Tonsils and adenoids are the collections of lymphoid tissue that which helps the body fight infection. They trap the bacteria and viruses entering through the throat and produce antibodies.
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids in the children may result from infections but it may be normal
Locating the Tonsils and Adenoids:
The tonsils are in two areas of lymphoid tissue that located on either side of the throat. The adenoids, are also lymphoid tissue, which are located in higher and further back, behind the palate, where the nasal passages connect with the throat. The adenoids are not visible through the mouth.
Microcare ENT Hospital is providing the best Tonsils Specialists and the best Treatment in the Hyderabad.
FAQ’s
What are Tonsils and Adenoids? Are Tonsils and Adenoids the same thing?
Tonsils and Adenoids are part of your immune system. They are lymph nodes found in the mouth like lymph nodes throughout the rest of your body.
Your Tonsils are located in the deeper part of your throat, seen when you open your mouth on either side.
Your Adenoid cannot be seen easily as they are found behind the nose and soft palate (roof of the mouth).
What are causes of enlarged tonsils and adenoids?
Tonsils and adenoids often enlarged when they are fighting a pathogen. Exposure to viruses, bacteria, fungal, parasitic infections cause tonsil and adenoid enlargement. Common viruses involved are adenovirus. Cigarette smoke also a causative factor.
However, tonsils and adenoid also enlarged without any underlying cause due to some genetic factors.
Non-infectious causes which leads to your tonsils or adenoids enlargement due to irritation are
- tonsil stones
- allergies
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- tonsil cancer
What are symptoms enlarged tonsils and adenoid?
- Throat pain
- Voice changes
- Nose blockage
- Loud breathing or snoring
- Trouble sleeping
- A runny nose
Can tonsils and adenoids affect sleep?
Large Tonsils May Affect Breathing. The upper airway of children can be compromised by large tonsils or adenoids. The mouth and throat are proportionately smaller in children and have increased muscle tone compared to adults. When children do not have room to spare, enlarged tonsils and adenoid may cause a narrowing, that compromises the passage of air. This leads to snoring or even sleep apnoea in these children.
What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea in a child?
Symptoms can occur differently in each child. They can include:
- Noisy breathing
- Loud snoring during sleep
- Mouth breathing
- A nasal voice
- Restlessness during sleep
- Too much daytime sleepiness or irritability
- Morning headaches
- Hyperactivity during the day
- Sleep walking or night terrors
- Bed wetting
- Behavioural problems
- Learning problems
What are possible complications of obstructive sleep apnoea in a child?
This condition can cause your child to have less oxygen in the blood than normal as it occurs when a child briefly stops breathing while sleeping. Chronic oxygen deficiency if continues, your child's lungs and heart may have permanent damage. Chronic sleep apnoea can also lead to poor growth and development of your child.
Can adenoid be removed without removing tonsils?
Yes. Adenoidectomy without tonsillectomy done when only adenoid is causing problem not the tonsil. The common problems caused by enlarged adenoid are nose block, snoring, mouth breathing, recurrent ear infections or glue ear.
Does removing tonsils affect your immune system?
No. tonsils and adenoid are not the whole and sole immune system in the body. Removing tonsils and adenoids will not affect badly your immune system as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy operations done only when they are enlarged, infected or pathogenic. Changes in immune systems after tonsillectomy are clinically insignificant.
What is the best age to have tonsils removed?
There is no specific age to get tonsils removed. Tonsils removal done only when they are not useful to your body or when causing problems to your body.
The immune functions of tonsils are taken over by other tissues when your child reaches age 12-18 months. Then, tonsils usually shrink over time because they are no longer required to help fight infection. Therefore, tonsils removal done after 2-3 years of age, if causing problem by a procedure called tonsillectomy.
What is the best age to have adenoid removed?
There is no specific age to get adenoid removed. Adenoid removal operation done only when it is not useful to your body or when causing problems to your body.
Adenoid become less important as the body develops other ways to fight germs when a child gets older. Adenoid usually begin to shrink after about 3-4 years of age and often practically disappear by 5-6 years of age.
Sometimes even 2 years child will have huge enlargement of adenoid leading to severe nose block, snoring and mouth breathing. Then, Adenoid has to be removed.
Is removing adenoids and tonsils a good idea?
When enlarged adenoids and tonsils are causing breathing issues like nose block, mouth breathing, swallowing problems, or recurrent ear infections, removing them is the best option. Adenoid and tonsil surgery is safe and effective for most children.
Is adenoid surgery painful?
Removal of Adenoid or Adenoidectomy is a PAINLESS procedure. Your child will be asleep (under anaesthesia) and feel no pain when the adenoids removed. Pain will not be there after surgery also. Your child can go home the same day as the operation.
How painful is tonsil removal or tonsillectomy operation?
Typically, your child feels no pain during tonsils removal. First few days following a tonsillectomy are the most uncomfortable days. Different children feel differently about the pain. However, when post-operative instructions strictly followed, it should be a painless period.
What are latest methods of tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy?
Latest surgical methods evolved to be safer with lesser complications, little or no morbidity and mortality.
There are a number of techniques of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy and can be grouped as cold and hot. Cold methods (No heat is used) include dissection, guillotine, partial tonsillectomy with microdebrider, harmonic scalpel, plasma mediated ablation and cryosurgery.
1. Cold scalpel or cold knife surgery
This is the oldest form of tonsillectomy, also called Dissection method. “Cold” refers to the metal of the scalpel, not freezing of your tonsils. In this method, the tonsils and/or adenoids are removed completely using a scalpel.
2. Ultrasonic or harmonic dissection
This method uses a very special scalpel which vibrates at high frequency. The vibration of 55,000 cycles per second causes the tissue simultaneously cut and coagulate.
3. Electrocautery tonsil removal
This method simultaneously removes the tonsil and cauterizes the area to stop bleeding. The post-operative recovery period is more uncomfortable as it run the risk of injury to the tissue around the tonsil.
4. Microdebrider tonsillectomy
The entire tonsil not removed in this method. The recovery period is minimal and there is very little post-operative pain. This procedure not recommended as some amount of tonsil tissue left over which leads to recurring infection. However, this procedure recommended when enlarged tonsils obstruct breathing.
5. Radiofrequency ablation or Coblation Technology
An ionized saline layer is charged with radiofrequency waves. This separates the tonsillar tissue at the molecular level without causing harm to the surrounding tissue. This method has very little post-operative pain and faster recovery process is much easier.
6. Laser Tonsillectomy
The entire tonsil is removed with Laser beam. However laser and takes more time to complete the operation.
Which procedure is right for you?
Our ENT Specialist Microsurgeons discuss about the which method is right for your situation. We will discuss with you the reason for the tonsil and adenoid removal, the reasons one method will give the best results and cost of the procedure.
Is Insurance applicable?
Yes. Applicable
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