The tonsils are pads of tissue on each side of the rear of the throat, part of the immune system that helps your child fight off infective pathogens. Due to a better understanding of the role of the tonsils, doctors perform fewer tonsillectomies than 65 years ago, but they are still one of the most common surgeries performed on people under the age of 18.
As pediatric ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists, the doctors at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates in Lawrence and Ottawa perform tonsillectomies only when medically necessary. As with any surgery, recovery is key to a successful procedure, so we’ve prepared a parents’ guide for what to expect after your child’s procedure as well as what you can do to ease their experience.
There are two primary reasons why we suggest tonsillectomy, since it’s no longer performed as a preventive measure.
The tonsils trap bacteria and viruses in tissue that’s rich with antibodies and white blood cells. It’s normal for tonsils to become inflamed when performing their duties, but swelling sometimes gets out of hand.
When your child has trouble breathing because of tonsil inflammation, we may recommend their removal, especially if your child experiences obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) because of the swelling.
Repeated episodes of tonsillitis, the infection of the tonsils, may be a reason to consider surgery. Typically, excessive infections are measured with one of these three parameters:
Frequent infections combined with excessive swelling may change our recommendations, depending on your child’s unique experience.
Generally, there’s about a two-week recovery period after your child’s tonsillectomy. Throat and ear pain can be substantial, with symptoms sometimes getting worse after surgery, before showing signs of improvement. This is normal.
The first few days of recovery are marked by tiredness as your child’s body responds to surgery. You should see a climb in energy after a few days. Most kids can return to daycare or school a week after their procedure, and back to full activities after two weeks.
White scabs form over the site of the removed tonsils, which will fall off at some point within the first 10 days after surgery. There may be minor bleeding in their saliva when the scabs detach.
Mouth breathing and snoring at night are a normal part of postsurgical swelling and it will clear up in about two weeks. A humidifier in their bedroom can help to keep their throat moist.
Surgery affects their voice, which may sound different for several weeks after their procedure. This, too, will eventually clear.
We’ll provide you with instructions about feeding your child after tonsil removal. The pain will affect their appetite and virtually all tonsillectomy patients will lose weight because of swallowing difficulties. As long as they continue to drink throughout, there’s no cause for alarm.
Contact Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates for more information or to investigate tonsil surgery for your child. Call our nearest office to request an appointment today.
