Is it dangerous to have tonsillectomy in children?

Tonsils are a defensive tissue in the throat of the human body and have good immunity. Therefore, tonsils are also called the "natural guard" of the human body. During childhood, tonsils are easily invaded by external bacteria and viruses, causing infection, leading to tonsillitis, with symptoms of redness, swelling, high fever and pus discharge. And the symptoms will recur repeatedly, so will it be harmful to children if their tonsils are removed?

Risks of tonsillectomy in children:

1. In childhood, it is an active immune organ that contains lymphocytes at various stages of development, such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, etc. Therefore, it not only has humoral immunity, producing various immunoglobulins, but also has certain cellular immunity. The immunoglobulin IgA produced by tonsils has strong immunity and can inhibit the adhesion of bacteria to the respiratory mucosa, inhibit the growth and spread of bacteria, and also has a neutralizing and inhibitory effect on viruses. IgA can also enhance the function of phagocytes through complement activation. These are most active between the ages of two and five.

2. From an immune point of view, tonsils should not be removed casually due to their immune effects on the body. Enlarged tonsils in children are a normal physiological phenomenon. If the enlargement does not affect breathing and swallowing and does not cause serious clinical manifestations, they should not be removed. You can use the Bian Tao Kang Che Yu combination. For external use only, stick it on the neck, no swelling or pain, very effective. Because removal may affect the local immune response and reduce the body's ability to fight infection.

3. If tonsillitis recurs, hinders breathing and swallowing, and causes diseases such as rheumatism and nephritis, it should be removed in time. Generally, tonsillectomy should be performed on children after the age of four, and it is more appropriate to wait two to three weeks after the inflammation subsides. However, if the attacks are too frequent and you cannot wait too long, you may consider surgery a few days after the attacks subside.

The functions of tonsils:

1. Immune function

Babies obtain antibodies from their mother's placenta before birth, but these antibodies disappear within 3 to 6 months after birth. The process of forming their own antibodies is completed at around 4 years old. The tonsils of children under 4 years old are like a "vaccination" site. The result of the response to antigen stimulation is proliferation of lymph follicles leading to hyperplastic hypertrophy of the tonsils. This is a manifestation of compensatory function, not a pathological condition, and should not be removed. Even if the enlargement affects breathing or swallowing, only the adenoids and one side of the tonsils can be removed to maintain the important function of "preventive injection". After the age of 4, the tonsils of older children are still the same as other lymphoid tissues, and can especially secrete IgA, which has a protective effect on the lower respiratory tract.

2. Tonsils also have phagocytic function

Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were used to examine three types of tonsils with repeated inflammatory attacks, infection foci, or hypertrophy, confirming the presence of two types of macrophages, namely mononuclear macrophages and dendritic cells. The distribution density of these two types of cells in and under the lymphoepithelium is similar, and both have the function of phagocytizing foreign antigens.

3. Tonsils also have nerve reflex functions

The human body's immune tissues are connected to the nervous system, and at least several physiologically active substances, including catecholamines, have this connection. The autonomic and sensory nerves that innervate the tonsils are pathways by which the immune system transmits information directly to the central nervous system. Tonsils, like lymphatic tissues such as the spleen and lymph nodes, are controlled by a variety of neuropeptides.

4. The influence of tonsils on endocrine

The tonsils are closely related to the thyroid gland. Inflammed tonsils can have a toxic effect on the thyroid gland, causing goiter and hyperthyroidism. Some people also believe that tonsil lesions first directly affect the adrenal cortex and pituitary gland, and then indirectly affect the thyroid gland. Tonsils may also contain endocrine hormones that inhibit development and growth, or regulate calcium ion and carbohydrate metabolism.

5. Tonsils have a digestive function

In terms of physiological relationship, tonsils seem to belong to the organs of the digestive system. During the digestion process, a large number of monocytes are formed in the tonsils and enter the oral cavity, and they have the function of producing phagocytic bacteria and enzymes. There are Waber's glands in the superior tonsillar fossa, which are a group of tubular mucous glands consisting of 20-25 mucous gland structures. Their common ducts are distributed to the tonsillar capsule and open on the surface of the tonsil. Their secretions are believed to help digest food residues in the tonsillar fossa. After tonsillectomy, patients may experience dry throat symptoms, which may be related to the removal of the gland. The purulent inflammation of this gland is also one of the causes of peritonsillar abscess.