Q: Which doctor should I consult for Adenoiditis / Adenoids?
A: Your pediatrician will do the initial diagnosis, however he / she may refer the child over to a specialist called an otolaryngologist or ENT surgeon. An ENT doctor is trained to diagnose and treat infections of the ear, nose and throat. The doctor might conduct physical examination and other relevant tests to determine where the infection is located and also to determine its severity.
Q: When should I contact a medical professional?
A: You should call your health care provider immediately if your child has difficulty breathing through the nose or exhibits other symptoms of enlarged adenoids. When your child suffers from the common symptoms of adenoiditis such as recurrent sore throats or ear infection, nasal congestion/obstruction, problem breathing through nose and sleep disturbances, you should consult the doctor to seek medical advice.
Q: Will my child's immunity get weaker if the adenoid is removed?
A: Our immune system has many different ways of dealing with germs and the adenoids are only a small part of our immune system. Studies have shown that children who have their adenoids and even their tonsils removed do not on average exhibit more illnesses as compared to children who retain their adenoids/tonsils. It has been demonstrated that many children will have far less nasal, sinus and ear infections once the adenoid is removed.
Q: What can I expect during and after surgery?
A: Surgery of any kind can cause lot of anxiety, so it is better to be informed and know what to expect during the surgery. During the adenoidectomy:
- General anesthesia is given to your child by an anesthesiologist in an operating room prior to the surgery.
- Depending on the type of anesthesia, your child will be asleep for about 20-30 minutes, during which the surgeon would get to the adenoids through your child's open mouth. There is no need of making any incision on the skin.
- Once the adenoids are removed, the doctor would take care of any bleeding/pain that might occur.
- In most cases, the child is discharged on the same day of the procedure. Few are required to stay overnight for observation.
- Your child would experience moderate pain and discomfort for about a week after the surgery
- The adenoid area would heal naturally over a period of time.
