Frequent strep throat- full tonsils out or shave?

NotFunny ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 6:19 pm

Can you please share your experience with either?

Dc had very frequent infections and ent wants to do to tonsillectomy.

amother

Dandelion

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 6:21 pm

We did the shave. And I we used Dr Scott Rickert who is too top at NYU and he did not recommend complete removal (over 12 strep infections in one year and Dr said he never saw such big tonsils before). He told us the risk of it growing back. But still recommender shaving. The recovery and bleeding for full removal is much harder .

amother

Quince

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 6:23 pm

I had my tonsils removed completely as a young child, and it made a difference for my breathing, my sense of smell and taste, and my appetite. A sibling of mine had them shaved out, and they grow back. The sibling had frequent breathing difficulties, asthma, bronchitis, etc. that happened constantly and improved somewhat when the tonsils were finally completed removed. YMMV.

amother

Freesia

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 6:28 pm

I did removal with my daughter years ago and just now with my son. Dr. Recommended removal as opposed to shave, said it’s much more affective and the recovery is really not that much different. Both painful.

1346

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 6:53 pm

We also used Dr. Scott. He was amazing!
Initially went for the shave but her tonsils were so infested Sad

that they ended up shaving the whole thing!!
Depending how young the child is, recovery is pretty simplel.

amother

Amethyst

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 7:00 pm

I’m assuming your dc has huge tonsils because tonsillectomy’s are not really recommended anymore for recurrent strep

↑ NotFunny ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 7:10 pm

amother Amethyst wrote:

I’m assuming your dc has huge tonsils because tonsillectomy’s are not really recommended anymore for recurrent strep

Actually not huge!
Which is surprising I guess?
But that’s what Dr wrote on the notes (tonsillectomy). Silly me forgot to discuss this part at consult… before I call or msg Dr I was curious to hear other’s experience.

↑ NotFunny ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 7:11 pm

So interesting to see these responses- I guess it’s whatever modality the specific doc prefers?
Because it seems kind of half and half so far in what was recommended/done.

amother

Broom

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 7:56 pm

We did tonsillectomy. My understanding that there would be less place for strep to regrow The doctor said the tonsils looked horrible.

amother

Lotus ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 8:02 pm

I don’t have experience with tonsil issues, but just putting out there that frequent strep can be a sign of parasites, usually pinworms in children. Maybe address that first, because as you said her tonsils are not huge and it’s only the recurring strep.

↑ NotFunny ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 8:03 pm

amother Lotus wrote:

Interesting idea!
But wouldn’t there be symptoms of pinworms?

amother

↑ Lotus

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 8:07 pm

NotFunny wrote:

Interesting idea!
But wouldn’t there be symptoms of pinworms?

Not always are there symptoms.

amother

Blush ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 8:11 pm

My child had recurring strep but not enlarged tonsils. An ent told me that the success rate of a tonsillectomy on non enlarged tonsils (in the case of recurring strep) is less than 40%. Taking blis k probiotic is what stopped the strep cycle.

amother

Ivory

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 8:12 pm

amother Lotus wrote:

Another cause of recurrent strep is mouth breathing

amother

Nemesia

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 8:19 pm

Test your other kids and see if you have any carriers. I had reoccurent strep and did that. Plus, I started taking a tincature of uno de gato.

oneofakind

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 9:25 pm

I know people who shaved tonsils, child hemorrhaged and needed to be readmitted and tonsils removed.

↑ NotFunny ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 9:45 pm

amother Lotus wrote:

Not always are there symptoms.

Hmm
So I can I know if this is the cause?

↑ NotFunny ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 9:47 pm

amother Blush wrote:

Oh my!
So we discussed trying the blisk first. I really hope it will help and we won’t need to go down surgery route.
Do you know if any specific brand is better?

↑ NotFunny ↓

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 9:48 pm

amother Nemesia wrote:

Test your other kids and see if you have any carriers. I had reoccurent strep and did that. Plus, I started taking a tincature of uno de gato.

Tested the other kids, and no carriers. But I have a feeling there was a carrier in school… new school this year- so hopefully things will be better.

↑ NotFunny

Sat, Sep 14 2024, 9:49 pm

amother Ivory wrote:

Another cause of recurrent strep is mouth breathing

How can that be fixed?

Quote:

quote="oneofakind"]I know people who shaved tonsils, child hemorrhaged and needed to be readmitted and tonsils removed.

[/quote]
Omg! Scary! And here I thought it’s the easier procedure…