More Tonsillectomies than necessary
Frequent throat infections often lead to doctors recommending that almonds be removed. Although tonsillectomies are no longer performed as often as they used to be, the number is still far too high, as recent study results show - especially in children.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham analyzed data from more than 1.6 million children from 2005 to 2016. It was found that out of 18,271 children who had undergone tonsillectomy within that period, only 11.7 percent met the requirements (frequent throat infections) that justify an operation in the first place.
Thousands of children are operated on for no good reason
On November 6, 2018, the study appeared in the British Journal of General Practice . In it, the researchers wrote that every year 32,600 children have to endure a completely useless tonsillectomy. The costs amount to 36.9 million pounds.At the same time, many children who would benefit from such an operation will not be operated on. Of the 16,764 children who suffered from a throat infection so frequently that tonsillectomy could help them with conventional medicine, only 13.6 percent had surgery.
Guidelines for tonsillectomy in children
The current guidelines for tonsillectomy suggest that a child may have either more than seven documented throat infections in the last year, more than five annual throat infections in two consecutive years, or more than three annual strep throat infections for three consecutive years.However, the scientists found that among the operated children 12.4 percent had five to six throat infections in one year (not more than seven as prescribed). 44.7 percent had only two to four throat infections and almost 10 percent even had only a sore throat.
The number of throat infections decreases in children alone
Dr. Tom Marshall, a professor of general medicine at the University of Birmingham , said:"Previous research has shown that in children, throat infections usually become less again on their own. Even if children in one year often suffer from throat infections, these inflammations decrease numerically in the following years without interventions. "Only if children really have very many strep throat per year, can a slightly faster improvement in the symptoms be observed thanks to an Tonsillectomies, so that here a tonsillectomy from the point of view of conventional medicine could be justified.
Mandible surgery (Tonsillectomies) rarely makes sense in children
However, if children have a lower incidence of strep throat per year (less than five to seven), they will not benefit from surgery, as experience has shown that the number of inflammations will diminish over the following years either way.Professor Marshall even doubts that an tonsillectomy could ever be meaningful and helpful to children. Yes, children with tonsillectomy may be more damaged, as these operations may promote the development of chronic adult disease.
Increased risk of asthma and respiratory infections after tonsillectomy
The risk of asthma and adult respiratory infections appears to be increasing in operated children, according to a study published in July 2018 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on 1.2 million children . The investigation, however, found numerous critics, among other things because it had not taken into account the reasons for the tonsillectomy and the researchers were not doctors.However, what is rarely considered in all the discussions surrounding the usefulness of tonsillectomy is: Why is there such a high frequency of throat infections? Why do the throat and palate tonsils swell and inflame so often?
What is the reason for frequent throat and tonsillitis?
According to numerous reports of experience and also according to our own experiences, a milk intolerance is often the trigger here. The susceptibility to infection of children decreases, ear infections also hardly occur. (It's not lactose intolerance, but more likely a reaction to milk protein).If one does not consider this possible cause, it may be that after tonsillectomy no more tonsillitis occur, but the number of respiratory infections does not decrease. If one then strips dairy products, the child is suddenly much better off. The constant mucus of the respiratory tract is gone - and once it comes to colds, then it is only a matter of a short-term and no longer a weeks of torture.
Of course, dairy products do not have to be the cause of every child, but it pays to think about it and, if necessary, try it out for a few months!
Probiotics reduce the risk of tonsillitis
Other possible causes of excessive tonsillitis are an overall weakened immune system, possibly a lack of nutrients or an unbalanced intestinal flora. Corresponding measures are then aimed at strengthening the immune system, at resolving possible deficiencies in vital substances (zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C, etc.) and at symbiotic control of the intestinal flora with suitable probiotics.With regard to probiotics, a study was published in 2016 which showed that taking a particular probiotic strain ( Streptococcus salivarius BLIS K12) in 88% of subjects (children) resulted in no throat infection during the 90 days of probiotic use had suffered more. In the placebo group, only 22 percent of children remained without infections.
Even in the nine months after the end of the study, when the children had long since stopped taking probiotics, the probiotics group showed significantly fewer infections than they had before taking it and also compared to the placebo group.
If your child has caught an infection then you will find gentle home remedies for relief .