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Excision of the tonsils

Excision of the tonsils

PantherMedia

Sore throat in a child

The tonsils, are clusters of immune cells whose function is to protect the body from various types of infection (viral, bacterial and fungal). We distinguish between the palatine tonsils (which are visible when the mouth is opened) and the pharyngeal tonsils (not visible when the mouth is opened wide). They are located behind the nostrils in the oral cavity and in some patients do not produce any symptoms in others they lead to constant infections.

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Table of contents:

  1. What do we know about the tonsils?
  2. Surgery to remove the tonsils

Many parents and adults wonder whether excision of the tonsils is necessary? The decision to remove them is made by an ENT doctor.

What do we know about the tonsils?

Thetonsils, which are clusters of immune cells, perform their function of defending the body against micro-organisms until around the age of seven. It is not recommended to cut them out before the age of two, but after about ten years they disappear on their own.

When the tonsils become a source of danger to the patient's health and life, it may be necessary to remove them. Continuous infection of the tonsils, their enlargement, which leads to problems with breathing, swallowing food and liquids, qualifies the patient for their removal. Other symptoms indicating a possible decision to remove them include chronic recurrent sore throats, malocclusion, bad breath, sleep apnoea, abscesses and others. Infected tonsils can also lead to frequent ear infections, speech problems and even hearing loss.

Treatment for tonsillectomy

Prior to the tonsillectomy procedure, the ENT specialist will take a very thorough history of the patient, after which additional tests will be ordered. Before the date of the surgery, the patient will be advised which medications he cannot take and how he should prepare for the surgery. On the day of the procedure, he or she should be fasting, with full medical records beforehand. Ideally, he or she should be accompanied by someone, as he or she should not go home alone after the procedure. Prior to the procedure, the patient will be given an intravenous puncture, after which the patient is put to sleep (general anaesthesia). The tonsils are removed by the doctor, through the mouth and the bases of the tonsils are burned. The entire procedure takes up to 60 minutes.

Causes-of-tummy-clipping, Course-of-treatment-removal-of-migdalides, Tonsils-pharyngeal-and-palatineWhen is it necessary to remove tonsils in children? photo: panthermedia

After awakening, the patient's condition is examined and when all is well, the patient can go home. He or she should follow the ENT surgeon's advice and should not, among other things: take aspirin or other blood-thinning drugs, drink hot drinks, etc. Each patient is treated on an individual basis and different post-operative symptoms may occur. If any worrying symptoms appear, they should be reported to the doctor. If a child has a temperature, rash or infectious disease before the tonsillectomy, he or she must not come to the surgery and the surgery must be postponed.