Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat. It is one of the main constituents of the body’s immune system and works as a barrier against microorganisms. However, some individuals undergo tonsillectomy as a therapeutic procedure.

The main indications for tonsillectomy include:

• Recurrent throat infections: tonsils can sometimes be a focus of infection, inflammation, and pus formation. Doctors recommend a tonsillectomy if the patient undergoes 6-7 episodes of throat infection per year, accompanied by fever and swollen tonsils.
• Airway obstruction: enlarged or swollen tonsils may interfere with breathing, resulting in obstructive sleep apnea.
• Tonsillar stones: formation of calcified stones inside the tonsillar tissue.
• Peritonsillar abscess: the spread of infection to the tissues around the tonsils.
• Enlarged tonsils: this can result in dysphagia and swallowing problems.