Removal of tonsils and adenoids is associated with respiratory, allergic and infectious diseases

Probiotic reservoirs

What to do if you are missing tonsils, adenoids or appendix

References

For the first time, a study (1) has examined the long-term effects of two common paediatric surgeries:

• Tonsillectomy - the removal of tonsils, usually done to treat chronic tonsillitis.
• Adenoidectomy - the removal of adenoids, frequently used to treat recurrent middle ear infections.

The study, published in June 2018, found their removal substantially increases the risk of respiratory, allergic and infectious diseases over the following decades.

The researchers, located in Melbourne, Copenhagen and Yale University, examined the health of 1,189,061 Danish children born between 1979 and 1999, covering at least the first 10 years and up to 30 years of their lives. More than 5% of them had had their tonsils, adenoids, or both removed. The study found that:

• Tonsillectomy almost tripled the relative risk (the risk for those who had the operation compared with those who didn't) of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including asthma, influenza, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), bronchitis and emphysema.
• The absolute risk of getting these respiratory diseases was also substantially increased at 19%.
• Adenoidectomy more than doubled relative risk of COPD and a nearly doubled the risk of upper respiratory tract diseases and conjunctivitis. The absolute risk of these diseases was also almost doubled.

Lead author Sean Byars acknowledged that there would always be a need to remove tonsils and adenoids for the most severe symptoms. "But our observed results that show increased risks for long-term diseases after surgery support delaying tonsil and adenoid removal if possible, which could aid normal immune system development in childhood and reduce these possible later-life disease risks," he said.

The study also indicated that the short-term benefits of these surgeries do not continue into adulthood, apart from the reduced risk of tonsillitis (for all surgeries) and sleep disorders (for adenoidectomy).

Probiotic reservoirs

The body has several "reservoirs" in which it holds beneficial bacteria. The appendix is one example, adenoids are another, and tonsils are a third. Several other smaller tonsils exist at various points around the neck and throat, in addition to the big tonsils at the back of the throat that you can see in a mirror. All these probiotic reservoirs are essential for good health and longevity. In the past, conventional doctors were very ready to operate to remove tonsils, adenoids and the appendix.

The tonsils and adenoids are also strategically positioned in the throat and nose as a first line of defence, recognising all kinds of airborne pathogens (bacteria, viruses, toxic dust) and starting the immune response to clear them from the body.

What to do if you are missing tonsils, adenoids or appendix

If you or someone you know is missing one of these probiotic reservoirs, the obvious remedy is to eat probiotic foods regularly, every day. Only a small quantity of the food is actually required (just a spoonful) and it is best to take it at the very end of a meal if missing tonsils or adenoids. If missing an appendix, it may be more effective to take it before or with a meal. Of course, you can eat more if it feels good.

Here are some common probiotic foods that you can make yourself, and how to make them.

References

1. Sean G. Byars, Stephen C. Stearns, Jacobus J. Boomsma. Association of Long-Term Risk of Respiratory, Allergic, and Infectious Diseases With Removal of Adenoids and Tonsils in Childhood. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, 2018; DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2018.0614.