Talia N., 9

Talia is a cheerful 9-year-old girl living with her parents in Kawangware. She enjoys playing with her friends, socializing with her peers, and watching television during her free time. Talia dreams of becoming a nurse one day so that she can help care for others, and she is determined to work hard in school to achieve her ambition. Since infancy, Talia has experienced difficulty breathing through her nose, particularly during sleep. As she grew older, her parents noticed that she snored loudly and often had restless, poor-quality sleep. Concerned about these symptoms, they sought medical attention. Following a thorough evaluation, doctors diagnosed her with enlarged adenoids, enlarged tonsils, and enlarged nasal turbinates. These enlarged tissues were found to be obstructing her airway, making it difficult for her to breathe normally. The enlarged adenoids and tonsils were contributing to her snoring and sleep disturbances, while the enlarged nasal turbinates were causing persistent nasal blockage. If left untreated, these conditions could continue to interfere with her breathing, sleep quality, concentration, and overall well-being.

Talia was admitted with Grade III adenoid hypertrophy causing upper-airway obstruction, associated with difficulty breathing, snoring, and disturbed sleep. She underwent an adenoidectomy under general anaesthesia, during which the enlarged adenoid tissue was surgically removed. Postoperatively, she was monitored, received supportive treatment including fluids and pain management, and was allowed oral fluids/feeds as tolerated. She was also prescribed medications on discharge, including an antibiotic, analgesic, and nasal medication. Talia had an uncomplicated postoperative recovery, with no complications documented in the discharge summary. She remained clinically stable following the procedure and was discharged home on 11 September 2026, two days after admission, with medications and follow-up instructions. The expected outcome of treatment was relief of the upper-airway obstruction and improvement in her breathing and sleep-related symptoms.

Talia has chronic upper airway obstruction due to enlarged adenoids, enlarged tonsils, and hypertrophied nasal turbinates, which have significantly affected her breathing and sleep quality. Surgical intervention is recommended to relieve the airway obstruction and improve her symptoms. With timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care, the prognosis is very good. Talia is expected to experience improved breathing, better sleep quality, enhanced concentration, and an overall improvement in her quality of life. Delayed treatment may prolong symptoms and negatively affect her well-being and daily functioning.