Do children need surgery for tonsillar hypertrophy during physical examination

Whether surgery is necessary for tonsillar hypertrophy discovered during a child's physical examination should be evaluated comprehensively based on the severity of symptoms and complications. If there are conditions such as sleep apnea, recurrent infections, or delayed growth and development, surgical resection is usually recommended; If it is only mild hypertrophy without functional impairment, conservative treatment can be prioritized for observation.

Enlargement of the tonsils is more common in children, mostly due to physiological hyperplasia, which may be related to recurrent respiratory infections, allergic constitution, or genetic factors. When the degree of hypertrophy reaches three degrees or more, that is, when the tonsils are close to the midline or in contact with each other, it may block the airway and cause nighttime snoring, apnea, or swallowing difficulties. Long term hypoxia can lead to problems such as lack of concentration and abnormal facial development. For such children, tonsillectomy combined with adenoidectomy is the standard treatment plan, and the surgery can effectively improve ventilation function. postoperative attention should be paid to the risk of bleeding, and it is recommended to choose minimally invasive surgical techniques such as low-temperature plasma. Although some children's tonsils have increased in volume, it does not affect their respiratory and swallowing functions, or only manifests as 3-4 mild tonsillitis attacks per year. In such cases, inflammation can be controlled through mouthwash with normal saline and nasal hormone spray, and the degree of hypertrophy can be monitored regularly. If accompanied by allergic rhinitis, anti allergic treatment should be carried out simultaneously. Sleeping on the side at night and using a humidifier can also alleviate symptoms. It should be noted that surgical intervention is generally not recommended for children under 2 years old unless there are serious complications. Parents should regularly take their children to have ear, nose, and throat examinations, and evaluate the degree of hypoxia through multi-channel sleep monitoring. In daily life, it is necessary to prevent colds and avoid exposure to irritants such as second-hand smoke. If surgery is chosen for treatment, it is necessary to eat warm and cool liquid food within two weeks after surgery and avoid vigorous exercise. Regardless of the treatment method, maintaining oral hygiene and moderate exercise are beneficial for respiratory health.