Does Tonsillitis Have Any Long Term Side Effects?

Posted on Thu, 16 Jan 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 Answered on

Thu, 6 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, My daughter is 4 years. For last 1+ year she had nose block during sleep. Because of which she had cough sometimes, Fever sometimes. So he has been given antibiotics approximately 5 to 6 full courses in the last 1+ year. For last 4 weeks she has tonsills , initially the tonsillls was red, but now its only swollen. There are no Cough, Fever, difficulty in eating or anyother visible symptoms. But the tonsills is still there inspite of giving daily milk with turmeric, salt water gargling. Having the continuous tonsills is it anything to be worried, will it have any long term side effects ? The only visible thing now is, during sleep she is making snoring snound sometimes, whistle sound sometimes

Answered by Dr. Santosh Kondekar (21 hours later)

Brief Answer: all have tonsils.. Worry when it causes problems Detailed Answer: Hi Its normal to have tonsils and adenoids.. But the problem starts when they grow large enough to interfere with feeding breathing or weight gain. If the child has weight no less 14 kg for 4 yr age and has no appetite or weight or fever related issues... might be the treatment going on at present is fine. As tonsils often get infected and sometimes your doctor may start antibiotic for same. If the antibiotic need is more than 7 times ina year or has weight loss... your doctor may advised early surgery. As the child has snoring, your doctor may start decongestant for nose or adenoids in addition. But if snoring last s for months it’s likely that surgery will help. One good thing that both tonsils and adenoid can be removed by surgery in one go without any scars. Also it can be scrapped off by laser too. Both these will make him symptom free.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E