Think before you let your tonsils be removed

Suffering from colds and flus more often than usual is annoying and shows that the immune system is not working at its best.

One cause of this is having your tonsils removed as a child. This operation triple the risk of suffering from respiratory infections in adulthood.

Without tonsils increases the risk of infections and allergies

The researchers from the University of Melbourne (Australia), who have published their study in the journal Jama Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgerystate that removal also favors the development of allergies that affect the skin and eyes.

The study analyzed data collected in the medical records of 1.2 million Danish children over 20 years. Of these, 60,400 were operated on.

After reaching their 30th birthday, those participants who had undergone the operation had seen a doctor for colds, runny nose or bronchitis three times as often as people who had not had the operation.

But the consequences are not limited to mild illnesses. The intervened also suffer a increased risk of pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as asthma or emphysema.

The researchers also found a high tendency to suffer 28 different types of diseases, among them, parasitic infections, skin diseases, eye disorders…

Why are the tonsils removed?

Doctors usually propose the removal of the tonsils when the child repeatedly suffers from tonsillitis or otitis media.

The operation may consist of a tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils) or an adenoidectomy (removes the adenoids or vegetations located behind the nose above the roof of the mouth in the nasopharynx).

However, the tonsils and adenoids are not annoying or useless tissues, but rather play an important role in early immunity, as the defensive cells installed in them block the penetration of bacteria and viruses in the lung and throat.

Dr. Shaun Byars, director of the research, explained that they now have objective data on the consequences of the intervention and have a better understanding of the functions of immune tissue.

Look for alternatives to the operation

In light of the results of their study, the researchers advise that alternatives to surgery be sought.

In Spain, removals have been reduced in recent years, as most doctors are aware that the tonsils have a positive function, but too many interventions continue.

Often children are not operated on but receive antibiotics that They have side effects, among them, favoring the appearance of resistant bacteria.

Dr. Ramón Roselló proposes several natural treatments that require a little more attention and perseverance than simply taking a few pills, but that are effective:

Ensure good hydration by drinking plenty of vegetable juices and broths on sick days. Apply cold water wraps. Apply lemon juice on the tonsils, several times a day, for 48-72 hours. Gargle with a mixture of hot water and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts several times a day. Make them with lukewarm water and salt (one teaspoon per cup).

If these means do not work, it is indicated to resort to antibiotics.

Natural treatment can avoid evolution and repetition of tonsillitis or angina. The repetition and appearance of sleep apnea are the causes that currently lead children to the operating room.

The operation can be partial (by radiofrequency, part of the tissue is preserved) or total (the tonsils are completely removed).