Tonsils and adenoids
Removing the tonsils is considered for frequent, severe tonsillitis, or when large tonsils and adenoids cause snoring and pauses in breathing at night. Children usually go home the same day or the next morning; the throat is sore for about ten days.
Glue ear and grommets
Fluid behind the eardrum (glue ear) dulls hearing and can slow speech. If it lasts three months or more, tiny ventilation tubes called grommets let air into the middle ear. The operation takes about fifteen minutes, and hearing usually improves at once.
A hearing test is done before surgery by the audiologists who share the rooms, and speech therapists are on hand if speech needs support.
Why Mulbarton
Netcare Mulbarton Hospital has specialised care for children, and is convenient for families in the south of Johannesburg. Children can also be seen at Milpark.
Common questions
Can I stay with my child?
Yes. A parent can stay until your child is asleep, and be there when they wake.
Do grommets fall out?
Yes, usually after six to eighteen months, as the eardrum heals. This is expected.
Will my child miss much school?
About a week after tonsil surgery, and a day or two after grommets.
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation.
