Best Pediatric Adenoid Doctor in Dubai – Dr. Muhammad Jabbr

Does your child breathe through the mouth all day, sound blocked when talking, or seem to have a cold that never ends? Big adenoids are often behind these problems in young children. This article explains what adenoids are, the signs to look for, how they are checked and which treatments may help, so you know when to see a pediatric adenoid doctor in Dubai.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is an ENT consultant and head and neck surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, Dubai. He treats adults and children. If your child's nose has been blocked for months, he is one of the best specialists in Dubai to check it.

What Are Adenoids and What Do They Do?

Adenoids are a small pad of soft tissue at the back of the nose, where the nose joins the throat. They sit above the soft part of the roof of the mouth, so you cannot see them when your child says "ahh".

Adenoids are part of the immune system. In young children, they help catch germs breathed in through the nose. They are largest in the pre-school and early school years, then slowly shrink.

Trouble starts when they are too big for the small space behind the nose. Air has less room to pass, and mucus cannot drain well. Our page on enlarged adenoids in children covers this in more detail.

Why Do Adenoids Get Bigger in Some Children?

Adenoids swell when they are busy fighting germs or reacting to irritants. Common reasons include:

• Frequent colds, which are very common once a child starts nursery or school.
• Allergy to dust mites, pets or pollen, which keeps the nose lining swollen.
• Repeated infection of the adenoids (adenoiditis).
• Smoke at home, including second-hand cigarette or shisha smoke.
• Natural size – some children simply have larger adenoids for their age.

Often more than one of these plays a part, so the doctor checks the whole nose, not only the adenoids.

What Are the Signs of Enlarged Adenoids?

Your child may have one or several of these:

• Mouth breathing. The mouth stays open while playing or sleeping, and the lips may be dry. Long-standing mouth breathing in children is worth checking.
• A blocked nose that does not clear. Both sides feel stuffy, even between colds. Read more about nose blockage in children.
• A nasal voice. Your child may always sound as if they have a cold. "Mummy" can sound more like "bubby".
• Snoring at night, sometimes with restless sleep or short pauses in breathing.
• Glue ear. The adenoids sit near the openings of the tubes that drain the middle ears. When these tubes do not work well, sticky fluid can collect behind the eardrum. Your child may turn up the TV or not answer when called.
• A runny nose and bad breath from mucus trapped behind the nose.

No single sign proves the adenoids are to blame. But if several last for months, an ENT check makes sense.

How Are a Child's Adenoids Checked?

Adenoids are hidden behind the nose, so a look in the mouth is not enough. A visit usually includes:

1. Questions for you about breathing, sleep, voice, colds, hearing and allergy.
2. Examination of the nose, mouth, throat and ears.
3. Nasal endoscopy. A very thin, flexible camera goes into the nose for a few seconds, often after a numbing spray. It gives a direct view of the adenoids.
4. X-ray, if needed. When a young child cannot manage the camera, a side X-ray can show the size of the adenoids.
5. Hearing tests if glue ear is suspected, including tympanometry, a quick check of how well the eardrum moves.

A sleep study may be suggested if there are worrying sleep signs. For most children, though, these simple checks are enough to plan care.

Can Enlarged Adenoids Be Treated Without Surgery?

Yes, often. Many children do not need an operation, especially when signs are mild. Options may include:

• Watchful waiting. If your child sleeps, breathes and hears well enough, the doctor may simply review them in a few months.
• Saltwater sprays or rinses to wash out mucus and keep the nose clearer.
• Steroid nasal spray. A low-dose spray may ease swelling in some children. Use only the spray and dose your doctor advises.
• Allergy care. If allergy plays a part, less contact with dust and pets, antihistamines or allergy testing may help. See our page on allergic rhinitis treatment for children.
• Antibiotics only for a clear bacterial infection, not for every cold.

These treatments aim to ease symptoms while your child grows. They do not work for every child.

When Does Adenoidectomy Help?

Adenoidectomy is an operation to remove the adenoids. It may be advised when they keep causing problems despite medical care, for example:

• A blocked nose and mouth breathing that affect daily life.
• Poor sleep, loud snoring or breathing pauses linked to the adenoids.
• Glue ear that lasts or keeps coming back. The adenoids are sometimes removed at the same time as ear grommets are placed.
• Repeated adenoid or sinus infections.

Your child is fully asleep under general anaesthesia. The surgeon reaches the adenoids through the open mouth, so there is no cut on the skin. Most children leave hospital later that day.

For several days your child may have a blocked nose, a mild sore throat or earache, a stiff neck or bad breath. Many are back at school within about a week. Adenoid removal will not stop colds, but it may help the nose breathe and drain better.

If the tonsils also cause trouble, both may be removed together. Our adenoids and adenoidectomy page explains the operation in more detail.

Seeing Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, a Pediatric Adenoid Doctor in Dubai

• Qualifications: MD, MS, DOHNS (England), plus European and Arab Board certification in ORL-HNS.
• Experience: over 20 years in ENT and more than 3,000 ENT procedures.
• All ages: he treats adults and children, including young children with nose and adenoid problems.
• A stepwise plan: simple and medical treatments come first where they suit your child. Surgery is discussed when the benefit is clear.

For parents who want a careful, step-by-step plan, he is one of the best pediatric ENT doctors in Dubai to consider. He has a 4.9 Google rating from 406 reviews.

When Do Adenoid Problems Need Urgent Help?

Most adenoid problems build up slowly and can wait for a routine visit. Go to an emergency department now if your child:

• Is working hard to breathe, with the skin sucking in below the ribs.
• Turns blue or grey, or is very hard to wake.
• Has a high fever, refuses to drink, or seems very drowsy.
• Has fresh, bright red bleeding from the nose or mouth after adenoid removal.

See an ENT doctor within days if you notice regular breathing pauses in sleep or a sudden drop in hearing.

Book an Appointment

An ENT assessment can show whether the adenoids are behind your child's blocked nose. To see Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, book an appointment online or call +971 52 751 7811. He works at the ENT Department, Medcare Hospital, Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps for Your Child's Adenoids

Enlarged adenoids are common and can cause mouth breathing, a blocked nose, a nasal voice, snoring and glue ear. Many children improve with time, sprays and allergy care, and surgery may help when problems last. A visit with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, an experienced pediatric adenoid doctor in Dubai, can give you a clear plan for your child.