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Everyone has tonsils but we usually don't even know they are there. The tonsils are located between the palatine arches, within the nasal pharynx and at the base of the tongue. They represent an important element in our immune systems. Tonsils have the capacity to detect intruding pathogens (germs) and trigger the body's immune response. However, frequent infections in children can lead to excessively enlarged tonsils and associated obstructions in the upper airway.
A child with chronically enlarged tonsils snores frequently or may even experience breathing interruptions while sleeping. A lack of restful sleep can cause moodiness and lapses in concentration, even leading to long-term developmental problems. Loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and speech impediments have also been linked to chronically enlarged tonsils.
But such a diagnosis should not be regarded as an automatic reason for removing the tonsils! Nowadays, chronic enlargement of the palatine tonsils can be treated gently using minimally invasive methods - so even the smallest of patients can breathe easy.
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| Enlarged palatine tonsils |
