ENT for 5yr old?

DS is a mouth breather and doesn't wake well-rested. He always seems exhausted
He's never had an ear infection, strep throat, tonsillitis but he does have rather large tonsils.

I was a mouth breather as a kid and had my tonsils and adenoids removed. DH was the same and still has breathing/sleeping issues but his ENT is saying for him not to remove his own tonsils but f we see similar traits in DS that we should take him to an ENT to have the tonsils removed.

Would a pediatric ENT remove tonsils without any signs of strep infection? I thought there was a rule about a certain number of infections in a specific period of time? Has anyone done this? I just don't want my son to have poor sleeping patterns for his entire life.

Should also add older DS (6) and younger DS (2) do not have this problem - they wake up very well-rested, no snoring, sleep with mouths closed.

ENT for 5yr old?

My 3 year old son is a mouth breather and when I mentioned to the ENT, be actually sent us for a sleep study. Sleep study came back as having moderate sleep apnea. He just had his tonsils and adenoids removed this week. He never really got infections either, ENT made the decision solely for the sleep issues. Definitely go to an ENT and see what they say, they will most likely send you for the sleep study.

Re: ENT for 5yr old?

my son had his tonsils and adenoids removed right before his 6th birthday. That year he had 2 ear infections (never prior to that) and strep once that year.

But he just always sounded constantly sick. Very nasally. Snored. Etc etc.

His tonsils were huge. They recommended they be removed and we did. Best thing we did. He's not so restless when sleeping, no more snoring and he hasn't been sick once yet.

I also want to add that most ENT's will not recommend removal of tonsils in adults. It is WAY WORSE on adults and takes weeks to recover from than children.

Message edited 8/21/2014 8:33:17 PM.

ENT for 5yr old?

my son had his tonsils removed without ever having strep. he did have ear problems though. he was a mouth breath and had signs of sleep apnea - it totally changed his sleeping habits

best thing I did