Enlarged tonsils: The silent condition affecting children's breathing

Tonsillitis in children.[Courtesy]

On many nights, Hellen Andere sat beside her young son and listened anxiously as he struggled to sleep. Peaceful rest was interrupted by heavy snoring, restless tossing and turning and moments when breathing seemed difficult. His mouth remained open throughout the night because his nose was constantly blocked.

At first, she dismissed the problem as a stubborn cold. Then came persistent coughs, recurrent throat infections and breathing difficulties that worsened whenever temperatures dropped.

As the symptoms persisted, Hellen realised something was seriously wrong. Her son, Leon Odunga, was only four years old when the condition became impossible to ignore.

“He could barely breathe through his nose. Most of the time, he was breathing through his mouth. During cold seasons, the situation became much worse,” she recalls.

Like many parents, Hellen initially sought treatment through medication. Each hospital visit brought temporary relief, only for the symptoms to return. Eventually, medical examinations revealed that Leon’s tonsils and adenoids had become enlarged, blocking his airway.

For Hellen, the decision to approve surgery was heartbreaking. Yet she knew the alternative meant allowing her son to continue living with a condition that was affecting his quality of life. “It was one of the hardest moments for me as a parent,” she says.

The operation lasted about 40 minutes. Fortunately, the surgery was successful. Leon spent one night under observation before being discharged. Recovery was uncomfortable, but the improvement soon became evident. Now eight years old, he breathes normally, the snoring has disappeared, and the constant discomfort is gone.

Today, the condition has never returned. Looking back, Hellen believes one of the biggest challenges is a lack of awareness. Many parents mistake the symptoms for ordinary colds, coughs or recurrent flu.

Her experience mirrors concerns raised by health specialists who say diseases affecting the tonsils and adenoids remain among the most common yet overlooked childhood conditions.

According to Dr David Odeny, a consultant Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon in Kisumu, the tonsils and adenoids are normal tissues found in the throat and behind the nose. They form part of the lymphatic system and help the body fight infections.

However, because they actively respond to germs, they can become enlarged or infected. Enlargement may result from recurrent infections, allergies, environmental irritants such as dust, or an overactive immune response. The condition is particularly common among children aged three to five years.

Symptoms include persistent mouth breathing, chronic snoring, difficulty swallowing, recurrent throat infections, frequent fevers, coughing, poor sleep and voice changes.

“Parents may notice that a child constantly breathes through the mouth, appears tired despite sleeping for many hours, or struggles to concentrate in school,” says Dr Odeny.

When the airway is obstructed, sleep quality is affected. Specialists warn that poor sleep can interfere with physical growth because growth hormone is released mainly during deep sleep.

Children who repeatedly wake because of breathing difficulties may not get adequate rest for healthy development.

Poor sleep can also affect memory, concentration and learning, leaving a child exhausted and unable to focus in class.

Medical experts also warn that prolonged airway obstruction can lead to serious complications. Reduced oxygen levels and disturbed breathing patterns may affect the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of hypertension and other long-term health problems.

Warning signs

One of the most important warning signs is persistent snoring. “Many families dismiss snoring as harmless, but snoring in children should never be considered normal,” says Dr Odeny.

Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the condition. When an infection is present, antibiotics may be prescribed. However, specialists caution that medication must be used responsibly and completed as prescribed.

For children with recurrent infections or significant airway obstruction, surgery often provides the most effective solution.

Lilian Okoth, an ENT specialist at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, says awareness remains one of the greatest barriers to timely treatment. Many parents fail to recognise symptoms early, while others assume recurring throat problems are a normal part of childhood.

She advises that any child experiencing persistent throat discomfort, difficulty swallowing, chronic snoring or unusual breathing patterns should undergo proper medical assessment.

For Hellen, greater awareness could spare other families the anxiety she endured.

Today, when she watches Leon sleep peacefully through the night, she is reminded of how close they came to accepting his symptoms as normal. Instead, they sought answers, found treatment and gave their son the simple ability to breathe freely.