Child ENT guide
Occasional snoring during a cold is common. Loud snoring on most nights, pauses in breathing, gasping, restless sleep or daytime effects deserve medical assessment because enlarged tonsils or adenoids are only some of the possible causes.
Signs to discuss with a clinician
- Snoring on most nights, witnessed pauses, gasping or laboured breathing.
- Mouth breathing, persistent nasal blockage or recurrent tonsil concerns.
- Morning headaches, unusual daytime sleepiness, irritability, poor concentration or bed-wetting.
- Concern about growth, behaviour, learning or hearing.
How assessment is planned
An ENT assessment may include the child’s sleep and medical history, examination of the nose, mouth, tonsils and ears, and review of growth or hearing concerns. Some children need additional testing or input from paediatrics or sleep medicine. Not every child who snores needs surgery.
Treatment depends on the cause
Management may include observation, treatment of relevant nasal or allergy symptoms, further testing, or discussion of surgery when examination and clinical criteria support it. Benefits, limitations, recovery and risks should be discussed for the individual child.
Sources and further reading
This is general educational information. It does not replace an individual examination, diagnosis or medical advice, and it does not guarantee an outcome.