I had my tonsils removed when I was just about 4-years old. It was such a painful experience I still remember it. Tonsils are located in the throat and following surgery, swallowing is brutal. I don’t even remember having pleasure over ice cream and still hate ginger ale because it was the only thing I managed to sip. Tonsils react to pathogens entering the respiratory tract, which is why many kids experience chronic tonsilitis. Since they are so troublesome, and generally doctors feel they aren’t required in adulthood, millions of tonsillectomies are performed on children. However, a 2018 study suggests this is a procedure that could actually cause more illness for children in the future. (1)

Tonsils Play Key Role In A Child’s Immune System

Tonsils and adenoids play a key role in the development of a child’s immune system development and function. They help protect us against pathogens by stimulating other immune responses and acting as an early warning when we inhale or ingest pathogens. New evidence shows that tonsils and/or adenoid removal can alter the natural early life immune pathways which can have long-term effects impacting our adult health. Those of us who had surgery will be sorry to hear this news. (1)

Removing Tonsils Increases Incidence Of Illness

According to Dr. Sean Byars at the University of Melbourne, children who underwent tonsillectomies were three times more prone to have allergies or upper respiratory tract disease than those who maintain their tonsils. The study followed 1.2 million Danish individuals from birth to at least 10-years of age.

Patients who had their tonsils or adenoids removed prior to the age of 9 showed more incidence of illness or infection such as asthma, influenza, and pneumonia in subsequent years. When it came to adenoidectomies patients had twice as many of these diseases with the addition of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) and conjunctivitis.

Infections Still Persist

Ironically, the very conditions and symptoms the surgeries intended to avoid still persist following surgery. This includes breathing problems and chronic ear or sinus inflammation. As a result, short-term benefits are minimal while long-term risks actually increased. Since the study looked at over 1 million cases, it provides a strong case against tonsil removal.

Tonsil Removal Should Be Last Resort

Because of the results, Byars and his team are recommending doctors should consider alternative treatments before resorting to surgery. Even delaying surgery might allow a child to further develop their immune systems to help reduce the long-term effects of tonsil removal. “Given that tonsils and adenoids are part of the lymphatic system and play a key role both in the normal development of the immune system and in pathogen screening during childhood and early-life, it is not surprising that their removal may impair pathogen detection and increase risk of later respiratory and infectious diseases,” says the study.

With a better understanding that inflammation is a natural response, and par for the course for building up our immune systems, hopefully, more doctors will take their advice and spare kids the pain of surgery. After all, you can enjoy a bowl of ice cream any time, no need for surgery!