Adenoids

What are adenoids?

Your adenoids are glands located in your upper airway, just behind your nasal cavity. Part of your lymphatic and immune system, your adenoids help fight off germs that you breathe in through your mouth and nose.

What are some interesting facts about adenoids?

Adenoids have an important job for babies and young children. They help fight off germs until your child’s body develops another way to combat infections. Here are some interesting facts about adenoids:

• Adenoids grow to their maximum size between ages 3 and 5.
• Adenoids start to shrink by age 7 or 8.
• By adulthood, they’re completely gone.

What do adenoids do?

Like your tonsils, your adenoids help fight off bacteria and viruses. White blood cells make this possible. They travel through your adenoids, targeting and trapping germs.

Your adenoids also produce antibodies (proteins in your blood that help fight unknown invaders in your body).

Where are your adenoids located?

Your adenoids sit above your soft palate, directly behind your nasal passage. Unlike your tonsils, you can’t see your adenoids by looking at your throat.

What do your adenoids look like?

Your adenoids look like a pink patch of soft tissue. Some people describe the tissue mass as “cauliflower-like.”

How big are your adenoids?

The average size of a normal (non-enlarged) adenoid is 6.2 millimeters. The average size of an enlarged adenoid is 11.6 millimeters. (Adenoids can become enlarged due to infection, allergies or other irritants.)

What are your adenoids made of?

Your adenoids are made of lymphoid tissue — the same type of tissue that your lymph nodes are made of. Lymphoid tissue consists of connective tissue and white blood cells, especially lymphocytes. Lymphocytes make antibodies and play a role in immune response.

What are some common conditions that can affect adenoids?

When your child’s body is trying to fight something off, their adenoids can become inflamed and enlarged. Enlarged adenoids are most commonly due to:

• Frequent ear infections.
• Upper respiratory infections.
• Recurring (returning) nosebleeds.
• Allergies.

What are some common signs or symptoms of enlarged adenoids?

Children with enlarged adenoids may not develop symptoms at all. But in some cases, enlarged adenoids can lead to:

• Sore throat.
• Nasal congestion.
• A feeling of fullness in their ears.
• Mouth breathing.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Snoring.
• Obstructive sleep apnea.

How do healthcare providers check the health of my child’s adenoids?

If your child’s healthcare provider suspects an issue with your child’s adenoids, they may recommend tests, including:

• Imaging tests. To get a better view of your child’s nasal passages, sinuses and adenoids, your child’s healthcare provider might take X-rays, CT scans or MRI.
• Sleep studies. If enlarged adenoids are causing obstructive sleep apnea or snoring, your child’s healthcare provider may recommend a sleep study.
• Nasal endoscopy. During this test, your child’s healthcare provider inserts a flexible tube into your child’s nose. The tube has a light and camera on the end so they can look at the adenoids directly. This way, they can tell if your child’s adenoids are red, inflamed or enlarged.
• Bacteria culture test. To see if enlarged adenoids are the result of an infection, your child’s healthcare provider may take a throat culture. This test determines which organisms or bacteria are present.

How are enlarged adenoids treated?

Healthcare providers usually start by treating the suspected underlying condition. If nonsurgical treatments don’t work, your child’s healthcare provider might recommend an adenoidectomy.

Treat the underlying condition

Once your healthcare provider figures out what’s causing enlarged adenoids, they can begin by treating the root cause. For example, if your child’s adenoids are enlarged because of allergies, then your child’s healthcare provider may prescribe antihistamines or a nasal corticosteroid spray. If your child’s adenoids are inflamed due to a bacterial infection, then they’ll likely prescribe antibiotics.

Adenoidectomy

If nonsurgical methods don’t fix the issue, then your healthcare provider might recommend an adenoidectomy — a surgery to remove your child’s adenoids.

During this outpatient procedure, your child’s surgeon removes your child’s adenoids under general anesthesia. They might do this with traditional instruments or cautery.

Most children recover from adenoidectomy within two to three days. According to research studies, adenoid removal doesn’t increase the frequency of colds or infections.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Adenoids are tiny glands with a big job. They help keep your child healthy until their body finds other ways to fight off germs. Sometimes though, adenoids can become enlarged or inflamed. Nasal steroid sprays, antihistamines, antibiotics and other medications can usually address the issue. But if your child has chronically enlarged adenoids, your child’s healthcare provider may recommend an adenoidectomy. Ask your child’s healthcare provider which treatment option is best for your child.