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Ds has enlarged tonsils, swollen glands and is generally unwell... help

4 replies

Nic04 · 01/10/2004 12:30

Ds (4) had his adenoids out 3 months ago because they were very enlarged and also because his breathing was being affected. Unfortunately since having them out, he has had a few head colds and has also been struggling on and off with ear infections and fluid in his ears (he's had around 8 courses of antibiotics in the last three months due to this problem).

The last few weeks his appetite has reduced quite considerably, he's told me a few times that his throat is sore and his tonsils are very big - although they have been englarged for some time now. The glands in his neck (front and back) are quite swollen and his temperature has been higher than normal the last few days. I've taken him to the doctor several times now and all they do is shrug their shoulders and put him on antibiotics - but none of them have suggested that his tonsils are the problem, even though they all comment on how huge his tonsils are. One doctor said that his system is obviously fighting very hard at the moment because of his enlarged tonsils and swollen glands. I just don't feel I can give him countless courses of antibiotics because after a while they probably aren't going to be effective anymore, and they're probably also affecting his immune system.

I don't know what to do and was hoping that someone out there has some advice they can give me. He's been a bit lethargic for a while now and his appetite doesn't seem to be getting better. I'm thinking of taking him back to the ear nose & throat specialist again to try & find out exactly what's going on. I just want him to feel better again... sorry this is long

OP posts:
Marina · 01/10/2004 12:59

I would definitely go back to a specialist on this one, Nic. I got fed up with constant antibiotics given to my tiny dd for recurrent ear infections and insisted on a referral.
Poor little guy, I hope he perks up soon.
Are you giving him acidophilus powder/capsules after each course of antibiotics? It can help general wellbeing and replenishes the child's essential gut flora. That might help with his appetite?

Nic04 · 01/10/2004 13:14

Marina, I've been putting pro-biotics in his breakfast cereal most mornings because I know it's the only way I can disguise it. It's in a liquid form that you buy from the supermarkets, but I don't know whether it's as strong as acidophilus powder..? I'm also not sure exactly how much to give him. I'm just so tired of knowing that he's not 100% well and not being able to do much to help him.

I have a sneaking feeling that this whole thing will either result in grommets or a tonsillectomy, or another period of 'wait and see' with even more antibiotics. SIGH.

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 01/10/2004 13:48

nic, why didn't they take the tonsils out at the same time as his adenoids? (I mean, I'm wondering if they didn't perceive them as a problem then).

Here's an article I found useful when consider what to do about dd's tonsils (she is 4 and has large tonsils which only affect her sleep but not badly enough to warrant surgery).

paediatric tonsil article

Actually, I thought what he says (in the article) about the boy with constant throat infections that don't respond to antibs might ring a bell with you.

I would definitely go back to the ENT and see what he thinks because they must have thought they were OK enough not to remove them so 3 months seems a very short time to have such a drastic deterioration in his health.

foxinsocks · 01/10/2004 13:58

oops it was a girl with constant throat infections (in the article)! shows how carefully I read it!

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