Tonsillectomies, once a routine part of childhood healthcare in the United States, are now performed less frequently and only for specific medical reasons. From the early 1900s through the 1960s, tonsil removal was common practice to prevent repeated throat infections, especially before antibiotics were widely available. The number of tonsillectomies peaked in the late 1950s, with over 1.4 million procedures done in a single year.
The understanding of tonsils has changed over time. Tonsils are located on either side of the throat and play an important role in the immune system by trapping viruses and bacteria and helping to build long-term immune memory. This function is particularly important during childhood as the immune system develops.
With advances in medicine and increased use of antibiotics, doctors have shifted away from routinely removing tonsils. Instead, they now recommend tonsillectomy for more selective reasons. These include cases where enlarged tonsils interfere with breathing or cause obstructive sleep apnea—a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep—and when children experience frequent throat infections over several years or develop complications such as abscesses.
Medical providers today weigh the benefits and risks of tonsillectomy on an individual basis. While surgery can relieve chronic problems for some patients, it also comes with risks like pain, bleeding, possible complications from anesthesia, uncomfortable recovery periods, and potential financial costs depending on insurance coverage. For children who suffer from severe and frequent infections or who do not respond well to other treatments, surgery may still be recommended.
“The bottom line is we no longer view tonsils as useless, nuisance organs. But for some people in specific circumstances, tonsillectomy is still a solid and well-supported treatment,” according to UCLA Health experts.
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