5 Signs Your Child's Tonsils Are Ready to Come Out
More than 530,000 tonsillectomies are performed annually in children under 15.1 But what are tonsils and adenoids, and when should you talk with your doctor about having them removed?
Tonsils are the oval-shaped pink masses of tissue in on both sides in the back of your throat. Adenoids are located in the upper part of the throat, but you can't really see them. Both organs are part of the body's defense against infections.
Tonsillitis or the infection of tonsils, is diagnosed when your child's tonsils are red and swollen with a yellow-white coating, and your child has a fever, sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Your son or daughter may also have swollen glands under their chin or in their neck.
It is not as easy to tell when your child's adenoids are enlarged. Some children are born with large adenoids, some children's adenoids swell when they have a cold or an infection. Constant adenoid swelling can lead to ear or sinus infections. Signs of enlarged adenoids are noisy or mouth breathing, or snoring at night.
In most cases, providers recommend "watchful waiting." Only give your kids antibiotics when necessary. Talk with your provider about surgery if your child shows any of the signs or symptoms below, and doesn't seem to be getting better over a period of weeks,1,2
- Choking, gasping or snoring loudly during sleep.
- Has difficulty swallowing especially when eating solid foods.
- Their speech is altered with or without an infection of the tonsils.
- They have repeated ear or sinus infections or sore throats.
- The glands below their chin remain swollen or tender for at least 6 months even after treatment.
Sources:
- American Academy of Otolaryngology &