Summer break is a popular time to schedule tonsillectomy so kids don’t miss out on valuable classroom work. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations performed on children, usually for obstructive sleep apnea or recurrent tonsil infections.
“Children need close to two weeks recovery time, so summer offers an ideal opportunity for tonsil removal,” said Wes Allison, M.D., physician with Advanced ENT & Allergy.
“Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between the ages of 3 and 7, when tonsils may play their most active infection-fighting role. As the child grows and the tonsils shrink, infections become less common,” Allison said.
Tonsillectomy is usually done as an outpatient procedure. Dr. Allison encourages your child to drink plenty of liquids (at least 2 to 3 ounces per hour while awake). Keeping the throat moist decreases discomfort and prevents dehydration.
Some signs and symptoms of tonsillitis:
- Swelling of the tonsils
- Redder than normal tonsils
- A white or yellow coating on the tonsils
- A slight voice change due to swelling
- Sore throat
- Uncomfortable or painful swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
- Fever and/or bad breath
