Children can be at risk
Large tonsils and/or adenoids may cause poor sleep quality. The most common symptom of Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is snoring.
When an individual, young or old, obstructs breathing during sleep, the body perceives this as a choking phenomenon. Hence, the heart rate slows, the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated, blood pressure rises, the brain is aroused, and sleep is disrupted. For a child, the repeated interruptions of sleep is not tolerated by the brain. This sleep deprivation leads to a child that is sleep deprived, cranky, and ill behaved.
A child with suspected SDB should be evaluated by an Ear, Nose & Throat surgeon. If the symptoms are significant and the tonsils and/or adenoids are enlarged, the child is strongly recommended to have their tonsils and adenoids removed.
Other consequences of paediatric sleep disordered breathing include: growth; urine issues; and poor cognitive development.
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