[Tonsillectomy versus laser tonsillotomy for tonsillar hyperplasia in children].

An appropriate indication for laser tonsillotomy is non-infectious obstructive hyperplasia in children. As a rule, these children suffer from pronounced rhonchopathy, which may be associated with episodes of apnea. Furthermore, disordered articulation and problems with eating have also been described. With increasing age hyperplastic tonsils may repeatedly become inflamed, with the result that tonsillar tissue undergoes changes that further the development of chronic tonsillitis. The indication for tonsillotomy should, however, not be applied in children older than 6 years. In children beyond this age tonsillectomy is recommended, not least due to the fact that the immunological "learning phase" is usually complete around the age of 6.