Adenoids are glands located in the upper part of the back of the throat, just below the nose and above the soft palate. Adenoids are part of the lymphatic system and provide protection against infection by trapping bacteria, viruses, and dust particles before they enter the body's bloodstream. Adenoids play an important role in helping to prevent infections of the respiratory tract, eustachian tubes, ears, sinuses, tonsils, and even help to protect teeth from decay.
What Are Adenoids?
The adenoid is a tissue located behind your nose, just above your soft palate. It works as part of your body’s immune system, trapping bacteria to prevent infections from entering your lungs or throat. While necessary for protection against infections, enlarged adenoids can also cause serious health issues when they grow too large. These are some of its most common symptoms
Do I Need Treatment?
It’s not uncommon for enlarged adenoids to be asymptomatic—meaning that there are no symptoms. This doesn’t mean that you don’t need treatment, though; in fact, these cases of enlarged adenoids can be more severe. Symptoms of enlarged adenoids include difficulty breathing through your nose, noisy or stuffy nose, sinusitis (long-term inflammation of sinuses), throat infections, snoring, and hearing loss.
How Is an Enlarged Adenoid Treated?
The only way to treat enlarged adenoids in adults and children is surgery to remove the enlarged adenoids and tonsils. In some cases, the tonsils will not need to be removed, though many doctors will go ahead and take them out anyway to prevent future problems. There are no serious risks from this surgery other than the typical surgical complications associated with anesthesia, bleeding, and possible infection. Most patients leave the hospital in one to two days and only have sore throats, sore noses, and a possible degree of temporary speech or breathing impairment as their bodies adjust to life without the adenoids. No adverse health effects are usually reported, though some very young children may find that they become sick more often. However, removing the tonsils as well as the adenoids severely limits this. Enlarged adenoid adults have an easier recovery. They can expect to experience pain, tenderness, swelling, and possibly hoarseness for several weeks after surgery. They should also avoid vigorous exercise for at least four weeks after surgery so that there is time for healing.
Who Is a Candidate for Adenoid Removal?
If you have an enlarged adenoid, or if there is any discomfort associated with its presence, your pediatrician may recommend that you see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. This specialist will examine your adenoid to determine whether it is causing symptoms. If not, there is no reason to remove it. If your enlarged adenoid is making it difficult for you to breathe through your nose (known as nasal obstruction), surgery may be recommended.
What Happens During an Adenoidectomy?
An adenoidectomy is a minor surgery used to remove enlarged adenoids. During an adenoidectomy, surgeons cut out parts of your child’s adenoids through his nose or mouth. They may also remove other tissue around these glands in his throat. Before performing an adenoidectomy, your surgeon will numb your child’s face so he won’t feel pain while it’s happening.
What Are My Recovery Times After a Consultation for an Adenoidectomy?
After you’ve had a consultation for an adenoidectomy from Adenoids surgery hospital in Coimbatore, your surgeon will provide you with information about what recovery times to expect following surgery. If your surgeon doesn’t give you specifics, ask—they should be able to at least give you an estimate. For more information on how long adenoidectomy recovery takes and what kinds of expectations to set going into surgery, contact cosmetic ear, nose & throat surgeon Dr.
