Snoring in children is not an infrequent occurence. However if significant and also mixed with obstructive symptoms this can be very disconcerting for the parent.

Obstruction of the airway causes the snoring and this is most often due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids relative to the space in the oral cavity and the back of the nose. It is for this reason that this condition can be treated by removal of the tonsils and adenoids – adenotonsillectomy a combination of both adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy.

However this operation is not to be underestimated because it is associated with risks that include bleeding, pain and infection. Careful selection of patients is therefore important and most children who have this procedure are having significant obstruction patterns with the snoring (obstructive sleep apnea), failing to thrive and are often tired and lethargic.