Tonsillectomy
by jmmillerMany people aren’t even sure what the tonsils do! They actually help to prevent infection. However, children with large tonsils can experience difficulty breathing at night, recurrent ear infections and sore throats.
Some experts feel that tonsillectomies are performed too often and are sometimes unnecessary. If your Doctor has recommended this procedure, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a second opinion. It is a minor surgery, but still a surgery where your child will be placed under general anesthesia.
Generally, if your child has had 7 or more episodes of tonsillitis within a year, or five episodes over two years, they should probably have their tonsils removed. Any reason is if the tonsils are enlarged to the point where they are interfering with the child’s breathing. This will give you an idea of whether or not your child should have their tonsils removed, but it is something that you must discuss with your child’s pediatrician as each case is different.
Before the surgery, explain to your child what the Doctor is going to do. Some children find it comforting to take a favorite toy to the hospital with them, and most Doctors will allow this.
During the surgery, the Doctor will hold the child’s mouth open and cut or burn away the tonsils. Your child is under anesthesia and won’t feel any pain. This kind of procedure will heal on its own and doesn’t require stitches, although your child will have a sore throat for a few days. It could take up to 2 weeks for them to fully recover. In most cases, the surgery is done as an outpatient procedure, allowing you to take your child home the same day.
Ice packs, eating ice cream and chewing ice cubes may all help to relieve the pain. For the first few days, you should serve soft, easy to chew foods. Try to avoid germs and illness for at least a week after the surgery, as your child may be more susceptible to an illness during this time.
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