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Childhood Illnesses
and Conditions
: Adenoids in Children
What are adenoids?
Adenoids are tonsil-like glands located at the back of the nose. Although the
exact function of adenoids is not understood, it may be related to some sort
of protection from infection, but people can live normally without them.
What happens to the adenoids?
Children are born with adenoids which are quite small. As a child grows, so do the
adenoids, reaching their maximum size when the child is 10 to 12 years old. From
that point on, the adenoid tissue starts to shrink on its own. It's during the
growth phase that adenoids can potentially cause problems.
What are the symptoms of enlarged adenoids?
Enlarged or "hypertrophied" adenoids, can block a child's nasal passages and result
in:
Nasal congestion
Mouth breathing and/or
Increased snoring
In severe cases,where the adenoid block the nasal passage completely, they can cause sleep
disturbances. Another clue is a child who is tired all the time as a result of
interrupted sleep related to the nasal blockage which typically worsens at night.
Very rarely, these complications can be quite dangerous, causing sleep apnea,
failure to grow, and even heart failure. Fortunately, however, in the vast
majority of children with enlarged adenoids, the main symptoms are just a
chronically stuffy nose and/or mouth breathing. Also, it is important to note
that enlarged adenoids are not the only cause of persistent nasal congestion
in children.
Do enlarged adenoids cause behaviour problems?
Enlarged adenoids block the nasal passage and in this way can interfere with sleep.
There is no question that children who do not get enough sleep can exhibit behaviour problems because
they are tired. Some of the questions that doctors may ask during the evaluation of a child with possible
enlarged adenoids are how is he/she doing at school? always tired? any behavioural or listening problems?
It is important to undesrtand that enlarged adenoids do not cause ADHD(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or other similar conditions.
However, these behavioural symptoms may mimic ADHD, or even worsen the symptoms of an ADHD child.
How does one confirm that the adenoids are enlarged?
Aside from the symptom history, the best way to assess the size of the adenoids
is to do a simple X-ray of the neck region because the adenoids are hidden behind
the nose and cannot be seen by direct physical examination. This X-ray reveals
two very important details: whether the adenoids are enlarged and, importantly,
to what degree they block the nasal passage.
How are enlarged adenoids treated?
The only treatment for enlarged obstructing adenoids is to surgically remove them.
Antibiotics and other medications do not help. The decision to remove the adenoids
must come from weighing the benefits of waiting for the adenoids to shrink on their
own against the degree of disruption to a child's life and health. Obviously,
in extreme cases, the decision to remove the adenoids is easy to make.
In children without the extreme symptoms, the decision is usually made on
a case-by-case basis, with consultation, among the parents, their pediatrician
and an Ear, Nose and Throat(ENT) specialist.
Is there a relationship between large adenoids and ear infections?
The relationship between enlarged adenoids and recurrent ear infections is controversial.
We know that chronic nasal blockage can contribute to increased rates of ear
infections and persistence of fluid in the middle ear area, but there are no
definitive studies to support the removal of adenoids in all children with
recurrent ear infections. Practically speaking, experts agree that in a child
with recurrent ear infections removal of enlarged and obstructing adenoids may
help reduce the number of ear infections.
Other Childhood Illnesses
and Conditions |
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The information provided in this site is
designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
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