Tonsillectomy

Tonsils are clumps of tissue on both sides of the throat that help fight infections. Sometimes kids need a tonsillectomy (an operation to remove the tonsils) if they keep getting strep throat or tonsillitis (infected tonsils). Swollen tonsils may also make it hard to swallow or sleep.

At Nemours Children's, we have one of the largest pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) programs in the country. We do tonsillectomies every day. We’re here to help kids feel better when their tonsils are giving them trouble.

Learn More About Tonsils and Tonsillectomies

Our ENT surgeons perform these procedures in children:

• Tonsillectomy — surgery to take out tonsils when they keep getting infected or, when swollen, block the airway and cause snoring
• Adenoidectomy — surgery to take out the adenoids (a patch of tissue that sits at the very back of the nose). Like tonsils, adenoids help keep the body healthy by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that you breathe in or swallow.
• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy — surgery to take out both the tonsils and adenoids at the same time if they’re both swollen or infected a lot

Many of our board-certified ENT specialists are named “Best Doctors in America®” year after year. Our seasoned teams use state-of-the-art, child-friendly equipment. Whenever possible, we use the latest, least invasive surgical techniques too. That often means less pain and bleeding — and getting kids back to being kids faster.

Services, programs and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

We do tonsillectomies in kids at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware (Wilmington) as well as select Nemours Children's Health satellite locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Our ENT surgeons perform a special procedure called “intracapsular tonsillectomy,” which is a partial tonsillectomy. In a traditional tonsillectomy, the surgeon removes all of the tonsils. In an intracapsular tonsillectomy, we remove most of the tonsil tissue, but leave a thin patch of tonsil to protect the throat muscles. This can help with kids’ pain and make it easier for them to eat and drink.

Central Florida

We perform tonsillectomies in kids at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida (Orlando) and Nemours Children's Health, Downtown Orlando.

Northeast Florida

We perform tonsillectomies in kids at Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville (in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, connected by a walkway).

Northwest Florida

We perform tonsillectomies in kids at Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Pensacola.

Nemours now offers scheduled specialist appointments through live video visits. Ask your doctor if this is an option for your family.

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