Is surgery required for enlarged tonsils?
Disease description:
I've had a severe cold for the past few days, which has led to inflamed and enlarged tonsils. I would like to know whether enlarged tonsils require surgical treatment.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lu Cheng
Whether tonsillar hypertrophy requires surgery depends on the severity of the condition and the individual patient's circumstances.
1. If the degree of tonsillar hypertrophy is mild and does not cause significant symptoms such as snoring, difficulty swallowing, or breathing difficulties, surgical treatment is generally not required. This may include cases of simple tonsillar hypertrophy or hypertrophy due to active lymphoid hyperplasia, which can be managed through observation, lifestyle modifications, and medical treatment.
2. If the tonsillar hypertrophy is severe and associated with recurrent infections, peritonsillar abscess, breathing difficulties, severe snoring during sleep, impaired swallowing or speech, serves as a focus for nearby or systemic organ diseases, or if there is a benign tumor present on the tonsil, surgical intervention should be considered.
