ENT Experts Weigh in on Tonsils and Adenoid Problems in Kids
Gina Ketelaar says all of daughter Madison’s anxiety symptoms went away following surgery to remove her enlarged tonsils.
Dr. Scott DiVenere is an otolaryngologist on the medical staff at Silver Cross Hospital.
For decades, parents have been familiar with tonsil and adenoid issues when their children have had persistent sore throats and infections.
“But 90 percent of the cases we see now with obstructive sleep issues in children are due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which leads to problems with diet, teeth and even behavior,” said Dr. Scott DiVenere , an otolaryngologist – ear, nose and throat – specialist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
“In fact, we’ve seen that about 25 percent of ADHD issues in children can be traced to sleep problems caused by obstructions in the throat and nasal passages.”
To make parents more aware of these issues, Dr. DiVenere and his associate, Dr. Ankit Patel , will be hosting a free program for the community on “Tonsils, Adenoids and Allergies” at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Silver Cross Hospital, 1900 Silver Cross Blvd., New Lenox, Pavilion A.
Parents may notice some issues if their children snore or often breathe through their mouths. And while pediatricians refer cases, he is seeing more coming from dentists who notice the child’s tonsils are abnormally large.
Removing enlarged tonsils and adenoids may not cure issues in every child, but Dr. DiVenere remembers one case when the change was startling.
“She was having trouble focusing, swallowing and had sensitivity in her throat. They even thought it might be acid reflux, or she might be imagining the symptoms. But her tonsils and adenoids were enlarged, and her parents decided to go through with the surgery to remove them. After we did, all of her symptoms went away. It changed everything.”
It sure did, said Gina Ketelaar, whose daughter, Madison, started showing symptoms of anxiety right before kindergarten.
“We even sent her to a counselor. And around second grade, she had throat infections, tonsilitis, strep. But she also would say it felt like there was a lump in her throat.”
Although no one thought Madison’s tonsils seemed unusual, Ketelaar had a hunch. She heard Dr. DiVenere was very good with children, so she set up an appointment.
“I wish I had done it sooner,” she said. “Madison is now 11, and her anxiety is much better. I don’t have any trouble getting her up in the morning anymore. She sets her own alarm, since she likes to be up an hour before the school bus arrives at 6:45 a.m. She used to cry about not wanting to go to school. Now, she has missed only one day. And she’s very involved in sports.
“Sleep is so important to health. We know that as adults. But who would have thought the problem would be tonsils?”
To register for the free lecture “Tonsils, Adenoids, Allergies & Kids” with Drs. DiVenere and Patel, visit silvercross.org/classes-events .
