"Strep Throat and Tonsils"

Updated on October 12, 2009
K.G. asks from Hayes, VA
25 answers

My 9 Year old son has been getting strep throat 3 times a year for the last 4 years. The Ent wants to remove his tonsils and adnoids! Has anyone been through this and did it help with not getting strep throat?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

My husband and I have decided to wait to get his tonsils out. He never get streps until school starts, so we are going to wait to see how this year goes. If he gets it 2-3 times we are going to get them out over the holidays.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I would do it. I had to get mine out when I was 20!!! It's much worse later than earlier- and it really helped. I would much rather go through a lot of pain at once, and have it be the end than have to go through strep all the time. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.R.

answers from Raleigh on

My oldest daughter is 11 and she had a T and A last September. She is so much better off now with breathing, snoring, and no more strep throats. My 9 year old daughter is getting her T and A this September because she has been snoring since I brought her home from the hospital. She even snores when she is awake and she sleeps a lot and it is because her adenoids are so large. I think it is best to do it now, because they bounce back so quickly (and you won't have to worry with the strep throats anymore).

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from Charlotte on

Before doing the surgery, try going to a homeopathic doctor. They help the body heal itself. God made our bodies to heal itself, when we put the right things in it. Just see what they have to say, it's better than sugery.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.

answers from Charlotte on

I had terrible problems with my tonsils and adenoids - I got strep throat a lot, but this was as a young adult (late teens, early twenties). I finally got them out at about 22 I think, and I have not had strep throat since I don't think. It made a huge difference for me - especially in being able to breathe better. My doctor at the time said "your mother is going to so regret not having gotten your tonsils out earlier!" It's SO much easier as a child - they just give them aspirin and popsicles and they are over it very quickly. In my case, it was 10 days on codein, and then they hemorrhaged and I had to go to the emergency room and have it cauterized. So I would definitely recommend that you get his tonsils and adenoids out asap. God bless.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Asheville on

K.,

My son faced the same situation when he was 5. We went ahead and had the tonsils and adenoids removed. He has yet to have a case of strep. But, 5 years old is the very minumum age I would recommend it. Any younger and it would be a nightmare. They have to know and understand that when they wake up they are going to be hurting a little. I know there are alot of folks that oppose this kind of treatment, but it was a good choice for our family. We were so pro-active with surgery because of all of the risks involved with chronic strep. I , myself, have a leaky heart valve due to too many cases of strep that were left untreated. Good Luck to you.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.G.

answers from Roanoke on

I had strepthroat for 5 months straight back in 2005. Once the doc went in and took out my tonsils, I haven't been that sick since. A cold or allergies, but that's about it. My sons both have had their adnoids and tonsils removed for Sleep Apnea and strepthroat as well. They haven't had a problem either! Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.C.

answers from Raleigh on

I had strep throat alot as a child and when I was 15 they removed my tonsils. Since then I have not had any problems and have never had strept again. I will say that the older you get the harder the surgery is and if your son is headed in that direction I would do it now, rather than later. As for the adnoids, my daughter had hers taken out and it was a breeze, the tough part will be the tonsils. Hope this helps, good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.C.

answers from Miami on

My brother is 13 and he got strep even more frequently than that. It seemed like everytime I would call during the day he would be home at least once or twice a month and it was always strep. That was the deal for about probably 6 or 7 years. They took his tonsils out about 3 years ago and he hasn't had a dirty throat culture yet. I would definitely go though with the tonsils. I had my adnoids out when I was 5, I think, to help with frequent ear infections. I'm not sure what they would have to do with strep so I might ask about that but at the same time he probably knows what he's doing.

I take back what I said about adnoids. I talked to my mom and he had both taken out. So go for it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.D.

answers from Charlotte on

Hi K., my 5 year old went through constant sore throats & colds picking up from daycare. We averaged doctor visits minimum once a month during the cold months.

Last year we saw an ENT & the surgery was also recommended. She had both removed & ear tubes @ 4 yrs old. She didn't say much for about 3 days but, what a difference it made. It took about a week for her to get back to being herself. We rarely need to see her Ped.

I would highly recommend if your ENT has suggested.

