I have been diagnosed with Deviated Septum,Allergic to Dust Mites &
recently a little loss of hearing.
8 years ago I nearly underwent a Surgery for Deviated Septum but backed
out last minute since I felt OK.
For Last 2 years I have been falling sick with sore throat,stuffiness
symptoms every 3 to 4 months. I usually
end up taking antibiotics for a week or so. Recently my ENT specialist
suggested getting my Tonsils removed.
Should I go through a surgery. If yes is that for deviated septum or
tonsills or both. What are my options?
I do not want to fall sick so often.
Reply: ---------------------------
You describe having an upper respiratory illness with sore throat and nasal stuffiness 3-4 times per year that is generally treated with a single course of antibiotics which I assume means to resolution. Frankly, I would not automatically consider this an excessive frequency of upper respiratory illness - it would depend on a number of things such as presence of predisposing factors - allergy, environment, climate, cigarette smoke or other irritant exposures, co-existent illnesses or medical conditions, etc. An argument to treat recurrent illness such as recurring tonsil infection or recurring sinus infection with a surgical procedure would have to be based on evidence that the surgical procedure has a high likelihood of reducing the frequency of recurrence - in my opinion this would be very difficult in your case. Based on the information you have provided I would not be able to reach the conclusion that you would likely benefit from surgery.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
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