Can your adenoids get infected

In other cases, your doctor may recommend medication, such as a nasal steroid, to shrink enlarged adenoids. This surgery is called an adenoidectomy. Learn more: Adenoid removal ». If a child has been having frequent tonsil infections, the doctor might remove the tonsils as well. The tonsils and adenoids are often removed at the same time. Adenoids that are very badly swollen can also lead to infections or middle ear fluid, which can temporarily cause hearing loss.

Learn more: Tonsillectomy ». Your child will be given a mild sedative before surgery to help calm them. They will then be placed under general anesthesia. The surgery lasts no more than two hours.

The doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to protect against any infection. Your child may also receive a mild pain reliever for the first few days. Children are urged to drink cold, icy drinks, like milkshakes and ice cream, and to avoid any warm foods for the first seven days. Be sure to have your child examined as soon as possible if you notice that they are experiencing any of the symptoms of enlarged adenoids.

Enlarged adenoids are a very treatable condition, and some cases can be treated with a simple antibiotic. Typically, adenoids shrink during adolescence and may disappear by adulthood. Here's why you may need to have them removed. Adenoiditis is an infection in the throat. Make sure you get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids, especially warm liquids like broth or tea with honey. To soothe your throat, gargle with warm saltwater several times a day, eat cold treats such as Popsicles and suck on lozenges or cough drops.

Avoid cigarette smoke and other irritants. If a bacterial infection such as strep throat is responsible, antibiotics will be administered. Your doctor may recommend surgical removal of the tonsils tonsillectomy if the condition recurs frequently. Your adenoids are a pair of soft tissues masses located behind the nose and roof of the mouth that trap germs and create antibodies that aid the immune system in fighting off infection. Since your adenoids play such a key role in protection, they often come into contact with germs and then become infected.

This condition is known as adenoiditis. Adenoid infections often affect children, but are nearly unheard of in adults; this is because the tissues begin to shrink around the age of 5 or 6, and disappear completely in most people by the time they reach their teens. Enlarged adenoids can block airflow through your nose, which can lead to mouth breathing, snoring and a dry and sore throat.

Yellow or green discharge from the nose can also occur. In addition to swollen adenoids, infected adenoids can lead to middle ear infections , sinusitis and a chest infection.

Because adenoiditis symptoms closely mirror other conditions, an in-depth examination is necessary in order to properly diagnose the condition.

ENT specialists treat birth defects of the head and neck, developmental delays, ear infection, tonsils and adenoids, asthma and allergy, airway problems, and more. The information on ENThealth. Think you need to consult an ENT specialist? Find a Doctor Near You. Find out more about the community of physician experts who can help you to Be ENT Smart and how the information was developed.

Learn More About Us. Skip to main content. Find an ENT. Type and Press Enter to Search Close. Tonsils and Adenoids. Other methods used to check tonsils and adenoids are: Throat cultures or strep tests to identify infections in the throat A small, flexible scope to visualize the size of the adenoids; an X-ray may also be ordered Blood tests to diagnose infections such as mononucleosis Sleep study, or polysomnogram, to help decide whether sleep apnea is present and if sleep disturbance may be due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids Bacterial infections of the tonsils, especially those caused by streptococcus, are first treated with antibiotics.

Are my tonsils or adenoids enlarged? What causes mouth breathing? When should a healthcare professional be consulted and what might the diagnosis be? How is mouth breathing treated? Strep throat is caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium. Streptococcal bacteria are extremely contagious and can spread through airborne….

Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils. It can result in inflammation, which causes a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and pus-filled spots on…. Infection refers to an invasion of the body by harmful microorganisms or parasites.

The severity can range from mild to fatal. Treatment depends on…. What to know about enlarged adenoids Written by Shannon Johnson on February 22, What are adenoids? What are the adenoids? Share on Pinterest An infection can cause adenoids to become enlarged.

Share on Pinterest A doctor will need to examine the back of the throat. Risk factors. Treatment and remedies.