Activities during the recovery period after Adenoids Removal should be limited to prevent complications. For the first 3 days, the child will rest at home, can watch movies, read, or play quietly at the table. Avoid games that involve running, jumping, or sudden movements. After this period, short walks outdoors are beneficial, but avoid crowded parks or shopping centers where the risk of contracting infections is increased. During the first week, the child should not do any kind of sports or physical education. Cycling is allowed only on flat surfaces and only after 10 days post-operatively. Ball games or computer games are allowed, but without competitions or strong emotions that can increase blood pressure and, consequently, the risk of bleeding.
Precautions and complications after surgery
Sleep is essential for healing
Your child can sleep in their preferred position, but it is recommended that they sleep with their head slightly elevated for the first few nights to reduce swelling and make breathing easier. Use an extra pillow or slightly raise the head of the bed.
Risks and complications
In addition to the risk of bleeding mentioned above, other minor complications may occur. Dehydration is a common problem if your child refuses to drink fluids due to pain when swallowing. Signs of dehydration include: infrequent urination, concentrated and dark urine, dry lips, crying without tears. In these cases, try giving cool fluids in small, frequent amounts. If the situation does not improve, contact your doctor.
Sleep is essential for healing
Infection is rare, but can occur if oral hygiene is not correct or if the child is exposed to crowded environments too early. Signs of infection include: fever over 38.5 degrees that appears after the 3rd day post-operatively, pain that intensifies instead of decreases, purulent secretions from the throat or nose with a very unpleasant odor. Infection requires medical consultation and possible antibiotic treatment. Pain that does not respond to treatment may indicate a complication. If after 3 doses of painkillers the pain remains intense or if the earache becomes very severe, it is necessary to contact the doctor for re-evaluation.
Hygiene and daily care
Oral hygiene is crucial to prevent infection. From the second day after surgery, the child should brush their teeth 2-3 times a day using a soft toothbrush and gentle movements. There is no need to use minty toothpaste if it causes discomfort; a non-scented children’s toothpaste is preferable. Rinsing the mouth with water after each meal helps remove food debris.
The nose drops are administered
The nose drops are administered with the child lying on their back, with their head slightly tilted back. After administration, the child remains in this position for 1-2 minutes for the drops to take effect. If the doctor has prescribed a nasal spray, use it according to the instructions, usually 2-3 sprays in each nostril.
Humidifying the air in the room
Humidifying the air in the room prevents drying of the mucous membranes and reduces discomfort. Use a humidifier or place a damp towel on the radiator. Keep the room temperature at 20-22 degrees Celsius and ventilate regularly. Change bed linen frequently in the first few days because the baby may sweat profusely or drool on the pillow. Use clean cotton linen.
Reintegration into the community
Returning to kindergarten or school is done gradually. In the first week after resuming activities, the child may only go for a few hours a day or may miss sports classes. Inform the teachers about the operation and ask for their understanding for the adaptation period. During the first 2-3 weeks after returning, the child may be more tired than usual. Allow him to rest in the afternoon and limit extracurricular activities. The menus at the kindergarten or school should be checked; if they contain inappropriate foods (hard, acidic), prepare a home package with suitable foods.
Monitor for symptoms of respiratory infections
Monitor for symptoms of respiratory infections in the community. If they appear, treat promptly and consult a doctor if fever occurs within the first 3 weeks post-operatively.
Long-term benefits
After healing, you will notice significant improvements. Children who have had polyp surgery will breathe better through their nose, snore less or not at all, and sleep more soundly. Upper respiratory infections will be less frequent and milder. Hearing may improve if there were problems with seromucosa otitis media.
- In the case of tonsillectomy, tonsillitis will disappear completely or will be extremely rare. The child will eat better, without pain when swallowing, and will gain weight if he had growth problems. Sleep will be more peaceful, and the quality of life will increase significantly.
- In the long term, children who have undergone surgery have fewer absences from school, better school performance due to restful sleep, and normal physical development. Correct nasal breathing prevents problems with facial and dental development.
Care instructions after adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy surgery in children
After surgery, the child may vomit
After surgery, the child may vomit brownish red with streaks of blood or may drool slightly bloody. Minimal nosebleeds or throat bleeding are possible.
The temperature will be controlled
The temperature will be controlled; the child may be subfebrile (fever 24-48 hours post-operative: 37.5 – 38 degrees). Paracetamol-type antipyretics can be administered.
