Patient's question:
The child is 5 years old and snores during naps at night, but doesn't snore when sleeping on their side. They also need to sleep on a high and firm pillow. A few days ago, they were thoroughly examined at the hospital and diagnosed with enlarged adenoids and tonsils. The doctor only prescribed physiological saline solution and a floating ointment, telling me that if the child experiences gasping during naps or restless sleep, a deep sleep monitoring test would be necessary. However, I have also researched this extensively and found that adenoids tend to shrink back during puberty. But I was wondering, do tonsils shrink back as well? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
If there is no long-term chronic inflammation, the adenoids and tonsils tend to swell after puberty. However, if the enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids interferes with breathing, causes snoring at night, or leads to poor sleep, it can affect a child's physical, intellectual, and facial development. If medication is not effective, it is recommended to promptly conduct a deep sleep monitoring test to understand the state during deep sleep and changes in blood oxygen levels. When necessary, surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids should be considered to ensure stable and unobstructed breathing and deep sleep.