When I was about ten years old, I kept getting tonsillitis, and I had to go into the hospital to have them taken out . When my niece was a little girl, she kept getting tonsillitis, but her doctor wasn't in any hurry to take them out . Now I've learned that doctors try "wait and see" with tonsils instead of taking them out right away . Is this safe ? I know that tonsillitis is caused by badly infected tonsils, and carrying badly infected tonsils around in your throat can't be safe . What's wrong with a good old -- fashioned tonsillectomy ?
2007-04-11 04:06:35 · 11 answers · asked by I_hate_being_single 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Well, the body doesn't really come with extra or removable parts - everything is there for a reason. Tonsils are an important part of the body's defense mechanism. The tonsils catch the cold or illness before it hits the lungs or other areas of the body and the tonsils are easier to heal than other parts of the body - so they really should stay where they grew.
I think people thought removing them was a good idea because they caught a lot of infection and then they realized how much larger a problem they had when more and more people came in with pnemonia or other lung infections that were a lot harder to cure.
Peace!
2007-04-11 04:11:40 · answer #1 · answered by carole 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reason that they now "wait and see" is that the finally realised that "huh God must have actually had a reason for putting those little things in the body!" Tonsills are an important part of the immune system in that they are like the front line defense. When bacteria are inhaled the are recieved by the tonsils which then help the body create an antibody to that bacteria. Many times the tonsills become infected due to a lack in the overall immune status of the individual.
2007-04-11 04:12:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of doctors won't remove tonsils unless they present an infection hazard or get infected more than four times a year. Since you seem to fall into this category, it shouldn't be too hard to find a doc to hack those suckers out. If the first one won't, try going and seeing an ear/nose/throat doc. They are more experienced in dealing with nasty tonsils and would probably more than happy to take them out for you. Btw, I can relate, I had mine out last year after seven years of constant strep throat. It was the best thing that ever happened to me!!
2016-05-17 09:15:24 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are risks with surgery and should be a last resort. Have your neice to go a different doctor to get a second opinion.
I had my tonsils out when I was 20 (8 years ago). I had strep/tonsilitis 5 or 6 times (in 6 months) before they put it out as an option. I haven't had it since.
Good Luck!
2007-04-11 04:10:28 · answer #4 · answered by Jo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I was born in the early 70's and my doctor did the whole wait and see method while all my friends were getting tonsillectomys. I ended up having mine removed when i was around 26 and I certainly wished I'd had it done when I was a kid. It's miserable to go through as an adult, they should have done it 20 years before! Mine never got any better and stayed infected.
2007-04-11 04:34:11 · answer #5 · answered by JeninLa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beats me. I had my tonsils (and adenoids) removed when I was 4. But you don't carry around infected tonsils all the time. You take the antibiotic and they are supposed to clear the infection. If someone's tonsils are constantly infected and antibiotics won't kill the bacteria, then yes, they need to come out.
2007-04-11 04:10:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tonsils are like lymph glands to the immune system, they serve an important function.
you do not die from tonsilitis, so taken them out is radical.
I had lots of trouble with tonsils as a kid, but I am 60 now and still have them.
They didn't bother me after puberty.
2007-04-11 04:13:18 · answer #7 · answered by bob shark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They used to take them out almost by default, then they went the other way and rarely removed them (I still have mine despite lots of trouble). Evidently, the theory was that if they're there, it was probably for a reason....
Of course, now, they're back to removing them. I've had two grandsons (different docs - ENTs) have both tonsils and adenoids removed in the past year.
Science is change, so we do things one way until we learn of something better....
2007-04-11 04:14:44 · answer #8 · answered by ever_amused 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lately they found out that tonsils are part of the immunologic system.
2007-04-11 04:09:59 · answer #9 · answered by Brenno 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lately it is found that tonsills are immunogenic importance in human. so all the efforts should be made to preserve it not to remove it.
so now a days surgeons dont operate on it.
2007-04-11 04:19:50 · answer #10 · answered by vindiesl 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