# When and why did tonsillectomies stop being routinely done on kids? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-tonsillectomies-stop-being-routinely-done-on-kids/810659 "2018-03-16T13:09:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-tonsillectomies-stop-being-routinely-done-on-kids/810659/61 "2018-03-19T02:45:33Z")
My tonsils and adenoids were removed in the early 60’s after many ear and throat infections. I still remember the anesthesiologist holding me on his lap and talking calmly and lovingly (like a Dad) to me right before I went to sleep. I remember some discomfort afterwards but soon gone. My (now ex) husband had his tonsils out in his late 20’s for repeated bouts of tonsillitis and then mononucleosis. A year or so later he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. I have always wondered if that was an early warning all the doctors missed. BTW, he had a much more painful recovery than I remember. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-tonsillectomies-stop-being-routinely-done-on-kids/810659/62 "2018-03-20T17:08:29Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Rheumatic fever - now, THAT’S a disease that (it seems) nobody gets any more, and thank heavens! In 18 years of active pharmacy practice, I never encountered a case, although I did work with one pharmacist who would now be in his early 70s, and before I met him underwent a heart valve replacement due to rheumatic heart disease. :eek: My uncle had a heart valve replacement yesterday for this very reason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-tonsillectomies-stop-being-routinely-done-on-kids/810659.md?page=3)