What are the reasons to have a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A)?
The following are some of the more widely accepted reasons for having a T&A: • sleep apnea, or periods at night when your child stops breathing • trouble swallowing • tumor in the throat or nasal passage • bleeding from the tonsils that cannot be stopped • significant blockage of the nasal passage and uncomfortable breathing The following are T&A Guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology: • seven sore throats in one year • five sore throats in each of two years • three sore throats in each of three years • The sore throats may be associated with the following: • fever above 101o F • discharge on the tonsils • positive strep throat culture The following are additional reasons that are more controversial regarding the removal of the adenoids and tonsils: • bad snoring • recurrent infections or abscesses in the throat • recurrent ear infections • hearing loss • chronic sinusitis, or infection in the sinuses • constant mouth breathing • frequent colds • cough • bad breath The
