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My Daughter Has Had Swollen Tonsils For Years. It’s Now
Question: My daughter has had swollen tonsils for years. It’s now interfering with sleeping. She had a viral infection on now has one swollen tonsils. Could this be serious.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If she recently had or has a viral upper respiratory infection, that would explain the currently increased swelling because the tonsils have immune cells/lymphatic tissue that helps clean up infections.
Tonsils can swell for other reasons too including food getting trapped in them, or respiratory allergies.
Did the ENT give any other information?
You might want to get his/her office note and take it to another ENT for a second opinion.
Is the gargle he recommended just standard stuff like salt water or mouth wash? Or is it an antibiotic, antifungal, or other medication?
Looking forward to hearing from you soon...
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If she recently had or has a viral upper respiratory infection, that would explain the currently increased swelling because the tonsils have immune cells/lymphatic tissue that helps clean up infections.
Tonsils can swell for other reasons too including food getting trapped in them, or respiratory allergies.
Did the ENT give any other information?
You might want to get his/her office note and take it to another ENT for a second opinion.
Is the gargle he recommended just standard stuff like salt water or mouth wash? Or is it an antibiotic, antifungal, or other medication?
Looking forward to hearing from you soon...
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
He said it could indicate tonsil cancer although she has had this for 10 plus years. If he had the gall to mention that then why wait 30 days
The swelling was only in the right tonsil
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Without having been there it's hard to know exactly what is going on, but sometimes doctors will try to clear away infection or other inflammatory mess to see what is actually going on. For example I had a radiologist advise me, when I saw an abnormality on a chest xray, to give the patient an antibiotic and wait a couple weeks before she had a CT to get a better picture. So perhaps this ENT is trying to prevent having to just take the tonsil out with surgery unnecessarily by seeing if the inflammation goes down with gargling and enough time for inflammation from an infection to resolve.
But I agree that it is irresponsible to say that it could be cancer and nothing more. No one wants to wait when they hear that unless there is further discussion, such as that he has a low suspicion, that it can wait.
I advise that you call him back and question him on this.
Ask:
What did he think is the likelihood that it is malignant?
If he has a high suspicion, why no evaluation, such as a fine needle biopsy or imaging?
Why does he want to wait?
Does he think it is safe to wait 30 days if it is a cancer, and why?
If you find his answers inadequate, then it is time to make an appt. with a different ENT.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Without having been there it's hard to know exactly what is going on, but sometimes doctors will try to clear away infection or other inflammatory mess to see what is actually going on. For example I had a radiologist advise me, when I saw an abnormality on a chest xray, to give the patient an antibiotic and wait a couple weeks before she had a CT to get a better picture. So perhaps this ENT is trying to prevent having to just take the tonsil out with surgery unnecessarily by seeing if the inflammation goes down with gargling and enough time for inflammation from an infection to resolve.
But I agree that it is irresponsible to say that it could be cancer and nothing more. No one wants to wait when they hear that unless there is further discussion, such as that he has a low suspicion, that it can wait.
I advise that you call him back and question him on this.
Ask:
What did he think is the likelihood that it is malignant?
If he has a high suspicion, why no evaluation, such as a fine needle biopsy or imaging?
Why does he want to wait?
Does he think it is safe to wait 30 days if it is a cancer, and why?
If you find his answers inadequate, then it is time to make an appt. with a different ENT.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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