Under no circumstances should aspirin be administered or a hot bath be taken for 7 days, as this may promote bleeding.
On the day of the operation
On the day of the operation, the child will receive a liquid diet: tea, milk, compote, non-acidic juice (amount 1-1.5 l). From the evening of the day of surgery, the child can eat lightly: dairy products, purees, foods that do not cause pain when swallowing.
For the child operated on for polyps (adenoids): The child will be able to receive the following foods: soup, mashed potatoes, mashed vegetables, yogurt, rice with milk, pilaf, cottage cheese with cream, baked apple, banana.
For the child operated on for polyps and tonsils or just tonsils
The child can only receive a liquid diet and a mashed banana, possibly a small yogurt from the refrigerator, a few spoonfuls of plain ice cream (with a psychological effect, but also to relieve pain, do not abuse ice cream). If they refuse solid foods on the first day, do not insist, hydration is sufficient.
The day after the operation
The hospitalization is for one day. He will be taken home by car the next day. The day after the operation, normal eating is gradually resumed. The child can choose what he wants to eat. The food should not be very cold or hot and should not be coarse (bread crust) or in too large pieces. For 1-2 weeks, the child is not allowed to consume acidic drinks. If the child refuses to eat, it is a good idea to notify the attending physician.
The child will have a sore throat
The child will have a sore throat radiating to the ears (especially if the tonsils have been operated on), especially on days 3-4 post-operatively. Treatment is with paracetamol and nurofen. If the pain does not subside, contact the attending physician.
The child stays at home for 2-3 day
The child stays at home for 2-3 days, then can go outside for 2-3 hours, gradually increasing the period in the first week. Does not go to school / kindergarten for a week in the case of polyp surgery and 10-14 days in the case of tonsillectomy. The child does not leave the country for 10-14 days, does not fly by plane for 10-14 days (14 days in the case of tonsillectomy), does not go to the pool or the sea for 10-14 days post-operatively. The healing period is 2-3 weeks; in the case of tonsil surgery, healing takes longer.
After intervention
After this type of intervention, there is an increased risk of bleeding in the first 7 days, up to 10-12 days post-operatively, higher in the case of tonsillectomy. Bleeding risk 1/200 on the 6th and 7th post-operative days. If the child spits up blood, vomits brownish-bloody vomit or has a nosebleed, contact the attending physician and go to the hospital.
Nasal drops will be administered
The child speaks normally, brushes his teeth normally from the second postoperative day, but does not gargle. Nasal drops will be administered for 7 days. Normal nasal breathing in the case of polyp surgery resumes spontaneously after 7-10 days or through re-education (breathing exercises with the mouth closed). It is possible that in the first days after surgery, the child operated on for polyps will snore and breathe noisily, due to pharyngeal secretions and due to the false membranes that form at the level of the operation. The false membranes will be completely eliminated during the healing period, of 7-10 days in the case of polyp surgery and of 10-14 days in the case of tonsil surgery. Noisy breathing disappears after 2 weeks, and nasal patency is assessed one month post-operatively.
The mouth of the operated child
The mouth of the operated child, especially in the case of tonsillectomy, will smell bad. Don’t be scared, the child will brush his teeth normally, and a resumption of nutrition as quickly as possible will lead to the disappearance of this symptom. If the parents look into the throat of the operated child, they will see some white-gray-blackish deposits. These are the false membranes that form in place of the removed tonsils and are eliminated starting from the 7th day after surgery (when bleeding is possible), up to 12-14 days after surgery, in the case of tonsillectomy.
The child resumes his/her usual life
The child resumes his/her usual life, re-enters the community after 8-10 days in the case of polyp surgery and after 10-14 days in the case of tonsil surgery.
Conclusion
Recovering from adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or polyp surgery in children requires careful attention, patience, and adherence to medical advice. By following the recommended guidelines for rest, diet, hygiene, and gradual return to activities, parents can help their child heal safely and comfortably. Monitoring for warning signs such as bleeding, fever, dehydration, or severe pain is essential, and timely consultation with the best ENT surgeon ensures any complications are addressed promptly. With proper care, children usually experience improved breathing, better sleep, fewer infections, and overall enhanced quality of life. Consistent follow-up and support during the recovery period lay the foundation for a smooth healing process and long-term health benefits.