What are adenoids?

What are adenoids and which are their symptoms.

     Adenoids, also known as adenoid vegetations, are lymphoid tissue located in the nasopharynx, at the anatomical junction between the nose and the mouth. They are considered to play a role in the child's immune defense.

     The adenoids typically develop and enlarge between the ages of 2 and 6 years, after which they gradually begin to shrink, usually by around 8 years of age. However, in some cases, they may remain enlarged well into later adolescence or adulthood, including between the ages of 18 and 25.
When repeated infections cause the adenoid tissue to become enlarged (adenoid hypertrophy), it can lead to significant health problems in children.

What are the main symptoms and complications of adenoid hypertrophy?
 

• Recurrent episodes of otitis media, particularly during the winter months.
• Chronic otitis media with effusion, involving fluid accumulation behind the eardrum.
• Hearing loss due to fluid in the middle ear.
• Difficulty or inability to breathe through the nose.
• Mouth breathing, which may affect the normal development of the teeth and facial structures.
• Snoring during sleep.
• Episodes of obstructive sleep apnea.
• Delayed physical growth, potentially associated with poor sleep quality and disturbances in normal growth hormone secretion, which plays an important role in determining a child's height.