In-Depth Reports - Enlarged adenoid anatomy

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Enlarged adenoid anatomy

Adenoidectomy may be recommended when enlarged adenoids are blocking the airway, which may be suspected if the child:

Snores excessively
Has trouble breathing through the nose (nasal obstruction)
Has episodes of not breathing during sleep (sleep apnea)

Adenoidectomy may be recommended if the child has chronic ear infections that:

Interfere with child's education
Persists despite antibiotic treatment
Recurs 5 or more times in a year
Recurs 3 or more times a year during a two-year period

Adenoidectomy may be recommended if the child has chronic or repeated bouts of tonsillitis. The adenoids normally shrink as the child reaches adolescence and adenoidectomy is rarely needed after reaching the teenage years.

Review Date: 12/7/2019
Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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