Question
My daughter has had tonsils since she was little, and she often has high fevers and coughs when she catches a cold. Now she’s 12 years old, and the tonsils in her throat are quite large. The doctor recommended removing them, but some people say it’s not necessary. I am very confused. If we don’t remove them, my daughter will continue to have fevers and coughs; but if we do remove them, I’m afraid she will suffer. She has had multiple drips and taken penicillin for anti-inflammatory, but the effect has been limited.
Answer
Enlarged tonsils are the body’s early warning for respiratory system diseases. Removing the tonsils may result in not discovering the early symptoms of respiratory system diseases in time. The tonsils are the first line of defense against harmful bacteria entering the body. Since your daughter has a weak constitution and a poor immune system, she is prone to catching colds, which can exacerbate the immune response of the tonsils. The sensitivity to medication may also decrease due to long-term use. Although removing the tonsils may reduce throat pain symptoms, it does not greatly improve cold symptoms, and the cold virus may directly enter the trachea.