Tonsillectomy complications in children

Tonsils may not seem to have any special function, but in fact they are an indispensable part of our body because they are a type of lymphatic organ that can produce certain antibodies to help resist external viruses. At the same time, tonsils are located in the throat, which can effectively prevent external bacteria and viruses from entering our body. However, if tonsils need to be removed due to illness, it will actually have certain sequelae on the body.

After tonsillectomy, there are several situations that often occur, including continuous bleeding. It is normal to have a small amount of bleeding after tonsillectomy. If the amount of bleeding is heavy, especially if blood is vomited out of the mouth, you must consult a doctor in time to find the bleeding site and then perform emergency treatment, or apply pressure to stop the bleeding, and then sew again. This is something you need to know. Another is local infection. For example, if the body temperature remains high after surgery, above 38.5 degrees, or if the body temperature is still not normal three days after surgery, and local lymph nodes are swollen and painful, you must be careful whether there is a local infection. Another thing is the systemic condition. Aspiration may sometimes occur during surgery. For example, breathing bloody saliva into the respiratory tract can cause aspiration pneumonia. This is also an issue that everyone needs to be very vigilant about.

What causes tonsillitis in children?

Compared with adults, infants' nasopharynx and pharynx are relatively narrow and vertically located. The nasopharynx is rich in lymphoid tissue, the development of which varies with age. There is a tonsil on each side of the pharynx. In the neonatal period, they are mostly hidden between the palatine arches of the pharynx. The glandular crypts and blood vessels are underdeveloped. By the end of one year old, they gradually grow larger with the development of lymphatic tissue throughout the body. They reach their peak development at the age of 4-10 years old and gradually degenerate at the age of 14-15 years old. This explains why tonsillitis is common in school-age children but rare in infants under 1 year old.

Group B Streptococcus is the main pathogen. Non-hemolytic streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, influenza bacilli and adenovirus can also cause this disease. Mixed infections of bacteria and viruses are also common. In recent years, cases of anaerobic infection have also been found.

The above pathogens usually exist in the mouth and tonsils of normal people without causing disease. When certain factors reduce the systemic or local resistance, the pathogens will "take advantage of the opportunity" and invade the body, or at this time, the original bacteria may multiply and cause disease. Cold, humidity, excessive fatigue, and inhalation of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) can all be triggers.

Children with malnutrition, rickets, indigestion, lack of exercise, and allergies are prone to tonsillitis due to their reduced body defense capabilities. Children with primary immunodeficiency or acquired immunodeficiency have a low ability to resist pathogenic microorganisms and are more likely to suffer from acute tonsillitis.