Tonsils and adenoids are lymph tissue that traps germs and viruses. Although they may help fight disease in children, they stop serving a protective role around puberty and begin to shrink as you get older.

Tonsils are found on each side of the tongue, while adenoids are in the roof of the mouth, near the back of your throat.

Children’s tonsils and adenoids are open to a lot of microorganisms. As a result, they may collect too much bacteria to fight and end up becoming infected.

These are the typical symptoms of tonsillitis:

• Red, swollen tonsils
• White or yellow patches on tonsils
• A sore throat
• Fever
• Pain or difficulty swallowing
• Swollen neck glands
• Ear pain

Tonsillitis seldom develops before the age of two. At this age, children are more susceptible to viral tonsillitis. When children aged 5-15 contract tonsillitis, it’s usually due to bacteria.

Symptoms of swollen adenoids include:

• Breathing through the mouth
• Nose sounds blocked when your child speaks
• Noisy breathing
• Recurrent ear infections
• Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (breathing briefly stops while asleep)

Everyone with obstructive sleep apnea snores, but snoring doesn’t always mean your child has sleep apnea. Look for symptoms like restless sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, and behavior problems (because they’re tired).

Your doctor at Southern ENT Associates may recommend surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids (tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy) when your child has persistent or recurring tonsillitis or when the tonsils are so large they block the throat.

Recurring tonsillitis is known as having more than seven infections in one year or more than three infections a year for three years. By comparison, most children only have one or two infections a year.

Tonsils and adenoids are taken out as an outpatient procedure, but general anesthesia is part of the surgery, so you’ll be at the hospital for several hours following.

Children with severe obstructive sleep apnea and very young children may stay in the hospital overnight so their breathing can be monitored.

After the procedure, it takes one to two weeks to recover. Although your child may not feel like eating due to pain, they heal faster if they start chewing and eating soft foods.

It’s hard to watch your child suffer from swollen tonsils, but we can help. Call Southern ENT Associates or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Thibodaux LA, Houma LA, Raceland LA, Morgan City LA, New Iberia LA, and Youngsville LA, and surrounding areas.