The tonsils and adenoids are part of the immune system and fight off bacteria and viruses that enter the body through the nose and mouth. For the most part, they do a good job keeping us from getting sick. However, when they become overwhelmed, they can harbor harmful bacteria and cause other problems. Tonsils are more active during the growth and development phases of childhood, which is why they are naturally larger in children compared to adults.
Tonsils and adenoids are located in the back of the throat; and when fighting infections, they often get large, red, and sore. When frequently fighting off infection, bacteria can hide in the deep crevices of the tonsils and cause recurrent strep throat, chronic tonsillitis, ear infections, and even abscesses that are hard to get rid of with antibiotics. Even if they aren’t infected, large tonsils and adenoids can cause difficulty with breathing, swallowing, and sleeping. It’s not uncommon for kids with enlarged tonsils to snore at night or have poor-quality sleep. School and daily activity performance can suffer along with overall health.
When the tonsils and/or adenoids start to cause these problems, removal may be necessary. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are surgeries that remove the tonsils and adenoids. They are often done together but may be done separately depending on the specific situation. When the tonsils are removed, other parts of the immune system take over so there is no compromise to overall health. Overall health and wellbeing improve as the individual has fewer infections and often improved quality sleep.
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are done under general anesthesia. Younger children are frequently put to sleep with anesthetic gas and an IV is placed after they are asleep. Most patients go home a few hours after surgery. The recovery period from a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy can run from around 10 days to 2 weeks for most people. Children tend to recover more quickly from these procedures compared to adults. Pain medicine is often needed to alleviate a very sore throat after surgery and swallowing may be uncomfortable for a short time.