: • Tonsil or adenoid swelling that makes normal breathing difficult (this may or may not include sleep apnea). • Tonsils that are so swollen that your child has a problem swallowing. • An enlarged adenoid that makes breathing uncomfortable, severely alters speech and possibly affects normal growth of the face. In this case, surgery to remove only the adenoid may be recommended. • Your child has repeated ear or sinus infections despite treatment. In this case, surgery to remove only the adenoid may be recommended. • Your child has an excessive number
