Enlarged adenoids in 4 year old

[Marylizah]

My 4-year old son (who started school last fall) has been sick almost non-stop since about October. One upper respiratory infection after another. He snores at night, and when he's especially sick, has episodes of sleep apnea. We finally took him to see an ENT, who prescribed a short course of steroids and an x-ray (to be done a month after the steroids). The ENT also did a test on DS' ears, which showed hearing loss due to chronic ear infections, and he told us DS' tonsils are swollen, although he said they no longer take out tonsils except in really exceptional cases.

The steroids did nothing to help. The x-ray, which we did today, shows enlarged adenoids. We have our appointment tomorrow morning with the ENT, and I'm guessing, based on what I've read, that he will recommend surgery to remove the adenoids.

For the record, I don't believe my son has any allergies: he never had any issues breathing or with chronic upper-respiratory infections before starting school last fall. He's always been in good health, has no eczema or any other symptoms of allergies.

I was wondering if anyone could offer any perspective on this surgery as well as any other options we should explore... TIA.

[kjbrown92]

It's possible to develop allergies at any time.
Dairy (and gluten second) causes mucous and a build up of fluid in many people. Also can cause snoring, as can environmental allergies. My DD2 didn't get environmental allergies until she was 6yo. My DS got them at 5yo. Two of my kids had many food intolerances, and when they were removed, the snoring stopped, and DS's adenoids went down (luckily my pediatrician said he wasn't going to do anything about them until I figured out his food sensitivities).

[Marylizah]

Thanks for the reply. I really don't think it's allergies. Probably about half of his episodes of illness have started with a fever. Also, steroid treatments for his coughing have done nothing to improve the cough. He does not have asthma. I think if we were dealing with any kind of allergy we'd a) have other symptoms of allergy and b) allergic responses would have been improved with the various anti-histamine and steroid meds we have tried out.

Anyway, we saw the ENT again yesterday. DS has a double ear infection. He cannot hear much in his left ear. His tonsils are extremely swollen. The doctor gave me information on 3 surgeries: adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy and tubes in the ears. He said we probably wouldn't do all three and that he wouldn't make a recommendation until he'd seen DS for a 3rd time towards the end of summer when he hopefully won't be sick.

In the meantime, we're back on antibiotics for the ear infections, steroids for the swollen tonsils/adenoids and nasal sprays. Sigh.

If anyone has any experience with ear tubes, tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, I'd be really interested in hearing it.

Thanks.

[SuburbanHippie]

My DD had her tonsils & adenoids out when she was 3 1/2 years old. Fast forward 2 years and she developed a constant runny nose and dark eye circles. It turns out, she has a milk allergy. I wish I could go back and undo the t&a surgery.