Paula
We went through a year of my husband (who had his tonsils out as a child) and my two sons spreading strep back and forth six times. Last year, both of my sons had their tonsils out. I was skeptical because my husband still gets strep even though he doesn't have tonsils. Well, my boys, especially my oldest, are healthier than they have ever been. Additionally, my oldest used to have night terrors and they stopped immediately after his tonsillectomy. Why? His tonsils were so huge they were restricting his breathing causing his sleep cycle to get out of whack (apnea) and hence his dream cycle was all crazy. He even does better in school because he's better rested. Unfortunately, my husband still gets strep (the reason I am searching this topic) and it's maddening having a 30+ year old man sick all the time. I wish I could somehow find the cause! I swear we are causing Oral-B stock to rise from all the new toothbrushes we buy. I even threw away all of our sippy cups thinking that perhaps those stoppers were harboring the bacteria and my youngest (2 yrs) was the carrier. We've had everyone tested--the last bout when all three of my guys had it, my daughter and I were both negative (oddly, we both still have our tonsils). We don't have any pets. So, while tonsillectomy worked for my sons, it didn't work for my husband. I think the decision for a tonsillectomy has to be made weighing all factors. As for my husband, after researching this, I think when he does get strep again, he should ask for one of those stronger antiobiotics.