About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery North American Skull Base Society American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001 Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 9/19/2007 Subject: 17 month old enlarged adenoids?
Question Hi I have a 17 month old who last Nov - Feb had 6 ear infections. Finally in March our Dr. said it was time for tubes. He has always been a very loud breather, he snores at night, he doesn't sleep through the night, and he holds his breath for periods of time while he sleeps. He has very poor appetite, he gets cranky just after 2-3 hours of being up. Does this sound like it could be his adenoids? I have told my Dr. numerous times that i am concerned about his breathing, and the ENT Dr. said he wouldn't even look at them until he was 2 years old. What do you think? Do you think that i should press this issue or wait till he is two?
Thank You TJF
Answer It sounds like he may have obstructive sleep apnea. This usually responds to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in this age group, but tonsillectomy on <2 yr old children is more risky. I would have a thorough discussion with your ENT about this; you may want to get a subspecialty referral to a pediatric ENT.
