Tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils. Tonsils are 2 Macademia nut-sized masses at the back of the throat.

Adenoidectomy is surgery to remove the adenoids. Adenoids are soft tissue at the back of the throat. They are higher than the tonsils.

Removal of the adenoids and tonsils is the 3rd most common surgery in children (after circumcision and grommet insertion).

Adeno-tonsillectomy is often thought of, and most often carried out, as a single, combined operation. However, depending on your child’s symptoms and other factors, one or both will be performed

There are several reasons why your child might need this operation:

1- Trouble breathing
2- Consistently blocked nose, snoring, breathing through the mouth, waking up frequently at night, daytime sleepiness, bed wetting, perception of choking or inability to inhale and pausing of breathing at night (up to 10 seconds) are common symptoms.
3- Recurrent throat infections.
4- Recurrent tonsillitis unresponsive to antibiotics.
5- Recurrent ear infections despite grommet tube insertion.
6- Recurrent sinus infections unresponsive to medications.
7- Trouble swallowing normally.
8- Bad breath despite treatment with other methods.
9- Growth in the tonsils.

What are the expected benefits of adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy?

When performed in properly selected children, adeno-tonsillectomy can reduce:

1- Throat infections
2- Doctor’s visits
3- Antibiotic use
4- The aim is to improve:

Your child’s quality of life
Daytime functioning
Ability to sleep well during the night.

We do not suggest surgery for children who are mildly affected.

Most tonsil-related problems in children tend to decline naturally with increasing age, although not predictably. The decision to regarding tonsillectomy in your child is individualized according to the potential benefits and risks of tonsillectomy in comparison with appropriate alternative strategies (e.g, watchful waiting, and continued antibiotic treatment) and the values and preferences of the family and child

Before surgery, your child should not eat or drink several hours prior to the operation.

During surgery, the anaesthetist will put your child to sleep; your ENT surgeon will remove the tonsils and/or the adenoids through the mouth. There is no incision or scar on the face or neck.

After surgery, you might go home after a few hours if there’s no complication or stay overnight for any compelling reason

Your child might experience an upset stomach for 1-2 days, throat pain for some days or occasional specks of blood in their saliva.

1- Plenty of fluids-provide water; please avoid citrus drinks like orange, pineapple and passion fruit juice.
2- Medicine-paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac are the common pain killers your ENT surgeon will prescribe; please give your child regularly.
3- Food that is easy to swallow-mashed potatoes, matoke, and yoghurt.
4- Avoid scratchy, hard and spicy foods.