Paediatric Conditions of the Ear, Nose & Throat
Nasal congestion | Obstructive sleep apnoea | Childhood epistaxis | Surgery
Sleep disordered breathing & obstructive sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea and disordered breathing is more common than you may think. Approximately two to three in every 100 children will experience some form of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Children with sleep apnoea usually have difficulties breathing while they are asleep. The condition is most commonly caused when the upper airway muscles relax during sleep and the airway becomes either partially or fully blocked by the enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Other causes include obesity, long-term and seasonal allergies, muscle weakness or low muscle tone caused by medical conditions such as Down Syndrome or Pierre Robin Syndrome and other airway structural or facial abnormalities. If you observe that your child snores loudly, pauses while breathing and has difficulty breathing while sleeping, chokes, gasps, snorts, is restless and sweats while sleeping, breathes through their mouth instead of their nose at night, and is unusually sleepy during the daytime, then you should consider having your child assessed by a GP. If further investigation, treatment or surgery is required, you’ll likely be referred to an ENT specialist like me.
Recurrent ear and throat infections or tonsillitis
Tonsils are bundles of lymphoid tissue similar to the lymph nodes or glands in your neck, armpits and groin and their primary function as part of the immune system is to help the body defend itself against infection
Hence, tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsil glands on either side of the back of the throat. Tonsillitis is very common and can occur at any age. It is most common in children and young adults. Symptoms include, sore throat, pain with swallowing, fever, headache, general feeling of being unwell, tiredness, bad breath and more. If these symptoms persist you should have your child assessed by a GP.
Hay fever and nasal congestion
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is a chronic condition typically caused by an allergic reaction to environmental factors such as to dust, animal hair, mould or pollens from trees, grasses and weeds. The condition can affect your child’s eyes, sinuses, throat and ears. Hay fever symptoms such as runny and itchy nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, blocked nose, or snoring, can be triggered by seasonal changes or occur throughout the year. These symptoms, if left untreated, may have a significant impact your child’s quality of life. If they don’t resolve with treatment by your GP then your child may require a more intensive investigation and/or treatment by an ENT specialist.
Childhood epistaxis
Nosebleeds (epistaxis) may occur when a blood vessel bursts in the lining of the nose. As blood vessels are located close to the surface of the nose it makes them vulnerable to impacts that cause bleeding. Nosebleeds are a common complaint in children and more than half of all children will experience at least one. However, persistent and recurrent nosebleeds in young children may require further investigation to determine the cause. Treatment from a an ear, nose and throat specialist like me may be necessary.
Surgical procedures
As your ENT specialist I perform a number of specialised surgical procedures including adenotonsillectomy (complete removal of the tonsils and adenoids), grommet insertion (procedure for drainage of the middle ear), and, cautery of the turbinates (cauterisation of the large structure that runs the length of the nasal airway). If surgery is required I will discuss the procedure and the associated risks with you in detail before any procedures are performed. My meticulous and caring approach ensures you and your child will feel informed and comforted throughout the treatment.