Tonsillitis is one of the diseases many people are familiar with because it can occur in both children and adults. Treatment options range from medication to tonsillectomy. However, the decision to remove the tonsils is considered a last resort. If the symptoms are not severe, preserving the tonsils is a better option because removing them may cause adverse effects later on. The severity of these effects can be understood better by learning more about the tonsils.
What are tonsils and what benefits do they provide to the body?
Tonsils are lymph nodes located inside the human mouth. There are two tonsils, and their main function is to trap and destroy viruses and bacteria that enter the body through the respiratory tract. They act as the first line of defense to prevent pathogens from entering the body through the mouth. Because of this role in trapping pathogens, the tonsils often become infected and show symptoms, leading to tonsillitis, which causes body aches, sore throat, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Due to the beneficial role of the tonsils, removing them carries the risk of subsequent adverse effects.
What are the adverse effects of tonsillectomy on the body?
Research published in the otolaryngology medical journal JAMA studied data from over 1 million children who underwent tonsillectomy. It found that the risks from surgery were more severe than infections of the ear and throat. Patients who had their tonsils removed were three times more likely than normal individuals to develop allergies and respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, and influenza later on. Especially for children, tonsillectomy should be the last option to allow their immune system to develop fully and effectively resist or prevent diseases.
How severe must symptoms be to warrant tonsil surgery?
Since the tonsils play an important role in trapping and destroying pathogens, removing them increases the risk of infection and illness. Therefore, if the condition is not truly severe, doctors will not consider tonsillectomy and will try to treat with other methods for as long as possible. Severe tonsillitis symptoms that meet the criteria for surgery include:
- Risk of progressing to tonsil cancer
- Chronic tonsillitis that does not heal, occurring repeatedly several times a year and every year
- Enlarged tonsils blocking the airway
- Severe infection causing abscesses around the tonsils
- Tonsil stones causing bad breath and frequent sore throat
Safe tonsil surgery using laser
Currently, tonsil surgery is not only performed by traditional removal methods but also with more effective and safer innovations, such as laser surgery. This method is effective in managing chronic tonsil stones as well.
Intracapsular laser vaporization tonsillectomy is a laser tonsil surgery requiring general anesthesia. Patients will experience pain at the surgical site for one week after surgery but can eat normally. This surgical method is the Gold Standard Treatment for tonsil stone surgery.
Chronic tonsillitis may make many people want to have surgery to cure it as quickly as possible. In reality, if the symptoms are not severe enough to require surgery, trying medication and lifestyle adjustments with good self-care is a better option. Losing the tonsils, which trap and destroy pathogens, weakens the body and increases susceptibility to illness later. Ultimately, treatment for tonsillitis should be closely managed by specialists to ensure proper, effective, and safe care.
