Difficult breathing through the nose can be a result of obstruction in the nose or the nasopharynx. Difficult breathing connected to the upper respiratory tract is rarely a result of very large palatine tonsils. There are also other causes of difficult breathing at the level of the ENT region. Infections of the upper respiratory tract in children lead to swelling of the nasal mucosa, secretion, temporary growth of the third tonsil, which is why difficult nose breathing and snoring are frequent at this age.
Persisting difficult nose breathing does not mean that operation of the third or all three tonsils is necessary.
It is most important to point out that a good breathing function is of extreme importance for children in which bronchial asthma is diagnosed.
Cause of difficult nose breathing may be the presence of secretion, swelling of the nasal mucosa, enlarged third tonsil, polyps, other outgrowths in the nose and nasopharynx a.o.
Special attention should be paid to male children with stuffy nose and nose bleeding, in which case juvenile angiofibroma should be excluded, which is not a malignant tumor, but has to be properly diagnosed in time. Attention should also be paid to children with so-called “obstructive sleep apnea” (interruption of breathing during sleep), which requires proper conservative or surgical treatment.
To establish the condition of the third tonsil, among others we have at our disposal flexible fiber-endoscopy. This examination is painless, done through the nose and lasts only a few minutes, but needs preceding explanation of the procedure to the parents and preparation, for during the examination the child has to be held adequately, in order to avoid damage to the endoscope, which is very fragile and extremely sensitive to damage.