- Lenmed Zamokuhle
- Netcare Parklane
- Netcare Waterfall/ Midrand
- Enquiries: info@joburg-ent.co.za
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1. When should tonsils be removed ?
A.When you have a number of episodes of tonsillitis as follows :
7 times in 1 year
5 times a year for 2 years in a row
3 times a year for 3 years in a row
B. When an episode is associated with pus that forms an abscess more than once (Quinsy)
C. When large tonsils cause other problems such as sleep apnea, a common disorder in which you briefly stop breathing many times a night. In the short term, sleep apnea makes you tired during the day. For kids, it can even make them hyperactive. If it’s not treated, it can be serious. It may lead to obesity, heart problems, and other issues.
D. Children who develop fits because of a high temperature. In this case having frequent infections can be damaging to the child’s development.
1. What do the Tonsils actually do?
Tonsils assist the body in its defense against incoming bacteria and viruses by helping the body to form antibodies. However when they turn around and are harmful to individuals, they should be removed.
2. Is tonsillitis contagious?
Yes it is contagious. Germs can spread directly by contact or by air. Practicing good hygiene is important.
3. Can large and painful tonsils be a sign of cancer ?
Yes it can be. However, the symptoms will include a sore throat that lasts a long time, difficulty swallowing, a lump in the neck, and unexplained weightloss. In general any sore throat that goes on longer than 2-4 weeks should be checked out.
4. What happens to untreated tonsillitis ?
When there is an acute infection which shows as pain, fever, swelling and redness of tonsils one should really get checked so that the appropriate treatment is given. When not treated the disease can have complications which can be around the tonsils e.g. abscesses that can spread into the neck and chest or complications that are far away e.g. infection spreading through the blood to other distant organs. Therefore care should be taken when there is an acute infection as explained above.
