Tonsils Treatment in Delhi

“We also recommend tonsil removal for children who have sleep apnea” says Dr. Bhardwaj. “If their tonsils are chronically infected, they usually have an enlarged sinus which causes the sleep apnea.” The breathing issues resulting from sleep apnea can affect the lung and the heart later on in life. Apart from being chronically infected, once the tonsils become large in size they obstruct breathing, Especially during sleep – a condition we now label as Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). This leads to long term complications on the target organs like the heart and the lungs.

Mahima agreed to her son’s surgery once this reasoning was explained to her. “I didn’t know an infected tonsil could be so harmful. I’m glad we went ahead with the removal because it will help my son in the long run as well.”

Children of a younger age can also have issues with a more superficial tonsil behind the nose known as an adenoid, as was the case with Tripti Suri’s 3 year-old daughter.

Tripti’s daughter had been crying continuously for a few days. “I thought she had picked up a cold” Tripti said. “She had a stuffy nose and she had started snoring when she slept. She also kept pulling at her ear, like something was bothering her.” The check-up revealed that Tripti’s daughter had an enlarged adenoid as well as fluid build up in her middle ears – a condition that causes ear blockage, pain and most worrisome of all – impaired hearing.

“Adenoids, like the tonsils, usually enlarged only may enlarge in children between the ages of 2-6” Dr. Bhardwaj explains. “By the time the kids are 12 years old, the adenoids tend to gradually reduce in size.”

A persistent issue with an adenoid needs to be looked at more closely. “The problem with the adenoid is because it sits behind the nose it obstructs the nasal passage, it causes snoring and mouth breathing in the child” says Dr. Bhardwaj.
Additionally, an enlarged adenoid can cause fluid build-up in the middle ear. “It blocks the eustachian tube opening and prevents the middle ear from being ventilated, so the fluid builds up” he explained further.

Sometimes, enlarged adenoids can develop into a condition known as adenoid facies where a child’s face becomes long and the child breathes through an open mouth.

Tripti’s daughter was started on an intranasal medicine to curb the adenoid enlargement, which did help her recover. If the intranasal medicine does not work over a period of time, then doctors advise surgery.

Both, Mahima and Tripti, were able to have their children treated in the appropriate manner because they consulted with their doctor. However, sometimes we see parents who self-medicate their children with antibiotics, which Dr. Bhardwaj warns against doing.

“Parents must understand they can’t start their kids on antibiotics at the first sign of a cold or a sore throat” he says. “Antibiotics should be taken only when prescribed by the doctor.” Remember, they are rarely required for simple sore throats or a cold.