The adenoids are a clump of lymphoid tissue at the back of the nose. In some children they enlarge and don't shrink on schedule, leading to mouth breathing, snoring, persistent ear infections, and disturbed sleep. Removing them — when truly needed — is a well-established, low-risk day procedure.
Adenoids are usually largest between ages 3 and 7 and then shrink. Some children, particularly those with allergies or frequent infections, have adenoids that stay enlarged longer and disrupt normal breathing and sleep.
Surgery is not the first answer. Many cases settle with allergy treatment, nasal steroid sprays, or simply time. When mouth breathing is constant, sleep is poor, or ear infections keep recurring, an adenoidectomy is the right step.
If your child breathes through their mouth most of the day, snores loudly with pauses, has frequent ear infections, or has stopped gaining weight or growing normally — bring them in. We will assess with a small flexible nasal endoscope (well tolerated by children).