You may rarely, if ever, think of adenoids. However, if you have a child or young teen with repeated tonsillitis or sinus infections, these small structures at the back of the nose may cause significant trouble. If you are a parent, surgery to remove troublesome adenoids may improve your child’s health. Here is what to expect from recovery after adenoidectomy surgery and some ways to make your child’s recovery as easy as possible.
What Are Adenoids, and Why Do They Cause Illness?
Adenoids are small glands located at the back of the nose and throat, just above the tonsils. As lymph tissue, they are part of the immune system. They play an important role in fighting off infections in the ears, nose, and throat. Essentially, adenoids, along with tonsils, act as germ catchers for upper and lower respiratory viruses and bacteria.
However, when adenoids become enlarged or repeatedly infected, they cause a number of health issues. These problems often include:
- Mouth-breathing
- Persistent bad breath
- Dry mouth
- Reduced hearing
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Vocal changes, such as hoarseness and a nasal quality to the voice
- Snoring (from obstructive sleep apnea)
- Frequent colds
- Sinusitis or sinus infections
- Tonsillitis and strep throat
- Otitis media, or middle ear infections
A child’s adenoids are more prone to enlargement and infection than an adult’s because young immune systems are still developing. Additionally, allergies and asthma contribute to the overgrowth of this lymph tissue.
Typically, adenoids shrink in size (and function) as adulthood approaches. Accordingly, adenoids cause far fewer problems with increasing age.What Does Adenoidectomy Surgery Involve?
Frequent sinusitis, tonsillitis, ear infections and other ear, nose and throat issues may not respond well to antibiotics, steroids, and other non-surgical interventions. Dysfunctional adenoids can often leave patients sleeping poorly, feeling tired, and overall fatigued.
Adenoidectomy surgery is a very common treatment for these issues by removing the adenoids. A board-certified otolaryngologist performs the procedure with the patient under general anesthesia. The procedure takes roughly 30 minutes or so to complete.
For most children, an adenoidectomy is a day surgery. Some patients may need to stay overnight in the hospital, but this generally is not the case.
During the adenoidectomy surgery, the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist uses a small instrument called an adenotome to remove the tissue. This may be done through the mouth without any external incisions or sutures.
In some situations, a special tool called a microdebrider may also be used to remove the adenoids. Your otolaryngologist will determine how best to perform your child’s surgery for best recovery and long-term benefits.
How Can My Child Recover Well from Adenoidectomy?
After the surgical procedure, patients usually experience throat soreness, nausea, and nasal congestion for a few days. Over the counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, help alleviate this discomfort.
You can also use simple at-home strategies for recovery after adenoidectomy surgery to provide comfort for immediate post-op days. These include:
- Drinking plenty of water and other fluids (nothing carbonated)
- Eating a soft diet (ex. milkshakes, yogurt, applesauce, soup, mashed potatoes)
- Using an ice collar to diminish swelling
- Putting a cool mist humidifier in the bedroom at night to moisturize the air
- Rest and quiet activities
- Avoiding crowds for at least a week to limit exposure to bacteria and viruses
- Avoiding nose blowing, heavy exercise and rough play for at least a week
Be sure to call your ENT doctor if your child runs a fever, cannot swallow any clear liquids or soft foods, or coughs up dark blood. Signs of dehydration are dry mouth, a sunken appearance to the eyes and limited urine output. However, these problems are relatively rare.
Most adenoidectomy patients are up and around within a few days and children can return to school within a week.
Exceptional Adult and Pediatric ENT Care in Georgetown, TX
At Georgetown ENT, Dr. Scott William Franklin and his team help people achieve their best ear, nose, and throat health. They see both pediatric and adult patients.
To learn more about adenoid treatments, adenoidectomy surgery and recovery after adenoidectomy, please call our office for a consultation with Dr. Franklin at (512) 869-0604 or request a visit here. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
