10 Oct
1901

Tonsils and Adenoid Surgery.

Tonsils, those two clusters of tissue in the back of the throat and their counterparts, the adenoids, are located just behind the nose. Their purpose is to help filter out harmful bacteria and viruses that are breathed in, protecting the body from infection. (Although adenoids typically shrink by age 7, and are virtually nonexistent by the teen years). But for some children, they are more trouble than they’re worth.

So when do they need to go?

Pediatric otolaryngologist Rachel Georgopoulos, MD, says the most common reasons for removal — a tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy — are recurring throat infections and airway obstruction. (While doctors do these procedures mostly on children, some adults also opt for them as well, she says.) Here’s what often happens:

1. They are affecting your child’s sleep.

Some children have larger tonsils and adenoids than others, and they sometimes interfere with breathing. This is a problem particularly at night because the body is in a reclined position. It can cause a serious health condition known as sleep apnea — short periods of time when breathing stops during sleep.

If a child has severe sleep apnea, Dr. Georgopoulos says she will also perform an endoscopy prior to the tonsillectomy/adrenalectomy to do a thorough evaluation of the child’s airway while they are sleeping.

“Symptoms of sleep apnea in children can include snoring at least four nights out of seven, pauses in breathing followed by a ‘catch-up’ breath, restless sleep, sweating, tiredness and even bed wetting,” says Dr. Georgopoulos.

The effects of poor sleep also carry over into the waking hours. Children may show restless or erratic behavior, irritability and poor coping skills. “Removing tonsils and adenoids to help correct airway obstruction is so effective that many patients no longer experience sleep apnea,” she says.

“For children 3 and older, the surgeon usually removes both tonsils and adenoids. On occasion we will address tonsils in children younger than 2, and we will do what is called an intracapsular tonsillectomy, which is partial removal of the tonsil tissues,” she says.

2. They are causing recurring throat infections.

Recurring throat infections mean defenses can’t keep up. Tonsils help keep bacteria and viruses out but, because they are one of the body’s first lines of defense, they are sometimes overwhelmed and infected themselves.

If your child has frequent throat infections (like strep throat) that include a fever and swollen lymph nodeslasting for three or four days, talk with your doctor about whether a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy would help.

“Frequent” means:

  • Six to seven episodes per year.
  • At least five episodes per year in each of the preceding two years.
  • More than three episodes per year in each of the preceding three years.

How does surgery help?

Surgery to remove tonsils and/or adenoids is usually well-tolerated, with most children going home a few hours later. Tylenol® or ibuprofen help manage pain, and patients usually recover in seven to 10 days, says Dr. Georgopoulos.

She adds that surgery sometimes also helps with:

  • Nasal obstructions that cause a narrow palate.
  • Swallowing issues.
  • Tonsil stones (calcified material in the tonsils).
  • Peritonsillar abscess (when infection spreads beyond tonsils).

The good news is that surgeries to remove tonsils and adenoids are among the most common outpatient pediatric surgeries — and most children recover quickly.

COMMENTS (7)

  • - شركة نقل عفش بجدة

    نقدم لكم افضل شركات نقل العفش بالمملكة العربية السعودية https://sites.google.com/site/movinmakkah/ شركة نقل عفش بجدة https://sites.google.com/site/movinmakkah/moversinmecca شركة نقل عفش بمكة https://sites.google.com/site/movinmakkah/qassim-movers نقل عفش بالقصيم https://sites.google.com/site/movinmakkah/moversinahsa نقل عفش بالاحساء https://sites.google.com/site/movinmakkah/jeddah https://sites.google.com/site/movinmakkah/madina

  • - YomIFGR

    Medicament information for patients. Brand names. how can i get levitra for sale in the USA All information about drugs. Read information here.

  • - LgoUSAC

    Drug information. Drug Class. where to buy generic flibanserina in Canada Best trends of medicament. Read now.

  • - BnlMRQU

    https://prednisoneall.top/

  • - 카심바슬롯 https://gamja888.com 온라인카지노

    샌즈카지노 카심바슬롯 바카라배팅노하우 바카라잘하는방법 카지노주소 필리핀카지노 잭파시티먹튀 메이저카지노 카심바슬롯 룰렛게임 실시간바카라강원랜드다이사이 더존카지노먹튀 라이브카지노 https://gamja888.com 바카라게임사이트 온라인바카라게임 바카라사이트 카지노사이트 카심바슬롯 온라인카지노 FM카지노 바카라게임사이트 카심바슬롯잭팟 SM카지노먹튀 포텐슬롯사이트 샌즈카지노 바카라게임 바카라 월드카지노 mongoangulam998 메가슬롯 포텐슬롯 카심바슬롯슬롯카지노 온라인바카라사이트 밀리언카지노슬롯커뮤니티 https://gamja888.com 마이크로게임 밀리언클럽카지노 온라인카지노 포텐슬롯사이트 생활바카라 슬롯카지노 sm카지노 mongoangulam998 샌즈카지노먹튀 비바카지노쿠폰 카심바슬롯 카심바슬롯 https://gamja888.com 온라인카지노 플레이텍게이밍 온카지노 카심바슬롯 카심바주소 비바카지노 바카라검증사이트 카지노사이트 더나인카지노먹튀 로터스게이밍 바카라분석법 mongoangulam998 바카라사이트 카심바슬롯 https://gamja888.com 온라인카지노 바카라 솔레어카지노 솔카지노 온라인바카라게임 바카라이기는법 바카라전략 카지노사이트주소 더나인카지노 생중계바카라 온라인바카라게임 애플카지노 실시간바카라사이트 포텐슬롯주소 카지노사이트 바카라타이 포텐슬롯 얀카지노 솔카지노 온라인바카라 비바카지노쿠폰 실시간바카라 메이저카지노 슬롯머신사이트 ゅづよずわ 모바일카지노 로터스게이밍 포텐슬롯사이트 에볼루션게이밍 카지노사이트 온라인바카라 카지노하는곳 ちつおきべぷわなぷじ

  • - https://internetgame.me - 메가슬롯

    비바카지노 카심바슬롯 블랙잭사이트 온라인바카라 바카라게임사이트 바카라 양방배팅 카지노사이트 비바카지노 카심바슬롯 블랙잭사이트 온라인바카라 바카라게임사이트 바카라 양방배팅 카지노사이트 https://navercom.me http://facebookcom.me

  • - Javed Ahmad

    Good article on tomsils

Leave a Comment