Adenoids are the glands that are present behind the nose and above the palate (roof of the mouth). Adenoids are part of the immune system that help fight against invaders that enter your body. If the adenoids enlarge or grow, they can cause problems such as breathing issues, and snoring.
Adenoids are helpful to keep you healthy. But as you age, you do not require adenoids as the body can fight against infections through other methods. Adenoids disappear as you grow, but in some cases, they still exist after childhood.
How Do I Know If My Adenoids Get Enlarged?
If your adenoids are enlarged, you may experience several signs such as the following:
- Stuffed nose
- Snoring
- Sore throat
- Difficulty in swallowing the food
- Problems with ears including ear pain
- Problems in breathing through your nose
- Sleep problems such as sleep apnea
- Dry lips or cracked lips
- Dry mouth
- Sinuses that occur frequently
If you experience any of these symptoms, consider visiting a doctor at the earliest possible. This is because adenoids cannot be seen directly and a doctor can view them using a special mirror or a camera.
What Causes Enlarged Adenoids?
Adenoids exist in your body since your birth. They start growing from the age of 3 years and will grow up to 5 years. After 7 years of age, they usually begin to shrink and they disappear in adulthood.
In childhood, adenoids are helpful to fight against infections by producing antibodies. They trap the bacteria and invaders that enter the body during childhood. During this process, the adenoids get enlarged and return to their normal size after compressing the infection. In some cases, the adenoids remain enlarged. Due to this, it can lead to infection of adenoids, causing adenoiditis. Apart from this, allergies can also cause enlarged adenoids.
Few children will have adenoids enlarged from their birth.
Diagnosing of Enlarged Adenoids
The doctor will ask you about the signs your child is experiencing. Then the doctor will perform a physical examination to check the back of your throat. The doctor inserts a mirror or a small telescope from the nose to view the adenoids. Based on the findings, the doctor may recommend a blood test and X-ray to look for the infection.
If your child is experiencing severe breathing problems and sleep apnea, or sinus, the doctor may remove adenoids.
How are Enlarged Adenoids Treated?
The treatment for enlarged adenoids is based on the severity of the condition. In most cases, enlarged adenoids do not require any treatment. They usually shrink and disappear in the teenage. If not, the doctor may also prescribe medications and nasal spray to shrink or reduce the size of the adenoids.
But if the medications do not help and your child continues to experience serious problems such as breathing issues, a surgery might be performed. The surgery involves removing the enlarged and infected adenoids. The surgery is called adenoidectomy.
Your Child Suffering from Enlarged Adenoids? Visit Klavo Clinics in Hyderabad
If you or your child is experiencing any signs of enlarged adenoids, Klavo Clinic is your right stop. Klavo Clinics have been treating various ear, nose, and throat problems in Hyderabad for several years. We have well experienced specialists who can perform adenoidectomy effectively. We do not directly suggest surgery, instead, we first try with medications. If it is not treated with medications, then we go with surgery. To get the right treatment, schedule your appointment with us.