Enlarged tonsils cause snoring?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Van Quang - Ear, Nose Throat Doctor - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital. BSCKI. Le Van Quang is an expert in the field of ENT with 15 years of experience.
The tonsils are quadrilateral lymph nodes located behind the pharynx. They can be enlarged in children aged 2–6 years. The main symptoms of hypertrophic tonsillitis include stuffy nose, snoring, mouth breathing, salivation, coughing,... can cause sleep apnea syndrome in children.

1. What is hypertrophic tonsillitis?

Hypertrophic tonsillitis is the term used when an amygdala is abnormally large. In severe cases, an enlarged amygdala can lead to difficulty swallowing and breathing. When this large amygdala begins to become a regular problem, your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy to remove the excess tissue that is formed.
Hypertrophic tonsillitis leads to problems such as inability to concentrate during the day, memory loss, it affects the growth and development of children, and can also lead to serious diseases such as high blood pressure , asthma and heart disease.
In addition to congenital cases, upper respiratory tract infections, diet, allergic reactions, cigarette smoke, ... are also likely to cause hypertrophic tonsillitis.

2. What complications does tonsillitis cause complications?

Hypertrophic tonsillitis can cause dangerous complications such as:
Abscesses around the tonsils: In case of repeated enlarged tonsils, it often leads to abscesses around the tonsils. The patient has a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the throat, no voice, headache, high fever, bad breath, drooling, due to inability to swallow.
Caused by the toxin of streptococcus, the patient has a rash, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, headache, vomiting, high fever, swollen tonsils, red throat, red tongue, fast heart rate. There are cases of patients with complications of acute pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, complications of otitis media...
Acute arthritis: The patient has symptoms of swelling, heat, redness, pain, and pain in the joints. wrists, knees, fingers, toes, tired, sluggish people. After complications, arthritis often leads to pericardial disease.
Glomerulonephritis : The possibility of glomerulonephritis following hypertrophic tonsillitis and subsequent acute nephritis is worrisome. The patient has swelling in the legs and face, especially when waking up.
Sleep apnea: Complications from enlarged tonsils cause breathing disturbances. If there are symptoms of VA at the same time, there will be symptoms of snoring, which can seriously cause hypoxia, causing suffocation and restless sleep.

3. How to treat enlarged tonsils that cause snoring

The main cause of snoring is VA, tonsillitis leading to enlarged VA and enlarged tonsils that obstruct the airway. Treatment is usually considered VA curettage or tonsillectomy .
Hypertrophy of the tonsils is recommended when it affects your airways and disturbs your sleep. However, if it's due to an underlying infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help. Hypertrophic tonsillitis often requires treatment when it affects breathing, eating, and sleeping. In cases where enlarged tonsils are caused by an underlying infection, antibiotics may be used.
If due to allergies, patients with hypertrophic tonsillitis can use corticosteroid nasal sprays; Or take an antihistamine to relieve symptoms.
Hypertrophic tonsillitis affecting the respiratory condition without any potential risk, may be indicated tonsillectomy. Surgery is recommended when the tonsils are too enlarged and obstruct breathing without any inflammation. Surgery to enlarge the tonsils improves symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
Tonsillitis surgery helps to improve breathing difficulties, sleep apnea. During a tonsillectomy, the doctor may also remove the adenoid gland; The gland is located behind the nose and near the roof of the mouth. Tonsillectomy is a simple procedure that is performed under general anesthesia. Most patients are discharged on the day of surgery; and will fully recover in about 7-10 days. Remedies for snoring:
Weight loss for people with overweight and obesity. Stay away from cigarette smoke Use a humidifier to increase the humidity in the room to make it easier to breathe while sleeping. Drop physiological saline before going to bed. Practice sleeping on your side instead of on your back.

Clean the room with items such as bedding regularly, avoiding allergens. When you see snoring but accompanied by abnormal signs, you need to see a medical facility for examination to offer treatment methods.
Otolaryngology - Vinmec International General Hospital specializes in examining and treating common ENT diseases such as: tonsillitis, sore throat, tinnitus, non-allergic rhinitis, throat cancer ; tumors of the head, face and neck, congenital malformations of the ear, nose and throat area by common surgical methods.

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