[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by jennyjuniper

I had mine taken out when I was about 5. I still remember how it felt when I woke up after the operation though, like trying to swallow broken glass. Most children of my generation had them removed in childhood though.
Poor you, hope you feel better soon.

They're very slow to remove kids tonsils now for some reason (here anyway) you need to have had tonsillitis a certain amount of times before they'll do it, no idea why really, tonsils are useless enough, aren't they?

[jennyjuniper]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

They're very slow to remove kids tonsils now for some reason (here anyway) you need to have had tonsillitis a certain amount of times before they'll do it, no idea why really, tonsils are useless enough, aren't they?

Yes I believe they are useless Niamh, which was probably why in the 1950's at the first sign of tonsillitis they whipped them out. I have no idea why they let people suffer bout after bout of it now.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by jennyjuniper

Yes I believe they are useless Niamh, which was probably why in the 1950's at the first sign of tonsillitis they whipped them out. I have no idea why they let people suffer bout after bout of it now.

They're not actually useless, they're part of the lymphatic system and linked to immunity / infection prevention (ironically) though they aren't AS important in the modern world, as with good sanitation we're exposed to a lot less anyway. But removal can make you more prone to chest and (non tonsil related) throat infections.