Tonsil surgery can improve or get rid of breathing and sleep problems such as snoring or breathing pauses in children. But surgery isn’t always necessary.

Enlarged palatine tonsils can affect children's sleep. It is common for children who have enlarged palatine tonsils to have enlarged adenoids too. The palatine tonsils, often simply referred to as "tonsils," are the lumps of tissue you can see on the left and right sides at the back of your throat. Adenoids, also known as the pharyngeal tonsil, are found at the back of the nose. Children with these enlarged areas of tissue often snore, mainly breathe through their mouth and even stop breathing for a few seconds at a time while sleeping (sleep apnea). This can leave them sleep-deprived, restless and giddy during the day. And it may also affect their development. Then surgery might be considered.