Do I need my tonsils taken out? Or what else do they do?

Question

I have a sore throat about 4-6 times a week. It has been doing this for about a month. So do I need my tonsils taken out? I also heard that they dont do that so much anymore so what do they do now days?

Answer 1

Perhaps the sore throat is due to some allergy.
From personal experience tonsils are removed when one has recurring throat infections such as tonsilitis. This is when your tonsils are swollen and ulcer-like things appear on them. it's not so much a sore throat but an inablitity to swallow, eat, and talk.

check with a medical professional. They'd give you the best answer.

Answer 2

Tonsillitis is a childhood condition. Thru out my childhood years until I was 26, I suffered this affliction of tonsillitis. My throat is so sore, making it difficult to swallow. I constantly had pharynxitis. I had febrile episodes in the 101's and have chills because of it. Nobody suggested tonsillectomy until I was 26. The surgeon told me they were so enlarged I must have suffered growing up.

Tonsillectomy should be considered when tonsillitis attacks are so frequent or severe that they affect a child's general health or interfere with school, hearing, or breathing. However, some physicians believe tonsillectomies are done more often than necessary, so get a second opinion when there is any doubt.

Specifically, the guidelines for surgery are:

7 or more episodes of tonsillitis in 1 year
5 or more episodes per year over a 2-year period
Enlarged tonsils that interfere with breathing
An abscess in the tonsils
Grossly asymmetric tonsils

If you have no difficulty in swallowing. And if you are able to talk. I also had laryngitis because of it. I had to stay away from ice cold drinks thru out my life. Or I'd suffer. Since my surgery, I'm able to drink ice cold drinks. Probably all you need is some specific antibiotics for the common Bacterial Strep Throat. You can suck on sore throat lozenges like Cepacol which anesthesized the throat and relieve the soreness.

Otherwise, go to an EENT specialist to see if they are enlarged and inflammed and if they need to be taken out. He would most likely do a throat culture to determine if they are infected and what bacteria.



The tonsils are two balls of tissues way in the back of your throat. They are part of the body's infection-fighting system to keep you from getting sick. The tonsils' job is to catch germs before they cause infections in the throat, mouth and sinuses. All forms of Tonsillitis are very CONTAGIOUS.


If the tonsillitis is caused by strep bacteria, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics, specific medicine that kills bacteria. It's very important to take the antibiotics exactly as you're supposed to and finish the entire prescription to kill all the bacteria.

If the tonsillitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics won't work and your body will fight off the infection on its own. Sometimes kids get an operation to remove their tonsils, but only if their tonsils get infected a lot (Chronic Tonsillitis) during the year or are so big they make it hard for the kid to breathe at night.



Here are some other signs that bacteria or a virus is infecting your tonsils:

redder-than-normal tonsils
a yellow or white coating on the tonsils
a funny-sounding voice
swollen glands in the neck
bad breath


If you get tonsillitis, here are some tips that can help you feel better:

Drink plenty of fluids.
Eat smooth foods, including flavored gelatin, soups, ice-pops, and applesauce.
Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods.
Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in the room where you spend the most time.
Rest.
Gargle frequently with bacteria killing Breathx mouthwash, or Listerine.
Suck on Cepacol or some other sore throat lozenges. This anethesized the sore throat.
The soreness was so severe. I painted chloramphenique to the throat.
I take Tylenol for the fever.

Answer 3

You have to be diagnosed with either chronic tonsillitis or strep throat by your doctor for a period of time before they refer to ENT. I was diagnosed strep at least once a month for about 3 yrs before they referred me to ENT. My ENT was very impressed with the size of my tonsils and were surprised that they weren't a breathing obstruction. I was 24 y/o when I had my tonsillectomy/adnoidectomy. It sucked very bad but I've only had 1 or 2 sore throats for the past 3 yrs.
Now a days they don't chop shop the tonsil because of the huge impact they have in conquering sickness (very instrumental within the immune system). Remember it is a surgery.
Concerning your sore throat...it might be post nasal drip from allergies. When in doubt see/call dr.

Answer 4

A tonsillectomy done with a scalpel (cutting) is not done much anymore. There are better ways of treatment such as Somnoplasty. I had Somnoplasty and it is wonderful. It works by radio frequency waves to heat the offending area and kill the cells to reduce their size. I had this treatment and there's no bleeding or very little. And I was not sore or anything. Just about three days and I did very well. Pain was non-existent, but there is some mild soreness to the area, but not much and not for long: Click here to read about Somnoplasty: http://www.somnoplasty.com/ Good Luck!

Answer 5

I had the same problem a while back and found out my tonsils are cratered and therefore hold food, bateria etc. more than normal. Uck I know. The throat always hurt upon waking etc; my doctor suggested I gargle more than normal with Listerine to kill off any stuff stuck in there whether food or not. If persists, yes do see somebody professional about it. Strep can lead to bronchitis and even to pneumonia.

Answer 6

Know the asteroid wellhead tonsil stones them for many years and it's been title not eventually.

Best decision I've ever made! I was shocked by the way of getting out the stones out. It was so easy, but more importantly, painless. I really liked the little trick he had for preventing gag reflex. He have one happy customer here.

Cure Tonsil Stones Permanently?

Answer 7

It's true. This procedure isn't done as much nowadays, now that we have better antibiotics. But there are still some instances when severe tonsilitis is corrected by removing them. Only your doctor can tell you what's wrong with your throat and what treatment is necessary.

Answer 8

I had my tonsils taken out when I was about 6 for the same reason, but yeah, now a days they don't usually take them out unless it's for a really good reason because they've found uses for them in our immune system. You should still seek a professional medical opinion though...

Answer 9

Probably Or Maybe You Just Need Some Antibiotics

Answer 10

To my knowledge, they no longer remove tonsils. When I had tonsilitis, they just gave me penicillin.