Once the Tonsilitis causes are identified and verified, Adenoidectomy is performed to surgically remove adenoids – a mass of lymphoid located behind the nasal passages. Doctors generally recommend an adenoidectomy when a chronic infection of adenoids is diagnosed. Infected adenoids become enlarged and can cause impaired breathing, sleep apnea, snoring, and ear and sinus infections.

Tonsilitis Causes and Other Adenoidectomy Reasons

Adenoids are a mass of tissue of lymphoid, and along with tonsils, they help in protecting the body stay healthy. Adenoids reside behind the nasal passage, above the roof of the mouth. Adenoids, unlike tonsils are not visible as they are located higher up in the mouth. Adenoids like tonsils are a part of the defense mechanism and play an important role during the first years of our lives.

They help in trapping harmful viruses and bacteria that pass through the nose and mouth from the air we breathe. They are believed to lose in significance as one gets older, since the body builds up other immunity features.

The function of adenoids is to filter out harmful germs from your body, but there are times when they get weighed down by bacteria and end up getting infected. Infected adenoids are referred to as adenoiditis, much like infected tonsils are called tonsillitis. Adenoids swell to the size of a ping-pong ball on getting infected.

This leads to a blockage in the nasal air passage, compelling a patient to breathe from the mouth. There is a higher incidence of adenoiditis in children until they have reached five years, after which adenoids gradually shrink in size and disappear as they reach adulthood. Adenoids infection and tonsillitis of chronic nature may entail adenoidectomy.

The Causes Behind Adenoidectomy

Probable causes of enlarged adenoids that may require an adenoid removal surgery can be studied as below. There could be other causes besides the ones given here, so it is prudent to consult your doctor for a proper adenoid diagnosis.

• Congenital

A child may have enlarged and inflated adenoids at birth. Children are at a greater risk of getting infected even after birth. Adenoiditis is mostly found in children, although some adults are also known to suffer from it.

• Infection

There can be a viral or bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system causing the adenoids to increase in size. Bacterial infection is treatable by administering the right antibiotics, although the same may not always hold true in case of viral infections.

Adenoidectomy may become necessary in the following cases, if medicines prove to be ineffective.

• The enlargement in adenoids completely blocks out the nasal canal leading to difficulties in breathing and disruption in sleep. Doctors may advise adenoidectomy in cases where sleep apnea is detected because of enlarged adenoids blocking your airway.
• Persistent and recurrent ear infections and sinusitis.
• Future risks associated with enlarged adenoids if left untreated, mainly in cases where it affects the proper growth in children.

The Symptoms Behind Adenoidectomy

The most distinguishing symptom of adenoid infection is a sore throat, the failure to breathe through the nose and increased dependence on breathing through the mouth as a result of enlarged adenoids.

Other symptoms may show up in the following forms.

• Sore throat

• Nasal stuffiness and nasal discharge often greenish or yellowish in appearance.

• Noisy and labored breathing

• Snoring during sleep

• Nasal voice

• Bad breath, cracked lips and a dry mouth resulting from breathing through the mouth.

• Disrupted sleep patterns or sleep apnea

• Ear infections and build up of sticky fluid in the ear

• Swollen glands in the neck

A decision to undergo adenoidectomy generally depends on the patient’s responsiveness to antibiotics or medical therapy, chronic nature of the infection, and family preferences. , Before adenoidectomy, the patient must have an understanding of the adenoid problems that can arise post surgery. Adenoidectomy requires the patient to stay at an outpatient facility until the successful completion of the surgery. Recovery from a tonsil and adenoid removal normally requires one to two weeks.