Why do children have their tonsils and adenoids removed?
The tonsils and adenoids are small pieces of tissue in the throat and back of the nose, and are a small part of the body’ immune system. Removal of the tonsils and adenoids has not been shown to have any significant long term risks, and does not increase the severity or frequency of future infections. The most frequent reasons for their removal are: 1. Frequent infections (tonsillitis) 2. Breathing diffiiculties at night (sleep apnea) due to oversized tonsils and adenoids 3. Having persistently infected tonsils (a “strep carrier”) 4. Tonsil infection with a pus pocket failing to respond to medicine (peritonsillar abscess) 5. Difficulty swallowing solids/failure to gain weight due to enlarged tonsils 6.
