This toddler seems to be a permanent fixture at the GP's surgery and now he's having problems sleeping Dr Philippa Kaye looks at the problem.

Raisingkids member's problem
Our son is nearly 17 months old now. He hasn't been well for months. Three months ago we took him to hospital where we found he had croup. A few days later we took him to our local doctors and they gave him antibiotics for Tonsilitus. Since then his nose has been running with green, smelly mucus. His temperature has been up and down, so he's also been on paracetamol. His tonsils are enlarged. We have been back to the coctors several times, but they've put it down to a viral infection.

What we are worried about is he seems worse at night. His doctor gave him an inhaler to help him breathe but his snoring and breathing sounds awful at night and it's getting worse. There are gaps in his breathing while asleep and these appear to be getting longer in between and then he is gasping for breath. We have been back to the Doc's again today and they told us his chest is clear. We've tried nasal ldrops, rubbing vicks on his chest and having a bath with steam and vapour but none of this seems to do any good. This just seems to have been going on for far too long now. Could you please give us any advice or tell us is there anything else we can try?

Medical Expert Dr Philippa's Advice
It sounds like you have been having a difficult time and are obviously very worried.

You say that he has had treatment for tonsillitis but that his tonsils are still enlarged. Tonsils and adenoids are at the back of the throat and nose and are part of the body’s immune system, the system that helps fight infection and diseases. However, they can become infected themselves, as in tonsillitis, or, in some people, they can become very big.

From your description it sounds like your son has started snoring at night, the gaps in his breathing are called sleep apnoea and occur when snoring is very bad. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids can cause snoring and it sounds like this may be happening in your son.

Try going back to your GP, explain your concerns, especially about the sleep apnoea – you may be referred to an ears, nose and throat specialist. In some cases, where the snoring and sleep apnoea are severe, or if the child is getting so many infections that they are missing lots of school, the tonsils and adenoids are removed surgically. Alternatively he may have a problem with his sinuses, which can be treated with antibiotics and a steroid spray up the nose.

In the meantime, keep doing what you are doing, give him a healthy, varied diet with lots of fluids. You don’t always have to give paracetamol if he has a temperature, you could try only giving it when he doesn’t feel well and keep having steam inhalations. Remember, if you are concerned you should keep going back to your family doctor.

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