The single most common type of childhood surgery, tonsillectomy, like all surgeries, are serious. The inherent risk of surgery should be taken into consideration before consenting to having your child undergo a tonsillectomy. And, it's a good idea to get a second opinion. A tonsillectomy is not a guarantee that your child will never get another throat infection or will have fewer illnesses. Most tonsillectomies are successful.
Complications are rare and recovery usually takes place in less than two weeks.
Surgery is often coordinated with a prescription of pain relievers and antibiotics to reduce discomfort and the risk of infection. But it's still prudent to make sure the procedure is absolutely necessary before agreeing to it. For more information on tonsillectomies, consult your physician. One of the problems in dealing with childhood ear aches is detection. While pain of an ear ache ranging from a stabbing pain, to a dull throbbing is something most of us have experienced, it is often difficult to tell the cause of pain in children, particularly infants.