How to Decide If Tonsils Should Be Taken Out

The tonsils are two thick pads at the back of the throat that offer some protection against viruses and bacteria that enter the mouth. As tonsils work to protect your body from infection, they sometimes become infected themselves. When tonsil infections (tonsillitis) or other problems with tonsils become frequent or severe, surgical removal (tonsillectomy) might be considered. Removal of the tonsils is most common in children, but adults can also have the procedure. As with other surgical procedures, problems can develop during or after a tonsillectomy, so you should weigh the benefits and risks before making a decision.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult with your doctor, and consider tonsil removal if you or your child has tonsillitis that does not get better with other treatment, the Mayo Clinic advises.

• 2

  Think about having a tonsillectomy if severe throat infections occur on a regular basis. If frequent infections are interfering with daily activities and causing pain and illness, the discomfort and inconvenience of surgery might be worthwhile. For children, seven or more infections in a year, five or more per year in a two-year time frame, or three or more yearly for three years, might be cause for tonsil removal.

• 3

  Consider a tonsillectomy if you or your child has enlarged tonsils that interfere with breathing, sleeping or swallowing. Enlarged tonsils can cause snoring and poor sleep quality that can lead to drowsiness in adults and behavioral problems in children, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery.

• 4

  Follow your doctor's advice if you have a tumor or cancer of the tonsils. These conditions might make a tonsillectomy necessary.

• 5

  Weigh the risks of tonsil removal. Reactions to anesthesia, excessive bleeding and infection are possible complications. Recovery can be painful for children and adults, but adults tend to have more pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Recovery times vary, but children might recover within two weeks, while adults sometimes experience pain for a month or more. Talk to your doctor to decide whether your situation warrants going through a tonsillectomy and recovery.