Adenoiditis

You’re probably familiar with tonsillitis, an infection of the tonsils caused by viruses and bacteria but did you know your adenoids can also become infected? Your adenoids are the same type of tissue as your tonsils but they are located behind the nose.

Since your adenoids play such a key role in protection, they often come into contact with germs and then become infected. This condition is known as adenoiditis.

What Causes Adenoiditis?

Adenoid infections often affect children, but are rare in adults; this is because the tissues begin to shrink around the age of 5 or 6, and disappear completely in most people by the time they reach their teens.

Virtually any virus or bacteria can cause an infection of the adenoids.

What Are the Symptoms of Adenoiditis?

Enlarged adenoids can block airflow through your nose, which can lead to mouth breathing, snoring and a dry and sore throat. Yellow or green discharge from the nose can also occur. In addition to swollen adenoids, infected adenoids can lead to middle ear infections, sinusitis and a chest infection.

How Is Adenoiditis Treated?  

Because adenoiditis symptoms closely mirror other conditions, an in-depth examination is necessary in order to properly diagnose the condition. Your child’s doctor will examine their ears, nose and throat, and check for swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

If the cause of adenoiditis is viral in nature, it should run its course in a matter of days. Symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medications (antihistamines or pain relievers), fluids and rest. If a bacterial infection is to blame, antibiotics are the usual method of treatment.

If medical treatments are not effective, the adenoids may need to be removed. This procedure to remove the adenoids, known as an adenoidectomy, is performed on an outpatient basis. It is often recommended that a tonsillectomy (surgery to remove the tonsils) be performed at the same time, since tonsillitis and adenoiditis often occur simultaneously.