Adenoids - Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, Treatment

Adenoids are small lumps of tissue located right above the root of the mouth and behind the nose(as shown in the above image).

These glands are part of your child’s immune system and prevent the body from viruses and bacteria.

As your child builds an immune system, these Adenoids tend to shrink, which is around the age of 5-7 years.

And not just that, by the time they hit puberty, these glands are entirely gone.

Now that you’re clear on the meaning of Adenoids, let’s try to identify whether your kid needs an adenoidectomy,

a surgical procedure performed to remove the adenoids because they have become swollen or enlarged.

The swelling or enlargement of the adenoids can be caused by infections, allergies, or other reasons. And if the adenoids become enlarged, they can block the airway, causing problems with the child’s breathing. In some cases, the child is born with abnormally large adenoids. In such circumstances, the doctors recommend a surgical approach.

The swelling or enlargement of the adenoids can be caused by infections, allergies, or other reasons. And if the adenoids become enlarged, they can block the airway, causing problems with the child’s breathing. In some cases, the child is born with abnormally large adenoids. In such circumstances, the doctors recommend a surgical approach.

Infants and younger children cannot express their pain or point out what’s hurting, which is why, as parents, you must be cautious and overly observant during the initial years of their life. Here is a list of the Adenoids symptoms and signs to look out for in infants and children

• Breathing through the mouth frequently
• Stuffy or runny nose without actually being sick
• Dry mouth and cracked lips
• Noisy breathing
• Nasal-sounding voice
• Frequent ear infections
• Snoring
• Poor quality of sleep
• Pausing during sleep to breathe

• First things first, your general physician may refer you to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist.
• The doctor will then ask about the child’s symptoms - the frequency, level of pain, etc. and perform a physical exam.
• The doctor may insert a scope through the nose that consists of a camera to take a good look at the adenoids.
• A blood test may be recommended to determine the presence of an infection.
• If your child is experiencing sleep apnea, the doctor may even recommend a sleep study to determine whether the symptoms are related to enlarged adenoids.

• First things first, your general physician may refer you to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist.
• The doctor will then ask about the child’s symptoms - the frequency, level of pain, etc. and perform a physical exam.
• The doctor may insert a scope through the nose that consists of a camera to take a good look at the adenoids.
• A blood test may be recommended to determine the presence of an infection.
• If your child is experiencing sleep apnea, the doctor may even recommend a sleep study to determine whether the symptoms are related to enlarged adenoids.

• First things first, your general physician may refer you to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist.
• The doctor will then ask about the child’s symptoms - the frequency, level of pain, etc. and perform a physical exam.
• The doctor may insert a scope through the nose that consists of a camera to take a good look at the adenoids.
• A blood test may be recommended to determine the presence of an infection.
• If your child is experiencing sleep apnea, the doctor may even recommend a sleep study to determine whether the symptoms are related to enlarged adenoids.

• First things first, your general physician may refer you to an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist.
• The doctor will then ask about the child’s symptoms - the frequency, level of pain, etc. and perform a physical exam.
• The doctor may insert a scope through the nose that consists of a camera to take a good look at the adenoids.
• A blood test may be recommended to determine the presence of an infection.
• If your child is experiencing sleep apnea, the doctor may even recommend a sleep study to determine whether the symptoms are related to enlarged adenoids.

If your child is suffering from:-

• Frequent ear infections
• Sore throat
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Difficulty in breathing through the nose
• Sleep apnea, which means he/she is waking up multiple times during sleep to breathe

You must consult your general physician.

Your child’s doctor or paediatrician may recommend adenoid removal if your child has a chronic ear, throat, or nose infections that:

• Isn’t responding to antibiotics
• It occurs more than 5-6 times a year
• Is impeding your child’s education due to frequent absenteeism

As parents, you try to keep your child as far away from the hospital as you can. However, there may be circumstances where delaying the treatment is not a good option.

If left untreated or there is a delay in treatment, the disease can progress, and enlarged adenoids can cause:-

• Possible hearing loss
• Blockage in the Eustachian tube; a tube connects the ear to the nose and drains the fluid from the middle ear.
• Persistent earaches due to the swelling
• Excessive daytime sleepiness as adenoids will continue to interfere with your child’s sleep.
• Learning issues or behaviour as a result of poor quality of sleep
• Sleep apnea

As parents, you try to keep your child as far away from the hospital as you can. However, there may be circumstances where delaying the treatment is not a good option.

If left untreated or there is a delay in treatment, the disease can progress, and enlarged adenoids can cause:-

• Possible hearing loss
• Blockage in the Eustachian tube; a tube connects the ear to the nose and drains the fluid from the middle ear.
• Persistent earaches due to the swelling
• Excessive daytime sleepiness as adenoids will continue to interfere with your child’s sleep.
• Learning issues or behaviour as a result of poor quality of sleep
• Sleep apnea