There are a new set of tonsillectomy guidelines put out by the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. For kids with sore throats or strep throat, the guidelines suggest 7 or more in a single year indicates the need for tonsillectomy. Here's a CNN article related to this.Hopefully, these will remain guidelines and not be misused as strict rules. I'd hate to see a kid who has had 6 infections causing 24 days of missed school not get treated until they've had one more. Unfortunately, sometimes these guidelines are used by insurance companies or government agencies to dictate a cookbook style of medicine. I still believe each patient presents a unique set of problems and circumstances that needs to be considered.Read More