For parents of kids who have had recurring strep throat and then had their tonsils removed. Did they ever get strep throat again?

My daughter apparently needs a tonsillectomy, but some of the stuff I've been reading recently suggests that this may not prevent the strep from returning.

I want some real life accounts please. Was the tonsillectomy beneficial?

p.s. I understand it is possible to get the strep (bacterial infection) but just wanted some real life accounts on how effective a tonsillectomy is in reducing the frequency.

Well I had a tonsillectomy when I was a child and it did not prevent me from getting Strep but I had far less infections. Now the last time I had Strep was more than 10 yrs ago.

Also I was able to sleep better and had alot less ear infections since the removal.

Ok. The way her tonsils look when she gets it, I can't imagine it won't at least help immensely, but don't want to put her through the surgery if she is still going to keep getting the strep all the time. Probably better to do it now though, while she's young.

Did you get a 2nd opinion? I did and got two opinions. lol

The pediatrician said, "No", and the Ears, Nose, Throat doctor said "Yes".

Yeah I agree thee earlier the better. The surgery is simple also. Just one day in the hospital and soft foods for a few days. Within a week I was my normal self again.

I got mine out at 8 and my oldest son got his out when he was three. Neither one of us has had a sore throat since.

Well apparently there is a little math that goes into it around here. If you have strep 3 times in one year, you are a candidate for the surgery. She's had it 3 times just over this winter/spring. We are to the point we know exactly when it is coming on. Her "teeth are tickling" and by the next day, the tonsils are huge and gross.

We haven't seen the ENT person yet, but I'm sure will be shortly. You just get one visit to confirm surgery and set up the date.

I'm still paying off an appendectomy, but I think I shouldn't wait much longer on this, if it's going to help the recurrence of it. Severe cases of strep can lead to other more severe illnesses.

I'm rambling per my usual, but I was reading up on this thing called PANDAS, which is controversial but can go along with strep throat and my daughter gets most of the symptoms of this when she gets sick. It involves ticks/anxiety/mood swings/loss of concentration/etc....it was an odd coincidence that I happened upon it. Might be something for some parents to look into though.

That's what I have been hearing from a couple of friends too. Thank you!

yes you can still get Strep after a tonsilectomy! Strep is a bacteria that will appear with or without tonsils. Strep likes warm dark moist places. Tonsilitis is an inflammation of the tonsils due to infection, removing them only keeps them from becoming inflamed and has nothing to do with whether or not you will have the Strep bacteria!!!

Yup, understood. Just wanting parents accounts on how effective the tonsillectomy was in reducing the recurrence of strep.

Heather,

My child was getting frequent throat infections. The doc's rule was that children needed infections more then 5 times a year to justify the surgery.

My child did not have the surgery even though the ENT said that they needed it.

We were fortunate. My child has been getting less infections with each passing year. They are building up more antibodies to fight the infections.

It's a tough decision. I went through it too.

My son just graduated from high school when he had his done, that was about 2 years now...he has not had one single infection!! IMO it is better to get them out when they are younger!! If you wait until they are older, it is harder on them.
Our doctor told us to take him home after the surgery and not to baby him. Give him solid foods and make him eat! My son did very well and was up and ready to go to college in no time!!
You won't regret getting it done

Thank you for your replies!

Haven't heard that about strep. My sister had tonsillitis and ear infections ever couple of months when she was young. They took her tonsils out and she never had either again.

Now days they would rather leave the tonsils and put tubes in the ears that case scarring. I don't get it.

My daughter and oldest son both had their adnoids and tonsils out this year. They are both sleeping better, the sleep apnea has quit completely and the snoring is almost stopped. I had mine done when I was 10..a long, long time ago...and I have not had strep since then. My kiddos were averaging 7-10 bouts of strep a year from the time they were about 2. I hope this stops it like it did for me. Good luck.

My sister had her tonsils out when she was 20, hasn't had it since (that was 20 years ago).

Daughter had hers removed becasue of aniod issues. She still got sick. So it is not a cure all. You need to see 2 specailsits to determine if the child needs this. My daughter had beathign issues so she had to have it done. After seeing 3 Ear nose and throat drs. I made the decision to do it. It did stop her from snoring.

mine were removed when i was four, and it was the best thing that happened to me.

while i did suffer from strep, mine was mostly ear infections and chronic ear aches. i wasn't able to sleep at night or to swim, and i still very vividly remember the puking and the pain.

everything improved with the surgery, and it wasn't too awful painful, either.

i'm wishing they would take my little one's...they are loathe to do surgery on her (genetic issue) but our life improved so much when they took her adenoids that i'm almost willing to risk it.

my aunt had her tonsils out as an adult, and she says that royally sucked. it's apparently much easier on them when they are younger, provided they don't have any issues with anesthesia and healing.

I had my tonsils and adnoids removed when I was 16. I was havin probs with sinus infections thus reason for havin them removed. Come to find out years later they weren't the prob. I have allergies an a deviated syptum. I will say the one benefit from havin my tonsils removed, I don't have near as many probs with sore throats when I do get sick from allergy probs.

I had my tonsils out when i was 16, and my eldest has his out when he was 7.

My son had very large tonsils, and he had frequent infections in his childhood...they would swell so large that he could hardly talk....and i didnt want him to constantly be on antibiotics cos too much of them can actually lower the natural immune system. (this happened to me)

After a couple of yrs of constant infections, the doctor advised that he have them out, and i agreed. He has been fine in the 10yrs since.

I was 16 when i had mine out, and i was the same as my son, but it was never suggested i should get mine out. At 16, i had a terrible yr with tonsilitis, and it got so bad, i couldnt even swallow water, there was open weeping sores on my tonsils, and it was unbearable. At this point, i lost a lot of weight and went down to 6 1/2 st.

Ive had the odd windpipe infection, but im happy to say in the 20yrs since, i have never suffered anything like wat i used to.

I think if there is a way u can stop ur child suffering, u should take it, its a minor op and they recover quickly.