If Your Child Snores, Be Careful! Warning About Adenoids and Tonsils

If Your Child Snores, Be Careful! Warning About Adenoids and Tonsils

Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist Op. Dr. Kadri Sert warned parents about the commonly seen enlargement of adenoids and tonsils in children.

He emphasized that increased exposure to allergens and infections in recent years has significantly raised the frequency of these conditions.

Starting daycare at an early age, spending long periods in enclosed spaces, and contact with sick individuals increase children’s exposure to microbes. In addition, environmental factors such as processed foods and air pollution make children more prone to allergies, which leads to a higher incidence of adenoid and tonsil problems.

Night Snoring and Sleeping with an Open Mouth Are Important Warning Signs

Dr. Sert stated that one of the most important symptoms of adenoid enlargement is snoring and sleeping with the mouth open at night:

“When the adenoids enlarge, children cannot breathe comfortably through their nose. This leads to mouth breathing, snoring, and even pauses in breathing during sleep. If left untreated, oxygen levels in the blood may decrease, putting extra strain on the heart.”

It Can Even Affect Facial and Dental Structure

Long-term adenoid problems may affect not only breathing but also facial development:

“Mouth breathing can cause a receding lower jaw (retrognathia), a high-arched palate, crowding of teeth, and an increased risk of cavities.”

These issues may also lead to reduced chewing efficiency, speech disorders (especially certain sounds), and tongue-thrust habits.

Beware of Fluid in the Ear and Hearing Loss

Dr. Sert also noted that enlarged adenoids can affect ear health:

“Fluid accumulation in the middle ear initially causes temporary hearing loss. However, if untreated, it may lead to permanent hearing problems and decreased academic performance.”

When Is Surgery Necessary?

Surgery is considered when medical treatment is insufficient:

• Increasing hearing loss
• Persistent fluid in the ear
• Severely impaired sleep quality
• Significant airway obstruction due to adenoids

“In such cases, surgical treatment is recommended. After surgery, children usually recover quickly and return to daily life.”

Tonsil Alert in Children with Frequent Infections

Dr. Sert also highlighted tonsil enlargement:

“Having 7 or more infections in one year, or at least 5 infections per year over the last two years, should be evaluated for surgery.”

Common surgical indications include frequent tonsil infections, airway obstruction due to enlarged tonsils, tonsil abscess, and asymmetric enlargement.

He added that surgeries performed with the thermal welding method result in less pain, less bleeding, and faster recovery. Adenoid and tonsil problems can occur separately but are often seen together and treated simultaneously.

If your child has these symptoms, it is recommended to consult an ENT specialist.