Paediatric ENT

Paediatric ENT procedures offered by Dr Jo-Lyn McKenzie

Tonsils are clusters of immune system tissues located at the back of the throat either side of the mouth that help defend against infections entering through the mouth and nose. While they play a role in preventing and fighting disease, tonsils can become problematic when they’re chronically infected or enlarged, causing issues such as snoring, difficulty swallowing, or frequent sore throats. Conditions like tonsillitis, which is often bacterial and causes painful, swollen tonsils, are common in children. Other problems include tonsil stones, which is unpleasant-smelling debris that collects in tonsil clefts, and disordered sleep due to enlarged tonsils.

When these issues significantly impact quality of life, a tonsillectomy may be recommended. Dr McKenzie performs both traditional techniques and coblation intracapsular tonsillectomy[BA1] , which can reduce pain and speed up recovery. In many cases, especially where sleep and breathing issues are present, the adenoids are also removed in a combined procedure called an adenotonsillectomy. While antibiotics and steroids may offer short-term relief, surgery is the most effective long-term solution. Dr McKenzie operates at several Brisbane hospitals known for excellent paediatric care, and will guide families through treatment options to ensure safe, effective care tailored to each child’s needs.

Learn more about tonsils, including issues and treatment options.[BA2] 

Grommets, also known as middle ear ventilation tubes, are small devices used to treat children who experience recurrent middle ear infections (otitis media) or persistent hearing loss caused by fluid build-up (glue ear). These conditions are common in young children whose eustachian tubes do not yet function well, leading to discomfort, hearing difficulties, and risk of permanent hearing loss. Grommets work by keeping a small opening in the eardrum, allowing air to circulate and fluid to drain from the middle ear, which helps prevent infections and restores normal hearing. In cases where infections or glue ear persist for more than three months or significantly impact hearing and wellbeing, insertion of grommets is a highly effective and minimally invasive solution.

Dr McKenzie inserts grommets during a short surgical procedure called a myringotomy, typically performed under general anaesthesia. She operates at leading private hospitals in Brisbane, using experienced paediatric anaesthetists and teams trained in the care of children. Most children do not need further treatment after their first set of grommets. In some cases, adenoid removal may be recommended alongside grommets to reduce future infections. Dr McKenzie advises taking precautions when swimming to reduce the risk of infection, particularly in Queensland’s warm, wet environment. If your child suffers frequent ear infections or hearing issues, it’s advisable to consult a GP for a referral to Dr McKenzie for assessment and tailored care.

Adenoids are a patch of lymphoid tissue located at the back of the nasal passage, playing an important role in a child’s developing immune system. Like tonsils, they help fight infections by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that enter through the nose and mouth. However, in some children, adenoids can become chronically enlarged or infected, leading to symptoms such as persistent nasal congestion, mouth breathing, snoring, frequent ear or sinus infections, and even changes to facial structure, known as “adenoids face.”

When adenoids are enlarged or infected, they can block nasal airflow and affect sleep, breathing, and quality of life. These problems are often best treated with surgical removal, known as an adenoidectomy. This quick, safe day procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, with minimal recovery time. Dr McKenzie performs adenoidectomies at leading Brisbane hospitals, using specialised paediatric teams to ensure safe, high-quality care. Surgery is typically recommended when medical treatments like nasal sprays or antibiotics have failed, and symptoms are ongoing or severe. If your child is experiencing breathing issues, recurrent infections or disrupted sleep, a GP referral to Dr McKenzie is the best next step for personalised evaluation and care.

A tongue tie occurs when the strip of tissue – the lingual fraenulum – that connects the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter, tighter, or thicker than usual. There is some evidence that a tight lingual fraenulum can significantly impact breastfeeding and bottle-feeding in young infants. Dr McKenzie offers in-room division of tongue ties under local anaesthetic, which is a simple and safe procedure that can make a significant difference to a baby’s ability to successfully breastfeed. Signs of a tongue tie include: a baby having difficulty with latching, clicking noises while they are latching, or dripping milk when they are attached. A tongue tie can also be diagnosed by a lactation consultant.

Dr McKenzie also performs tongue-tie division in older children, usually under the guidance of a speech therapist. A tongue tie that isn’t diagnosed as a baby usually comes to light when a toddler is experiencing feeding or speech that is limiting their intake of solid foods. In that circumstance, it can be really helpful to divide the tongue tie, which Dr McKenzie will usually do under a general anaesthetic. She also offers tongue-tie division in the setting of treating nasal obstruction and other structural factors that are contributing to the feeding problems.

Turbinates are part of the internal structure of the nose. They are bones with a lining on them that can become inflamed during a viral or bacterial infection, or an allergic reaction such as hayfever, also known as allergic rhinitis. This inflammation causes nasal obstruction, and is the reason your nose feels blocked when you, for example, have a cold or hayfever. The inferior turbinates, which are the largest and most important for airflow, can become overgrown due to constant allergies, or simply because of some people’s anatomy. This causes significant obstruction at the front of the nose, which leads to persistent mouth breathing or difficulty with oral feeding and management of solids and chewing.

In such cases, reduction or removal of the turbinates can make a meaningful difference in the nasal airways. Turbinate reduction is usually indicated in children who have allergic rhinitis and have not responded to nasal sprays, or children who have severe nasal obstruction causing big issues with their feeding or their orofacial development. There are several reasons that Dr McKenzie will see a patient for a potential turbinate reduction: parents who want an ENT’s opinion as their child breathes through their mouth; a speech therapist is concerned that nasal obstruction is impacting a child’s feeding; a GP has identified that a child has persistent nasal obstruction or nasal allergy that is not responding to treatment.

Turbinate reduction is a very simple and safe procedure that is performed as day surgery with minimal recovery. It has a very low complication rate and can make a significant difference to a child’s ability to breathe through their nose.