Insomnia can worsen the effect of tinnitus on physical and emotional health, according to results of a small retrospective study by a group of investigators at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. The study points to the importance of assessing and treating sleep problems in the millions of people worldwide who are living with tinnitus.

The first tonsillectomy was recorded in India in 1000 B.C. During the ensuing 3000 years, the popularity of the procedure has waxed and waned.

In 1959, 1.4 million tonsillectomies were performed in the United States. Although that number has dropped to 530,000, tonsillectomy remains the third most common surgery for children ages 0 to 14 in the United States.

Learn more about tonsillitis and tonsillectomy.

Honey may be an effective home remedy for cough, especially for children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant found in over-the-counter cough and cold formulations such as Robitussen DM and Children’s Dimetapp DM. But when a child is up all night coughing, what’s a parent to do?

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on tonsillitis and tonsillectomy:

The American Academy of Family Physicians 
http://familydoctor.org/

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery 
Phone: (703) 836-4444
http://www.entnet.org

U.S. National Library of Medicine 
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

Here are definitions of medical terms related to tonsillitis and tonsillectomy:

Abscess: A collection of pus that requires surgical drainage.

Adenoidectomy: Surgical removal of the adenoids.

Adenoiditis: An infection of the adenoids.

Adenoids: Gland-like lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat behind the nose that may help protect against infection.

Antibodies: Proteins made in the body that fight infection and destroy harmful organisms (bacteria and viruses) or toxins.

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to tonsillitis and tonsillectomy:

Here are some frequently asked questions related to tonsillitis and tonsillectomy:

Q: Years ago, children's tonsils were removed often. Why is it different today?

A: At one time doctors believed that tonsils had no real purpose and routinely removed them to avoid tonsillitis. Today, tonsils and adenoids are seen as perhaps the "first line of defense" against disease-causing germs that enter the body through the nose, mouth, or throat.

The main symptoms of adenoiditis are nasal stuffiness and nasal discharge. In this respect, adenoiditis is not really distinguishable from the common cold. In children who develop a common cold, the adenoids become inflamed as part of the illness.

If nasal stuffiness and discharge persist for longer than about 10 days-especially if the discharge has a greenish, pus-like appearance-the illness may no longer be a common cold. Instead, it probably has progressed to adenoiditis and/or sinusitis.

What to expect after tonsil removal surgery:

Your child will likely experience moderate nasal congestion and drainage, a sore throat, and earaches for a few days after surgery. Allow about two weeks for full recovery. During this time, keep your child from engaging in strenuous physical activity.

A tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils.

These are the criteria doctors use to decide whether the tonsils should be removed: