Tonsillectomy is indicated in:
INDICATIONS They are divided into: A. ABSOLUTE 1. Recurrent infections of throat. This is the most common indication. Recurrent infections are fuher defined as: (a) Seven or more episodes in 1 year, or (b) Five episodes per year for 2 years, or (c) Three episodes per year for 3 years, or (d) Two weeks or more of lost school or work in 1 year. 2. Peritonsillar abscess. In children, tonsillectomy is done 4-6 weeks after abscess has been treated. In adults, second attack of peritonsillar abscess forms the absolute indication. 3. Tonsillitis. It causes febrile seizures. 4. Hyperophy of tonsils. It causes: (a) airway obstruction (sleep apnoea), (b) difficulty in deglutition and (c) interference with speech. 5. Suspicion of malignancy. A unilaterally enlarged tonsil may be a lymphoma in children and an epidermoid carcinoma in adults. An excisional biopsy is done. B. RELATIVE 1. Diphtheria carriers, who do not respond to antibiotics. 2. Streptococcal carriers, who may be the source of infection to others. 3. Chronic tonsillitis with bad taste or halitosis which is unresponsive to medical treatment. 4. Recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis in a patient with valvular hea disease Ref: Dhingra 7e pg 487.
Acute tonsillitis
Aphthous ulcers in the pharynx
Rheumatic tonsillitis
Physiological enlargement
Pharynx