Best Pediatric Tonsillectomy Surgeon in Dubai – Dr. Jabbr

Has your child had sore throat after sore throat this year? Or do they snore loudly and seem to stop breathing for a few seconds at night? These are the two main reasons parents start looking for a pediatric tonsillectomy surgeon in Dubai.

Here you will learn when the operation is needed, what happens on the day, how to manage recovery and which bleeding signs matter.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. With more than 20 years of experience, he sees children with tonsil problems as well as adults.

When is tonsillectomy recommended for a child?

Most children with big tonsils or a few throat infections do not need an operation. Surgery is usually advised only when the tonsils are clearly doing more harm than good.

Frequent tonsillitis

ENT surgeons look at how often attacks happen and how severe they are. An operation may be discussed after seven or more proper attacks in one year, five or more a year for two years, or three or more a year for three years. A "proper" attack means a real illness, for example with fever, swollen neck glands, pus on the tonsils or a positive strep test. Note the dates, antibiotic courses and school days missed. Read more about recurrent tonsillitis in children.

Enlarged tonsils that affect sleep

In young children, the most common reason for tonsillectomy today is blocked breathing during sleep. Large tonsils, often together with large adenoids, can narrow the airway at night. Your child may snore every night, sleep with an open mouth, gasp, or pause in breathing. Our page on child snoring and sleep apnea explains the signs. For many of these children, removing the tonsils can improve sleep, daytime mood and concentration.

Quinsy and other reasons

Quinsy is a pocket of pus next to a tonsil. It is more common in teenagers than in young children. A severe episode, or quinsy that comes back, may be a reason to remove the tonsils. Less often, surgery is advised when the tonsils make swallowing hard, or when one tonsil grows much larger than the other and needs to be checked in the lab.

Can we wait and watch instead?

Yes, often. If infections are mild or becoming less frequent, watching for six to twelve months is usually sensible, as they often settle with age.

Waiting is less suitable when there are clear breathing pauses at night, poor weight gain, or a quinsy. Dr. Jabbr will examine your child and ask about sleep and past infections. The adenoids cannot be seen through the mouth, so he may check them with a thin camera in the nose. If the picture is unclear, he may suggest a sleep study.

What happens during a child's tonsillectomy?

Beforehand, you will be asked about your child's health, medicines and any bleeding problems in the family.

Your child has a general anaesthetic, so they are fully asleep and feel nothing. The tonsils are removed through the mouth, with no cuts on the skin.

In some children with sleep-related breathing problems, only part of each tonsil may be removed. This is called a partial tonsillectomy, and your surgeon will explain which method suits your child. If the adenoids are also enlarged, they are often taken out in the same operation, as described on our adenoidectomy page.

Many children can go home later that day. Very young children, children with severe sleep apnea and those with other health conditions are usually kept overnight so their breathing can be watched. More details are on our tonsils and tonsillectomy page.

What does the 10 to 14 day recovery look like?

• Days 1 to 3: Your child will have a sore throat and may feel sleepy from the anaesthetic. White or yellow patches form where the tonsils were. These are healing tissue, not infection.
• Days 4 to 8: Pain often gets worse, not better, around this time. This is normal. Bad breath and ear pain are also common. The patches start to come away.
• Days 9 to 14: Pain slowly eases and eating gets easier. Most children feel close to normal by the end of the second week.

Ear pain is usually "referred" from the healing throat through shared nerves, and the ear itself is normally fine. Plan for about two weeks off school or nursery.

What should my child eat and drink after tonsillectomy?

Keeping your child drinking well matters more than anything else they eat.

• Offer small drinks often: water, milk, ice lollies or mild, non-citrus juices.
• Go back to normal meals as soon as possible. Soft foods like pasta, rice, eggs and yoghurt are easy at first.
• For two weeks, avoid very hot drinks, spicy food, sharp crisps and citrus juices, as they can sting or scratch.

Watch for signs of dehydration: few wet nappies or toilet visits, dark urine, a dry mouth or no tears. If your child will hardly drink anything for many hours, contact the team the same day.

How do I keep my child's pain under control?

Steady pain relief is what makes eating and drinking possible.

1. Follow the medicine plan on your discharge sheet exactly. It usually includes paracetamol and, when suitable, ibuprofen, given at set times for the first week or so.
2. Write down each dose and time, so no dose is missed or doubled.
3. Where you can, plan meals for when a dose is already working.
4. Night and early morning are often the hardest times. For the first few nights, you may need to wake your child for a dose.
5. Do not give aspirin. Codeine and tramadol are not safe for children after this operation. Check with the doctor before adding any other medicine.

Keep your child resting at home and away from people with colds while the throat heals.

Bleeding after tonsillectomy: what are the warning signs?

Bleeding is the main serious risk after tonsillectomy. It is not common, but you should know how it looks. It can happen in the first 24 hours, or later, most often between day 5 and day 10, when the healing patches come away.

Take your child to the nearest emergency department at once if you notice:

• any fresh red blood in the spit or from the nose, even a small amount;
• vomiting of blood, or of dark material that looks like coffee grounds;
• repeated swallowing, which can mean blood is trickling down the throat;
• noisy or difficult breathing;
• a pale face, cold hands or unusual sleepiness.

Do not wait for it to stop. Keep your child sitting up and leaning forward, and ask them to spit the blood out. If the bleeding is heavy, call an ambulance on 998.

Call the ENT team the same day for a fever that does not settle with medicine, pain that is not controlled by the plan, or refusal to drink.

As late bleeding is possible, stay near a hospital in Dubai and avoid flying for two weeks after the operation.

Why choose Dr. Muhammad Jabbr as your pediatric tonsillectomy surgeon in Dubai?

• Experience: over 20 years as an ENT doctor, with more than 3,000 ENT procedures carried out.
• Training: MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS.
• Care for children: he treats both children and adults.

If you want one of the best ENT surgeons in Dubai to look at your child's tonsils, a consultation with Dr. Jabbr is a good start. See also our pediatric ENT services.

Book an appointment

Not sure if your child needs surgery? Bring your record of throat infections to the visit, and a short phone video of your child's breathing at night if they snore.

Book online with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr or call +971 52 751 7811. You will find him in the ENT Department of Medcare Hospital on Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations in children. For the right child, it can mean better sleep and fewer sick days. Make the decision carefully, plan the recovery and learn the bleeding signs. Dr. Muhammad Jabbr at Medcare Hospital Al Safa can talk you through the options.