Why it's done

A tonsillectomy is used to treat:

• Recurring, chronic or severe tonsillitis
• Complications of enlarged tonsils
• Bleeding of the tonsils
• Other rare diseases of the tonsils

Tonsillitis

The tonsils are the immune system's first line of defense against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth. This function may make the tonsils particularly vulnerable to infection and inflammation. However, the tonsil's immune system function declines after puberty — a factor that may account for the rare cases of tonsillitis in adults.

A tonsillectomy may be recommended to prevent frequent, recurring episodes of tonsillitis. Frequent tonsillitis is generally defined as:

• At least seven episodes in the preceding year
• At least five episodes a year in the past two years
• At least three episodes a year in the past three years

The procedure may also be recommended if:

• A bacterial infection causing tonsillitis doesn't improve with antibiotic treatment
• An infection that results in a collection of pus behind a tonsil (tonsillar abscess) doesn't improve with drug treatment or a drainage procedure

Complications of enlarged tonsils

Tonsils may become enlarged after frequent or persistent infections, or they may be naturally large. A tonsillectomy may be used to treat the following problems caused or complicated by enlarged tonsils:

• Difficulty breathing
• Disrupted breathing during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea)

Other diseases or conditions of the tonsils

A tonsillectomy may also be used to treat other rare diseases or conditions of the tonsils, such as:

• Cancerous tissue (malignancy) in one or both tonsils or suspected malignancy
• Recurrent bleeding from blood vessels near the surface of the tonsils
• Severe bad breath (halitosis) related to debris in the crevices of tonsils