Asthma And Enlarged Tonsils

Asthma And Enlarged Tonsils
By Tom Alter

There is a lot of controversy and debate regarding the point
whether tonsils should be removed or not in a person suffering
from asthma. Different doctors have different opinions in this
matter. Some advocate tonsillectomy (removal of tonsils) while
others do not. It is therefore important to understand the role
of tonsils in the human body so that adequate judgement can be
made in this regard.

Tonsils make the first line of defence in the human body. They
are present on either side of the pharynx. Pharynx is the middle
portion of the throat. Why tonsils make the first line of
defence is because they try to trap any germs and foreign bodies
that may enter the body through the mouth and the nose. After
trapping them the tonsils also produce protective antibodies
with the help of their lymphatic cell structure that forms the
main body of the tonsils. These antibodies circulate in the
blood and fight the foreign organisms that somehow pass into the
blood stream. So tonsils on one hand act as a mechanical guard
and on the other hand they act on the molecular level also to
protect the body. The antibody forming tissue is present in
other parts of the body too but tonsils are first line of
defence of the human system.

The body of a child is exposed to many different kinds of germs
for the first time. The body is not used to these germs and
needs to be protected against them. The tonsils work vigorously
and in some children get abnormally enlarged in the process. If
a child suffers from cough and wheezing his breathing is as it
is strained. If this is due to some allergic reactions it may be
accompanied with sore throat and fever as well. If the allergy
persists or may subside and reappear again and again the tonsils
too get infected while protecting the body.

In such a scenario the infected tonsils may need to be removed
as their infection may be adversely having an impact on the body
repeatedly. Also their enlarged size may be straining the
breathing further in a child who is already suffering with
asthma. So the children who suffer with may be
recommended a removal of tonsils if the is of extrinsic
type and is caused by allergens.

Sometimes in the children who suffer from intrinsic too
this may be recommended as the body becomes weakened and is
susceptible to attacks from various organisms. But this is
controversial because tonsils are the first line of defence and
removing them may not be such a good thing to do, at least in
theory. But in practice the tonsils may be a cause for many
infections and it is best to get rid of the source of
infections.

Some of the views regarding the question of removal of tonsils
are:

1 The tonsils act at the site and later as a source of
infection in the body. Their removal would influence the course
of favourably and even prevent its occurrence in a
susceptible individual.

2 The tonsils prevent the spread of infection from the nose and
throat into the bronchi and the lungs so their removal would
create situations of mild developing into severe one. In
susceptible individuals symptoms of may even precipitate
due to tonsillectomy.

3 The presence or absence of tonsils actually does not make

any
difference over the allergic state of an individual. So
technically removal of tonsils cannot precipitate the symptoms
of according to this view.

With reference to the varied views mentioned above it seems
that the most appropriate path for the surgery for the removal
of tonsils would not only be an individual choice but also may
mean that a certain individual needs to be studied for previous
history of infections, process of treatment and pathway of
recovering from the infections before any decisions can be
taken.

If there is evidence of recurring infections of throat and the
infections seem to be localised in the tonsils then this may be
the only option provided there are no other serious
complications. Children in the younger stages are more
susceptible to repeated infections of throat and the chest so to
understand that the infections are localised to the tonsil area
is very important before taking the decision of tonsillectomy.

Another point to be thoroughly understood is that removal of
infected tonsils may have no effect whatsoever over the
condition of of the child. The removal of tonsils may
have effect on the associated conditions of aggravation of the
symptoms because of the effect that the associated allergens may
be having on the situation.

This is also true only to the extrinsic type of asthma, but it
shall have none or very little effect on the intrinsic type of
asthma. Some doctors feel that the benefits associated with
tonsillectomy are most evident in the first year of surgery and
later they dissipate and after some time there remains no
difference between the asthmatic children who underwent surgery
and the asthmatic children who did not undergo any surgery.

About the Author: Learn More About Treatment, Symptoms
and Causes at http://www.yourasthmatreatment.com/ -
Asthma Information and Treatment Guide.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=155955&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet