What is a tonsillectomy, and when should it be done?
Tonsillectomy is the surgical procedure for removal of the tonsils. As a treatment for chronic tonsillitis, tonsillectomy is done when medicine, supportive measures, and other non-surgical treatments are no longer effective. Each individual is different and it is not possible to give an exact number of infections needed before tonsillectomy should be considered. However, general guidelines based on past research have shown that individuals with 6-7 infections in one year or 2-3 infections per year for more than a few years would probably benefit from tonsillectomy. In some cases tonsillectomy is a necessary operation and sometimes must be done on a near-emergency basis. This occurs if the tonsils are so large that they block breathing. Enlarged tonsils can also cause obstructive sleep apnea and are removed in those cases. Patients who are carriers of diphtheria (rare in these days) should undergo tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is also recommended in individuals with just one enlarged ton