Hope this helps you feel better making your decision.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Greensboro on

It will be the best thing for him. I know it is frightening to think of putting your child through that, but the surgery itself is minor, the recovery is painful, but he will feel better in the long run. My son, who is now 17, had this done at age 5 because he was getting a lot of episodes of strep and he has not had it since. I worked for an ENT as a medical assistant for 8 years and I saw the results first hand and I can only tell you that it will be worth it! Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Charlotte on

I have 5 children and our youngest is 2, she had both out two weeks ago because she was giving strep to her big brothers. She kept testing positive for strep and never had the symptoms but my four boys were getting the fever, throwing up, etc....They had strep three times each in a 3-4 month period of time. I personally have my tonsils (31) and my husband (37) does also. If your son is getting it again and again I would go ahead with the procedure and be done with it. It won't harm him in the long run but only help. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Well i am in this situation right now. My son has had strep 3 times in the last month. As soon as hes done with his meds it comes back about 3-4 days later today is the 3rd time. My wife is taking him to the doctors for some answers. I am wondering if taking out his tonssills out will help...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Asheville on

My 11 yr old had the same problem when he was about 5. It helped him a lot, I don't think he has had strep since. He used to get it at least twice in the winter, every winter. It isn't too bad and as long as he drinks lots and enjoys popcicles and ice cream, it should be fine. My 4 yr old just had it done three weeks ago.
Hope this helps!!
M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Greensboro on

I took my daughter to an ENT for chronic sinusitis. His only answer was to remove her adenoids, even when both of her CT scans say that the adenoids were "moderate." I know that doctors are supposed to know what they are talking about, but he did not convince me that the adenoids were the problem, so I did not let him do surgery. He was not willing to talk to me about other treatment methods. I really got the impression he was only willing to do surgery.

I really hope that you are not facing a doctor who only wants to cut. I would get a second opinion. I never heard of tonsils and adenoids being an agravator of strep.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Raleigh on

My nephew went through this and it definately helped!

Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Charlotte on

My 10 yr old daughter had strep 6 times in the past year. Our MD suggested a tonsilectomy also. I am a little weary but probably will have it done. She is miserable when she is sick and you have to realize she misses about a week of school each time she gets a strep throat. Personally, when i was 12 yrs old i had my tonsils removed and i didn't get sick nearly as much after they were removed.
Good Luck to You,
A. S. Waxhaw, NC

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.L.

answers from Raleigh on

Hi K.,

It helped me! I had problems with strep throat along with ear problems. I had my adenoids out when I was young but at the time (1980s) getting your tonsils out had gone out of favor and the doctors didn't recommend it. I continued to get strep throat 2-3 times a year. Finally when I was 21 I decided to get my tonsils out. Seven years later, I haven't had strep throat even once since the operation. The recovery was painful but well worth it. And hopefully with a 9-year-old the recovery won't be so bad. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Colorado Springs on

ya know...i work with a wellness company. as soon as i get home (on vacation) i'll look up in my book what we have that will help with those types of infections. there are many natural methods to help prevent rather than treatment after the fact. i'll find out and post then. i will be back at home tomorrow night some time. if i forget, please remind me. i truly want to see what we have that can help your family out.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Norfolk on

It helped me- when I was little I had strep all the time- after removing my tonsils and adnoids- I haven't had it since!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.W.

answers from Greensboro on

My parents were hesitant at first as well but since I had strep throat countless times each fall/winter they finally went through with it when I was 10 or 11 and to this day I have never been tested positive for strep since (I am now 37!). Really one of the best decisions they made so I would definetly support, it just from experience.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Greensboro on

I had strep throat A LOT as a kid. It was suggested at one point that I have my tonsils removed, I did not. It was recently explained to me that your tonsils keep things you breath from going into your body. So if you do have them removed you may be trading step thoat for something else, potentially worse. Hope this helps. Although I got strep throat as a child, I am fine now and am rarely sick.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.C.

answers from Hickory on

My son had problems with strep and sleeping so his ped suggested having his tonsils removed because they were unusually large and so were his adnoids, he was 5 when I had his tonsils removed and he hasn't had any throat problems since then and he now sleeps peacefully through the night. I hope that this helps you some with your decision for your child.

Pam

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Charlotte on

I used to get strep every year like clock work. At 14 I had my tonsils out and I have not has strep since. Plus his future wife will thank you for getting those adnoids out. I sware, sometimes I am tempted to do some kind of home procedure on my husband with all his snoring!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.F.

answers from Charlotte on

K. I am a nurse and I work with internal med Dr's and a FNP and we see a lot of children each day.This sounds like a very intelligent idea. I would get the opinion of another physician if you are still concern, but having the child's tonsils removed will not hurt him at all. Besides,would you rather have the child suffer with strep throat 3 times a year. Ouch!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Wilmington on

When I was 10 I was in the same boat as your son: repeatedly getting strep, on antibiotics, and then strep would strike again almost as soon as I finished the meds. It got so bad and I was so run down that I developed mono and became aneimic. So the summer between 5th and 6th grade I had my tonsils and adenoids removed and I haven't had strep since!! That was 20 years ago. The surgery now is outpatient and it is better to do it now when he is younger than when he gets older. Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions