Tackling Tonsillitis and Adenoiditis: Improving Quality of Life Using Surgical Interventions

 QIKWELL

The tonsils and the adenoidal glands constitute our bodies’ first line of defence against unfriendly bacteria and viruses. Though most of us fall prey to infections about once or twice a year, increased frequency (about four to five bouts per annum), coupled with enlarged tonsils indicates that we have tonsillitis. Adenoiditis is the infection-induced inflammation of the adenoids (a mass of lymphatic tissue located at the rear of the nasal cavity).

While tonsillitis affects adults and children alike, adenoiditis is mostly prevalent among children. Symptoms of adenoiditis include a blocked nose and restricted airflow (mimicking wheezing), snoring, halitosis (bad breath), nosebleeds, and protrusion of teeth. This condition can result in a range of problems including sleep apnea and ear blockage that, if left untested (and untreated), can lead to growth retardation and permanent hearing loss, respectively.

Though the indicators and methodology vary in different parts of the world, two standard indices of measurement are the tonsil and adenoids health status instrument (TAHSI), and the childcare questionnaire (CHQ PF 22).

Treatment for these conditions entails three of the most frequently performed ENT surgeries in the world—tonsillectomies (removal of infected tonsils), adenoidectomies (the removal of infected adenoids), or both (adenotonsillectomies). Adenoidectomies and adenotonsillectomies can improve the quality of a child’s life by relieving him or her of these blockages and their long-term effects. Growing surgical expertise in the field, coupled with recent innovations in surgical and anaesthetic techniques, have minimised the risk of complications and make surgery a safe treaInterventi