Tonsillectomy (Child)
This webpage will give you information about a
tonsillectomy. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or
other relevant health professional.
What are the tonsils?
The tonsils are part of a
group of lymphoid tissues (like the glands in your neck) that help
to fight off infection from germs that are breathed in or
swallowed.
Tonsillitis happens if the tonsils become infected (see figure
1). For children, a tonsillectomy is recommended when the child has
had at least four attacks each year for two years in a row.
Figure 1: Tonsillitis
What are the benefits of surgery?
A tonsillectomy will prevent your child from getting tonsillitis
and the resulting pain, fever and difficulty swallowing.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
Surgery is the only dependable way to stop tonsillitis that
keeps on coming back. In children, a long course of antibiotics may
break a cycle of frequent infections or the tonsillitis may simply
stop after a few years.
What does the operation involve?
The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic.
Your surgeon will perform the tonsillectomy through your child’s
mouth. They will cut or peel the tonsil away from the layer of
muscle underneath it. They will then stop the bleeding.
What complications can happen?
1 General complications of any operation
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection in the surgical wound
2 Specific complications of this operation
- Small pieces of the tonsil may be left behind
- Lingual tonsillitis
How soon will my child recover?
Your child should be able to go home the following day.
Sometimes a tonsillectomy is done as a day case (no overnight stay
in hospital).
The pain will last for up to two weeks. It will tend to be worse
first thing in the morning.
Your child will need to stay off school and away from groups of
people for two weeks after the operation. This is to help prevent
throat infections while your child’s throat is still healing.
Summary
If left untreated, tonsilitis can cause complications. Surgery
is the only dependable way to stop tonsillitis that keeps on coming
back.
Acknowledgements
Author: Miss Ruth Capper MD FRCS (ORL-HNS)
Illustrations: Medical Illustration Copyright © 2007 Nucleus
Medical Art. All rights reserved. www.nucleusinc.com.
This document is intended for information purposes only and
should not replace advice that your relevant health professional
would give you.
Copyright © 2008 EIDO Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on
this website is produced by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by
Ramsay Health Care UK.
The intellectual property rights to the
information belong exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.
You may not copy, print out, download or
otherwise reproduce any of the information other than for your
personal, non-commercial use.
The information should not replace advice that
your relevant health professional would give you.
Hospitals offering this treatment
- Ashtead, Surrey, Ashtead Hospital
- Bingley, Yorkshire Clinic
- Chelmsford, Springfield Hospital
- Chorley, Euxton Hall Hospital
- Colchester, Oaks Hospital
- Doncaster, Park Hill Hospital
- Gloucester, Winfield Hospital
- Halesowen, West Midlands Hospital
- Hitchin, Pinehill Hospital
- Kettering, Woodand Hospital
- Ormskirk, Renacres Hospital
- Orpington, Bromley Private Patient Unit
- Peterborough, Fitzwilliam Hospital
- Preston, Fulwood hospital
- Reading, Berkshire Independent Hospital
- Salford, Oaklands Hospital
- Sawbridgeworth, Rivers Hospital
- Stafford, Rowley Hospital
- Torquay, Mount Stuart Hospital
- Truro, Duchy Hospital