The tonsils are two round lumps at the back of your throat. Adenoids are high in the throat behind the nose and on the roof of the mouth (called the soft palate). They cannot be seen through the mouth or nose without special tools.
Tonsils and adenoids are part of the immune system and help protect the body from diseases. They prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the mouth or nose. Unfortunately, they can sometimes become very large or cause problems.
What are the symptoms of tonsillitis and Adenoid disease?
Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils. Symptoms may include the following:
Swelling of the tonsils
Redder than Normal tonsils
White or yellow coating on the tonsils
Slight change in sound due to swelling
Sore throat sometimes accompanied by earache
Uncomfortable or painful swallowing
Swollen lymph nodes (glands)in the neck
Fire
Bad breath
If you or your child's tonsils or adenoids grow, it can be difficult to breathe through the nose or have difficulty sleeping. Restlessness during sleep or pausing breathing for a few seconds at night (this may indicate sleep apnea or other sleep disorder)
You should see your ENT specialist when you experience common symptoms of infected or enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Your doctor will ask about ear, nose and throat problems and examine the head and neck. They can use a small mirror or a flexible illuminated instrument to see these areas.
Treatment
Bacterial infections of the tonsils, especially infections caused by streptococci, are first treated with antibiotics. Tonsillectomy tonsils and / or adenoids (adenoidectomy), removing infections even after antibiotic treatment back often or enlarged tonsils and / or adenoids may be an option when there is difficulty in breathing.
Frequent infections of adenoids can affect other areas, such as the passage of the ear between the back of the nose and the inside of the ear, decidedly known as the Eustachian tube. This can lead to frequent ear infections and fluid collection in the middle ear, which can lead to temporary hearing loss. Removal of adenoids may help some children with chronic ear pain accompanied by fluid in the middle ear (called concomitant otitis media).
In adults, another reason for removing tonsils and adenoids may be the possibility of cancer or tumors. In some patients, especially in patients with infectious mononucleosis, severe enlargement can interfere with the airway. For these patients, use steroids treatment is sometimes useful.
