Hello. Thank you for your question. I am sorry your son is not well. There are times when tonsils become so swollen that a steroid can be helpful. It also appears, in your doctors assessment, that a bacterial infection is present requiring antibiotic. As far as your son's breathing, though heavy,your doctor feels he is safe enough to recover at home. So trust your doctor, and let the medications do their job. You don' have to stay up all night watching him. He will recover.