The dangers of enlarged tonsils in children

For children, the immune function is not yet fully developed. If you do not pay attention in daily life, it is easy for the child to have enlarged tonsils. We know that tonsils are immune organs. When tonsils are enlarged, it will not only cause inflammation, but also cause other complications. For example, children are prone to snoring and obesity, which will directly or indirectly affect the child's health.

The dangers of enlarged tonsils in children

1. Snoring

Snoring is a major symptom of enlarged tonsils, which is caused by enlarged tonsils blocking the airway. In severe cases, it can develop into sleep apnea, resulting in hypoxia at night. Long-term hypoxia will prevent children from getting a good rest at night, causing them to stay in bed in the morning, feel tired during the day, have a bad temper, and become easily irritated. In addition, children who snore frequently are four times more likely to develop ADHD than ordinary children. These children often show signs of inattention in class and are hyperactive.

2. Nocturnal enuresis

Otolaryngologists have found that children with enlarged tonsils often wet the bed at night. This may be because enlarged tonsils cause children to have irregular breathing at night, sleep apnea, and the brain is in a state of hypoxia, unable to control the bladder contraction muscles, resulting in urination awareness disorder.

3. Obesity

Obese babies usually have heavy phlegm and are prone to coughing up phlegm. In addition, enlarged tonsils and thick fat in the neck and chest squeeze the airway, increasing respiratory resistance, seriously affecting the quality of sleep at night, thus endangering the baby's physical and mental health. At the same time, obese babies tend to be lazy, listless during the day, and unwilling to exercise, forming a vicious cycle that causes the child's weight to continue to increase.

4. Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections

Babies with enlarged tonsils are prone to repeated acute upper respiratory tract infections, such as acute suppurative tonsillitis, acute otitis media, rhinitis, sinusitis, and bronchitis. Children often experience symptoms such as throat discomfort, voice changes, occlusive nasal sounds when speaking, coughing and spitting, asthma, and low fever.

5. Adenoids

Due to long-term mouth breathing, the air flow impacts the hard palate, causing it to deform and arch, affecting the development of facial bones. The maxilla is long and narrow, the hard palate is high and narrow, the teeth are protruding, the dentition is irregular, the bite is poor, the mandible is drooping, the upper lip is short, thick and upturned, the lower lip is hanging, the outer canthus is pulled down, and the nasolabial groove is shallow and flat. Coupled with the baby's lethargy and dull facial expression, this is the "adenoid facies".