since childhood i suffer from tonsils issue once in a year. i get fever, painfull swallowing, and weight loose. many times docs have told me that operation is its permanent cure. but i have never gone for operation advise.

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER. I am glad that you came to us for advice.

I cannot comment on the recommendation of the ENT specialist because I was not there. Much of the information that you shared is vague.

Let's begin with the tonsil issue. Has any physician ever told you that you have repeated episodes of tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat. There is one tonsil on each side. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include red, swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty or painful swallowing, fever and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck. There will be white or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils.

The most common bacterium causing tonsillitis is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), the bacterium that causes strep throat. Other strains of strep and other bacteria also may cause tonsillitis.

The tonsils are the immune system's first line of defense against bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth. This function may make the tonsils particularly vulnerable to infection and inflammation. However, the tonsil's immune system function declines after puberty , which is a factor that may account for the rare cases of tonsillitis in adults.

Anonymous, blood tests are ordered for a number of reasons and are useful to check a variety of levels from hormones, different types of blood cells to cholesterol levels.

Do you know or did you ask what specific test was ordered? The ENT specialist may have ordered a CBC or complete blood cell count, which produces a count of the different types of blood cells. The profile of what's elevated, what's normal or what's below normal can indicate whether an infection is more likely caused by a bacterial or viral agent.

Surgery to remove tonsils (tonsillectomy) may be used to treat frequently recurring tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis or bacterial tonsillitis that doesn't respond to antibiotic treatment. Frequent tonsillitis is generally defined as:

More than seven episodes in one year
More than four to five episodes a year in each of the preceding two years
More than three episodes a year in each of the preceding three years

Anonymous, the decision to have surgery is yours to make. But, if antibiotic treatment has failed and you continue to have episodes that lead to weight loss, surgery may be your best option.

Keep in touch,
Maryann