Common Childhood ENT Illnesses: Grommets,
Adenoids and Tonsils
Adenoids and Tonsils
Does your child suffer from constant ear, nose, and throat (ENT) problems?
In the first two years of your little one’s life, it can feel like you’re in and out of your GP or Paediatrician’s room every couple of weeks dealing with a runny nose, congestion, earache, sore throat or tonsilitis. These are all common childhood illnesses, and they occur because of two reasons.
- Their ear, nose and throat regions are still developing. As a result, they’re more prone to ENT infections.
- They may suffer from allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever. It can lead to post-nasal drip, congestion, disrupted sleep, and skin rashes.
But if it seems like your child isn’t improving, your GP may recommend that you see an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. They’ll assess your little one and suggest a course of action. In severe cases, doctors will recommend inserting grommets and removing the tonsils and adenoids. These operations can dramatically improve your child’s health.
Here’s what you need to know.
Grommets
Does your child constantly pull on their ears or complain about earache? Does their speech seem delayed?
It’s not uncommon for young children to suffer from middle ear infections. Their Eustachian tubes are still developing and can become easily blocked, resulting in glue ear, leading to hearing loss.
Doctors recommend inserting grommets—tiny plastic tubes—into the eardrum under general anaesthesia to relieve the pressure and prevent fluid from building up inside the ear.
The operation is painless and takes roughly 20 minutes. Children who have grommets hear better and are a lot happier.
Typically grommets fall out on their own within a year. You may also find that your child requires a second set of grommets. A third is unusual.
It’s vital that your child wears earplugs or Prestik when swimming or showering following the placement of grommets.
Adenoids
In the case of children who regularly suffer from a blocked nose, earache and snoring, your ENT may recommend an adenoidectomy.
Your child’s adenoids are tissue found at the back of their nose. Their role is to fight off infections. Children who suffer from regular colds, congestion, and tonsillitis usually have enlarged adenoids.
If these adenoids become too big or infected, they can affect breathing, and cause bad breath, nasal discharge and snoring. Infected adenoids are the most common cause of sinusitis and post-nasal drip in children.
Your ENT may recommend an adenoidectomy—removing the adenoids using a small curate. It’s often performed along with the insertion of grommets and a tonsillectomy.
An adenoidectomy is typically performed on children ages two to six.
Tonsils
Does your child often complain about a sore throat? If they regularly suffer from an upper respiratory infection (infected sinus passages and middle earache), chances are they have tonsilitis.
The tonsils are found at the back of the throat. Much like the adenoids, they are the first line of defence against bacteria and infections. However, infected adenoids are not painful. In comparison, infected tonsils can be very sore. Your little one won’t want to eat, preferring soft and cold foods like yoghurt and ice cream, and might be feverish.
If you suspect your child may have tonsilitis, ask them to open their mouth wide and say “aah.” Using a torchlight, examine the tonsils on either side of their throat. If they appear red, raw or covered in white puss, phone your GP and book an appointment immediately. The doctor will recommend antibiotics and plenty of fluids.
A tonsillectomy is only recommended for cases where children have had often or severe tonsillitis. Typically the operation is performed in a hospital under general anaesthetic on children older than 2 years of age.
Once your little one is asleep, the doctor will open their mouth with a mouth gag. Using forceps to hold the tonsils, they are then dissected with an electrical scalpel. It cuts and cauterizes the wound simultaneously. The operation typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes.
Most patients are sent home later that day. Recovery can be painful and usually takes about 7 to 10 days. You’ll notice your little one won’t want to eat or drink because their throat hurts. It’s vital that you get them to eat a normal diet and enough liquids to help the healing process.
Scabs do form at the back of the throat. In some rare cases, these scabs break off and can cause complications such as excessive bleeding. Your doctor will advise you of all the necessary precautions to take.
But know that children who’ve had the operation are much healthier and happier post-recovery.
When to act
If you suspect that your little one may not be hearing correctly, if they seem fussy and temperamental or routinely complain about earache and a sore throat, seek medical advice.
Long-term middle ear infections can lead to hearing loss and impacted speech. Enlarged adenoids and tonsils can slowly poison your child’s immune system leading to sleep apnoea and difficulty breathing and swallowing.
Don’t wait for a burst eardrum. Book an appointment with Welwitschia Hospital’s finest General Practitioners or ENT Specialists and see how your little one’s health improve.
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