SO DO TONSILS HAVE A USE?

Why doctors think it’s safe to remove them

FOR years, doctors thought tonsils were largely redundant, left behind in the evolutionary development of the human immune system. Now it’s known they contain lymphatic tissue rich in white blood cells that hunt down and destroy invading viruses. But these cells are released in abundance by other parts of the body, so most scientists believe removing the tonsils has no impact on risk of ill-health

Are they really designed to protect us from viruses?

THERE is a widespread perception that the tonsils are like little soldiers, strategically placed to guard against rogue viruses as they pass through the throat and that removing them leaves patients at heightened risk of infections.

But it’s not true, says ENT surgeon Mr Adam Frosh. ‘There is this idea that they are the “guardians” of the throat and are there to capture viruses. They’re not and there is no evidence, for example, that you get more colds after having your tonsils out.

‘They do contain immunologically active cells but our bodies are full of them.’

They can grow back!

CHILDREN who have their tonsils removed can sometimes find they gradually grow back — at least partially. This tends to happen when surgeons have not removed all of the tissue and enough is left in situ to reform during the child’s ongoing growth period.

Frog fat and other grisly ‘cures’ from the past

SURGEONS and their predecessors have been removing tonsils for up to 3,000 years. But early techniques were inevitably fairly crude. One documented procedure from the 1st century BC talked of using a mixture of vinegar and milk to try and stop the bleeding.

Other techniques included applying frog fat, or tying cotton thread around the base and gradually tightening it over several days until the tonsil fell out.