Large Adenoids: Problems They Cause and Treatment

Unlike tonsils which are located in the back of the mouth, adenoids are located in the back of the nose. In spite of the different locations, adenoids are essentially still tonsils and play a similar role to them as well. A little known fact is that we all have tonsils in the back of the tongue as well called lingual tonsils! The adenoids generally regress in size with age to the point they can be quite small in adults. However, it is not unusual for children to have enormous adenoids (including tonsils) the size of walnuts and even ping pong balls.

National Library of Medicine

When they become quite large, they can cause a multitude of problems that may be confused for allergies and sinusitis including:

Nasal obstruction Nasal congestion Nasal sounding speech	Due to reduced nasal airflow.
Runny nose (rhinitis) Snotty nose Colored drainage Allergy-like symptoms	Due to reduced normal mucus flow into the throat.
Ear pain, clogging, stuffy	Due to physical blockage of the eustachian tube.
Cough Post-nasal drainage	Due to sudden excessive drainage into throat when some of the backed up mucus in the nose manages to escape into the throat.

The reason how it can cause all these problems is due to the location. Given its location in the very back of the nose (against the back wall in fact), it is immediately behind the eustachian tube. If the adenoids become large, they can physically block the eustachian tubes resulting in great difficulty in getting the ears to pop (if at all) resulting in a persistent clogged ears.

Furthermore, given the nose normally produces as much as several litres of mucus/fluid to humidify and warm the air that is breathed, if the adenoids are large, all that mucus backs up in the nose as it is not able to easily drain into the throat resulting in symptoms of runny/snotty nose, allergies, and colored nasal drainage from the front of the nose. Not only do large adenoids prevent normal mucus production from flowing into the throat, it also prevents air movement as well causing symptoms of nasal obstruction and congestion as well as a nasal sounding (hyponasal) speech. Pinch your nose and talk (go ahead and do it now)... you will notice that because of reduced nasal airflow, you will now have nasal obstruction, congestion, and a nasal quality speech. If you release your pinched nose, all these symptoms immediately disappears!

Given the location of the adenoids in the back of the nose, the only way to directly visualize the adenoids is by endoscopy which can be performed comfortably in children as young as 5 years of age as well as adults in the office without sedation. One can also obtain a X-ray, though given the radiation exposure, that is not generally recommended.

Watch a video of a child undergoing just such an endoscopic exam:

Here is an actual video footage of what is being seen on endoscopy in a teenager who has adenoids the size of a golf ball. Picture shown to the left.

The adenoids are the pink cauliflower-looking-like ball hanging down from the top.

Treatment

There are essentially two interventions that can help with large adenoids thereby resolving symptoms a patient may have.

The first is medical management using steroid nasal sprays which can be prescribed as young as 2 years of age. This medication has been shown to shrink the adenoid tissue over 2-3 months. Read the research #1 , #2 , and Cochrane review here.

The second option is surgically removing the adenoids (adenoidectomy). This surgery is performed outpatient under general anesthesia and takes about 10 minutes to perform. It is performed through the mouth so there are no incisions made on the face, nose, or neck. The adenoids are removed by several different methods depending on the surgeon and may involve use of electro-cautery ablation or curette. Watch a video here of an adenoidectomy being performed by suction cauterization. Coblation may also be used in some situations as depicted in the illustration below. Recovery is generally fairly quick (~3-5 days).

Watch Video on Adenoidectomy

For more information on tonsillectomy, click here.

Images from the National Library of Medicine

Ear Piercing is often done (at parental request) at same time while child is under anesthesia. Why not while a child is asleep?

Click here for more info.

If adenoid hypertrophy leading to nasal obstruction is not addressed, it may lead to actual facial deformity called adenoid facies as well as malocclusion.

If your adenoids are affecting your quality of life, please contact our office for an appointment.

Storybooks for kids undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

Join our Twitter page	Join Us on Facebook

Any information provided on this Web site should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for a consultation with a physician. If you have a medical problem, contact your local physician for diagnosis and treatment. Advertisements present are clearly labelled and in no way support the website or influence the contents.