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Tonsil removal - what to ask your doctor

Definition

Your child may have throat infections and need surgery to remove the tonsils (tonsillectomy). These glands are located at the back of the throat. The tonsils and the adenoid glands can be removed at the same time. The adenoid glands are located above the tonsils, in the back of the nose.

Below are some questions you may want to ask your child's health care provider to care for your child after surgery.

Patient Education Video: Tonsillectomy

Alternative Names

What to ask your doctor about tonsil removal; Tonsillectomy - what to ask your doctor

Questions

Patient Education Video: Before a child's tonsil or adenoid surgery

Questions to ask about having tonsillectomy:

  • Why does my child need a tonsillectomy?
  • Are there other treatments that can be tried? Is it safe not to get tonsils removed?
  • Can my child still get strep throat and other throat infections after tonsillectomy?
  • Can my child still have sleep problems after tonsillectomy?

Questions to ask about the surgery:

  • Where is the surgery done? How long does it take?
  • What type of anesthesia will my child need? Will my child feel any pain?
  • What are the risks of the surgery?
  • When does my child need to stop eating or drinking before the anesthesia? What if my child is breastfeeding?
  • When do my child and I need to arrive on the day of the surgery?

Questions for after tonsillectomy:

  • Will my child be able to go home on the same day as surgery?
  • What type of symptoms will my child have while they are healing from surgery?
  • Will my child be able to eat normally when we get home? Are there foods that will be easier for my child to eat or drink? Are there foods that my child should avoid?
  • What should I give my child to help with pain after the surgery?
  • What should I do if my child has any bleeding?
  • Will my child be able to do normal activities? How long will it be before my child is back to full strength?

Patient Education Video: After your child's tonsil or adenoid surgery

Gallery

Tonsillectomy
The tonsils are made up of lymphoid tissue and help fight against infections. However, some people with larger tonsils, particularly in children, may have many sore throats and ear infections, or trouble breathing. In these cases, surgical removal of the tonsils, a tonsillectomy, can be beneficial.

References

Mitchell RB, Archer SM, Ishman SL, et al. Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children (Update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;160(1_suppl):S1-S42. PMID: 30798778 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30798778/.

Told TN. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. In: Fowler GC, ed. Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 66.

Wetmore RF. Tonsils and adenoids. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 411.

Wilson J. Ear, nose and throat surgery. In: Garden OJ, Parks RW, eds. Principles and Practice of Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 26.

Last reviewed June 6, 2021 by Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..