What causes enlarged adenoids?
Adenoids are areas of lymphatic tissue found in the back of the nose and at the top of the neck. In some people, most often children, these areas can increase and can cause problems with upper respiratory. Lymph tissue is part of the immune system. It helps to fight bacteria and viruses trying to enter the body. When such microbes enter the body through the mouth and/or nose, adenoids can ignite as they try to fight infection. This inflammation and any infection that, despite the immune system, can lead to enlarged adenoids.
In cases where enlarged adenoids without infection are present, it is often believed that there may be genetic predisposition to large or problematic adenoids. Some people may be born with a tendency to enlarge adenoids, or adenoids may increase in response to infection. If the symptoms are serious and last long, surgery may be recommended.
enlarged adenoids can cause a number of symptoms such as snoring, cloggedOr runny nose, problems with nose breathing and sleep problems - or can not cause any symptoms at all. When the symptoms become sufficiently annoying to see a healthcare provider, they usually check the adenoids to see if they are infected.
If the infection is caused by bacteria, the healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics to help kill bacteria and reduce inflammation in adenoid tissue. Untreated, enlarged adenoids caused by infection can lead to secondary problems such as ear or sinus infections. In cases where enlarged adenoids do not cause any symptoms and may be noticed, for example after the test of healthcare provider, access to treatment may be recommended.
When enlarged adenoids cause symptoms that are serious and last long, surgery may be recommended to remove them. This operation is called adenoidelectomy, sometimes toombinated with removal of almonds or tonsillectomy. The almonds are located just below the adenoids and are made of similar lymphatic tissue. In the case of infection, they often increase with adenoids.
If enlarged adenoids do not cause serious symptoms and/or no infections related to them, many health care providers often recommend to leave them in place. This is usually due to the fact that adenoids in most cases reduce and reduce as people age. Before one reaches maturity, adenoids usually decrease to the extent that they rarely cause problems.