Tonsils out in a 2 year old?

[snickersnack]

Does anyone have any experience of a child under 3 having their tonsils out? ds?s ENT consultant has recommended it ? he said he wouldn?t normally do it in a child of that age, but his tonsils are permanently read and inflamed and he?s currently on his 6th course of antibiotics since the start of October, which is just crazy. I don?t know (and nor do the doctors, though consultant has done a swab so will see what comes back) if this is a single infection that the antibiotics aren?t clearing or a series of unrelated ones, but either way, there?s clearly a chronic problem there. Before that, he?d had 3 other bouts of tonsillitis in 2009.

ds is a sweet little boy, and generally very happy and easy going, but every time he gets ill he ends up with disturbed sleeping patterns, and has been hospitalised twice with dehydration because he finds it hard to drink. It?s having an impact on all of us ? I?m missing a lot of time off work, dd is often not able to go to things because ds is ill and can?t come along, and we?re all suffering from the lack of sleep. But mostly I just hate watching him go through this regularly.

He?s due to start nursery in September ? he?s a summer birthday and has been quite behind with his speaking until recently, so I?m really keen that when he does start he doesn?t have to miss too much as I think he?s going to find it hard enough to adapt without any additional problems. The way things are going, he?d be off about a quarter of the time.

As I said, the ENT consultant is in favour of removing them, but our GP who I saw today said ds is far too young for the operation and he was amazed that anyone would suggest it at 2.5 years old.

[trace2]

mmm well dd dont have sore throught but she snores and its impairing her breathing we been told dd will be having her out and tbh we want them out my friends ds had the same as your ds he is 2 but now hes fine

[Helinher30s]

My advice is to get them out as soon as possible. My DS had his out 2 weeks ago - he's just turned 4. For 18 months we had the same life as you - he was permanently ill, never off the antibiotics etc. We could never plan anything because he would always be ill. He was never at nursery as he would go back in on a monday then be ill again by the wed with another bout of tonsillitis. Everytime he had a cold he had tonsillitis and was hospitalised twice with the most raging temperatures. If its done now its less traumatic for him as he will have no fear about going into hospital etc and when he's older he won't remember the pain of the recovery. I wish my DS had had the operation a year ago and saved a year of pain, illness and distress. I also dont think the months of antibiotics will have done him much good either so im really hoping we've seen the end of them... good luck, it is a tough decision. If you have any more questions let me know, as we have just been through it. The recovery is tough but children this young bounce back so well and with medication they cope very well. In fact I think my DS coped better than me

[MrsLau]

Hiya,
Firstly take a deep breath. My little girl is on day 9 after having tonsils and adenoids removed and she is doing fabulous. She started with the bad throats at about 2 and by the time she was 3 had sleep apnea due to size of tonsils and was getting sore throats regularly with high temp. Was advised to take tonsils out by ent but i felt reluctant and wanted to hold of and monitor her for a year because children can grow out of this literally over night. I waited for a year, her tonsilitus got worse and worse until she ended up with it permanently and sleep apnea was really bad. Already her btreathing is amazing and she seems much happier. The op itself is not a walk in the park, they all react differently but it defo is easier the younger they are. If you can manage i would advise you to hold off another year. x

[snickersnack]

Thanks everyone. The consultant is very clear that the tonsils need to come out, and so I'm inclined to believe him (he was right about ds needing grommets). Even if I knew he was going to grow out of it, I am not sure it's doing him any favours to have another two years of this. Helinher - ds sounds just like your ds. I do also worry about the effect of multiple doses of antibiotics, which can't be good for him.

He's ill again this week, and he is totally miserable. Even silly things are becoming a problem - we can't potty train him because everytime he starts to get the hang of it he gets ill and refuses to use the potty, and then the antibiotics upset his stomach and he ends up with a horrible sore bottom.

I don't think the omens for him growing out of it are good - apparently both my brother and I suffered at this age, and had tonsils out by 5. I remember it being vaguely unpleasant, but not the end of the world.

I said to the consultant we'd have a think, and let him know by the end of the week. Thank you everyone for your help.