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Tonsillectomy Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, November 2008.

Answers to questions about tonsillectomy

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

What should I give my child to eat and drink after a tonsillectomy?

Get your child to eat a normal diet as soon as possible and make sure that your child drinks fluids regularly.

Explanation

After a tonsillectomy your child will have a sore throat and find it painful to swallow during the first few days. Giving pain relief half an hour before meal times will make it easier to swallow. Start with soft or liquid food and don't give your child hot or spicy food for a few days, as these can irritate the healing wound.

Make sure your child's meals contain a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. A healthy diet will help your child recover quickly because the body needs a good source of nutrients to maintain a healthy immune system and to repair tissue. Fats and carbohydrates provide energy. A poor diet can increase your child's risk of developing an infection and delay healing.

Starchy foods such as bread and potatoes are the main source of carbohydrates. Milk and dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt are rich in protein, vitamin D and calcium. Meat, beans and pulses also provide protein. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Encourage your child to eat by keeping the meals varied and simple, and try to limit snacks between meals. For breakfast you could give your child a soft-boiled egg and toasted soldiers or a fruit smoothie. For lunch you could give him or her tomato soup with croutons and yoghurt or a piece of soft fruit (for example, a banana). In the evening you could give jacket potatoes with beans followed by fruit crumble with custard.

It's also important to get your child to drink regularly. Encourage your child to drink fruit juice, milk or water, and don't give fizzy drinks.

Further information

Sources

  • IPG150 Electrosurgery (diathermy and coblation) for tonsillectomy - guidance. NICE. www.nice.org.uk, accessed 27 December 2007
  • Lee WC, Sharp JF. Complications of paediatric tonsillectomy post-discharge. J Laryngol Otol 1996;110:136-140
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Is tonsillitis in children related to their parents smoking?

Research shows that if either parent smokes, their babies and children are more likely to have coughs, colds, ear infections and tonsillitis. As a result, they are more likely to need a tonsillectomy or an adenotonsillectomy.

Explanation

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, at least 40 of which are known or suspected to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). If you smoke cigarettes, not only are you damaging your health but you are also putting your children's health at risk.

Young children exposed to smoke at home have a higher risk of chest infections and middle ear infections. As a result, children of smoking parents are more likely to have tonsillitis.

Despite the harm second-hand smoke causes, it's estimated that four million people continue to smoke near children.

Giving up smoking can be difficult, but there is lots of help available from your GP or local smoking cessation classes. Smokers who get professional help, including nicotine replacement products and medicines, are four times more likely to successfully quit than people who try with willpower alone.

If you must smoke, try to do it outside. Never smoke in your child's bedroom, or when you are washing, dressing or playing with your child. Never smoke in the car when your children are in the car with you.

Further information

Sources

  • Sams C. Review: parental smoking increases risk of recurrent otitis media, middle ear effusion, and tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy in children. Evidence-Based Nursing 1998;1:124
  • Secondhand smoke: the impact on children - April 2006. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). http://newash.org.uk, accessed 27 December 2007
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What's the difference between a tonsillectomy, adenotonsillectomy and an adenoidectomy?

If only the tonsils are removed the operation is called a tonsillectomy. If both the tonsils and adenoids are removed the operation is called an adenotonsillectomy. If only the adenoids are removed the operation is called an adenoidectomy.

Explanation

The adenoids and tonsils are small lumps of tissue that help fight ear, nose and throat infections in younger children. The adenoids lie where the throat meets the back of the nose. The tonsils lie at the back of your child's throat, one at each side.

When children have a cold or a throat infection the adenoids and tonsils can become infected and swell up, causing symptoms such as a sore throat, headache and fever. They can also block the airways, making it difficult for your child to breathe, especially when asleep. This can cause sleep problems such as snoring. In severe cases they can stop your child breathing for a short time (known as sleep apnoea).

Swollen adenoids can block the eustachian tube, which is a tube that connects the back of the throat to the middle part of the ear. Blockage of the eustachian tube can lead to ear infections and a build-up of sticky fluid in the ear - called glue ear. This can make it difficult for your child to hear properly and, as a result, can cause learning problems.

Your doctor may recommend an adenoidectomy if your child suffers from sleep problems due to a blocked nose or has glue ear.

Your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy if your child suffers from frequent bouts of tonsillitis or has breathing problems caused by swollen tonsils.

Whether your child has both the adenoids and tonsils removed or just one or the other will depend on your child's specific medical problem and his or her age.

Further information

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Related topics

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This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by ENT specialist Mr Paul Tierney, MA, FRCS, FRCS (ORL-HNS) of Bristol ENT Partnership, and Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: November 2008

 

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