Adenoids

The adenoids are lymph nodes located in the back of the throat behind the nose. Lymph nodes make up part of the lymphatic system, which helps the immune system to fight infection. Other lymph nodes are located in many places, including the neck, armpits, chest, abdomen and groin. Along with the tonsils, they form part of the 'first line of defence', which protects the body from infections. Airborne germs entering the body via the nose are filtered and trapped by hairs and mucous in the nose and then most are destroyed by antibodies and white cells made by the adenoids.

In adults, both tonsils and adenoids shrink. However, they can all swell up again with infections.

Swollen adenoids can block the nose
Since adenoids are constantly in the path of germs (micro-organisms), infections are common. Infected adenoids swell, which can reduce the airflow through the nose. Symptoms of infected adenoids include:

• Breathing through the mouth
• Snoring when asleep
• Talking with a 'blocked nose' sound
• The inability to pronounce certain consonants, including 'm' and 'n'
• Dry and sore throat because of breathing through the mouth (this is often a problem in the morning after sleeping with the mouth open)
• Yellow or green mucous coming from the nose.

• Middle ear infections - the adenoids are right at the end of the tubes from the middle ear to the throat (the Eustachian tubes). Infections can spread up to the ears from the adenoids and cause middle ear infections, which can affect hearing.
• Glue ear - the swollen adenoids block the Eustachian tubes and prevent the normal mucous, which is made each day in the middle ear, from draining away. A build-up of sticky mucous interferes with the movements of the tiny bones in the middle ear, affecting hearing.
• Sinusitis - the air-filled cavities of the skull may also become infected.
• Chest infections - bacteria or viruses can infect other sites, such as the bronchi (bronchitis) or lungs (pneumonia).
• Vomiting - the child may swallow a great deal of pus, generally at night while sleeping, which may be vomited in the morning.

• Your child has recurrent ear infections, which are interfering with language development.
• Your child is often unwell.
• Your child, or an older person, has large adenoids that are interfering with breathing, especially at night.

• Your doctor
• Your local chemist
• Ear, nose and throat specialist.

• The adenoids are lymph nodes located in the throat behind the nose.
• Infected adenoids can cause other health problems, including middle ear infections, sinusitis and difficulty with breathing, especially at night.
• Infected adenoids are rarely treated by themselves. Treatment is determined by the other health problems caused by the infected adenoids.

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