The amount of weight that a child loses after a tonsillectomy is between 5 to 10 lbs, although the weight loss in children after a tonsillectomy is temporary and occurs in the immediate 1 to 2 week, post operative period as a result of reduced oral intake from throat pain.
Although the weight loss is often regained pretty quickly as healing from the tonsillectomy occurs, and some kids will gain weight after a tonsillectomy instead of losing the weight.
Temporary weight loss in children after a tonsillectomy is expected and common as children often don't feel like eating.
People including children with no tonsils do not get sick more often than people with tonsils.
People and children that have had their tonsils removed have other tissues that take over their immune systems role, when their tonsils are removed.
And so a tonsillectomy often reduces overall illnesses in people including children, by eliminating chronic tonsilitis so people including children also are not any more likely to get more throat infections and other illnesses without tonsils than those who still have tonsils.
Although some studies also do still suggest there's a potential long term increased risk of certain respiratory infections and allergic diseases in children after they have a their tonsils removed through a tonsillectomy.
However the overall consensus also points to less severe infections and improved quality of life for people who have had their tonsils removed.
The immune system adapts after tonsils are removed as the body has other immune tissues like your adenoids and your other lymphoid tissue, which compensate for the loss of tonsils.
And removing tonsils that are chronically infected also stops recurrent strep throat and tonsilitis, which also results in less and fewer severe infections.
There's also research though that indicates a possible higher risk of upper respiratory infectious and allergic diseases occurring later in life up to age 30 for children that have had their tonsils and or adenoids removed, although it doesn't always happen.
If you or a child is suffering from frequent tonsil infections, the removal of the tonsils is often a good thing and often also leads to less overall illnesses.
Although there are also conflicting findings about some potential and long term risks of respiratory issues, although the tonsillectomy effectively eliminates tonsillitis and often also improves your breathing, which makes the removal of the tonsils a beneficial thing for many people.
Common issues after a tonsillectomy can include.
Mild to severe pain in the throat for 1 to 2 weeks.
Pain in the ears, neck or jaw.
Nausea and vomiting for a few days.
It's also possible for the tonsils to grow back partially.
During a tonsillectomy, most of your tonsils are removed, although some tissue often remains, so tonsils can occasionally regenerate and regrow, although they usually won't grow back completely or to their original size.