Adenoids are tissue pieces located above the tonsils at the back of the throat. These are responsible for combating infections and are most beneficial from birth to age five. Once a person turns five, they shrink in size and no longer play a crucial role in the body’s health. However, it is not normal for the adenoids to remain swollen. If they do, one must consult a doctor because adenoids swelling is rare in an adult.
Symptoms
Enlarged adenoids can lead to various symptoms, primarily affecting the airways and the nearby structures. But the enlargement will be minor in most people, and the condition is mostly asymptomatic. However, in cases of more severe enlargement, a prevalent occurrence is nasal obstruction, referring to the complete or partial blockage of the nasal airway. This obstruction mainly results in breathing through the mouth. It also results in cracked lips, dry mouth, nasal congestion, and bad breath. Nasal obstruction also leads to blocking the Eustachian tubes that connect the nasopharynx and middle ear. Blockage in them causes infections like cough or otitis media. It can also lead to increased snoring, restlessness, and sleep apnea. If the symptoms go unchecked for a long time, they may result in adenoid facies.
Causes
Adenoids are present from birth and grow until the child is between three to five years of age. Typically, they start shrinking after seven and diminish considerably in size in adulthood. Adenoids are found in the passage connecting the back of the throat’s nasal cavity. They generate antibodies that help the body fight infections. In the initial years, adenoids guard infants from infection by trapping the viruses and bacteria that enter the body via the nose. Once these adenoids get infected, it causes them to grow in size. However, they will revert to their usual size once the infection subsides. However, the adenoids remain enlarged even once the infection subsides in some people. Allergies are another primary cause of enlarged adenoids. Some children have enlarged adenoids by birth.
Risk factors
Some risk factors that aggravate the enlarged adenoids susceptibility are:
Tonsil infections
Frequent infections in the ears, throat, or head
Having enlarged tonsils
Diagnosis
When a general physician suspects enlarged adenoids, they will recommend a person with enlarged adenoids to consult a doctor specializing in throat, nose, and ear disorders. They are known as ENT specialists. The doctor will perform a physical examination by assessing the back of the throat and taking the history of the symptoms. They will employ a tool that has a camera towards the end of the lighted scope to see the adenoids. Further, the ENT specialist will insert this lighted scope via the nose. They may also recommend a blood test to look for infection.
The doctor will call for a sleep study when one shows sleep disturbance signs. It helps them study whether the symptoms are connected to difficulty breathing during sleep or sleep apnea, an outcome of enlarged adenoids.
Treatment
Typically, the cure for enlarged adenoids involves the use of prescription treatment. If one gets frequent sinus or ear infections, these treatments may not work. Further, if one experiences breathing difficulties, the doctor may refer them to a specialist who will perform surgery to remove the adenoids. This surgical procedure is called adenoidectomy.
Specialists will also recommend the removal of tonsils because tonsillitis and adenoiditis usually go hand in hand. The surgery for tonsil removal is known as tonsillectomy. It is a prevalent childhood surgery. Before proceeding with the surgery, the child’s parents must discuss the pros and cons to assess if it is a necessary treatment option.
Recovery from the surgery
Once the surgery is over, the child might experience dizziness until the anesthesia’s effect dissipates. In the week after the surgery, they may experience the following after-effects:
Fever, usually low grade
Sore throat for seven to ten days after the procedure
Snoring and breathing through the mouth because of swelling in the throat
Ear and throat pain for a few weeks
White, thick scabs in the mouth
