Adenoids

Do we need our adenoids?

Your body can still fight germs without your adenoids. They probably only act to help fight infection during the first three years of life; after then, we only take them out if they are doing more harm than good.

Why do adenoids cause problems?

• Sometimes children have adenoids so big that they have a blocked nose, so that they have to breathe through their mouths.

• They snore at night, and some children even stop breathing for a few seconds while they are asleep.

• The adenoids can also cause ear problems by preventing the tube which joins your nose to your ear, from working properly, resulting in hearing loss and ear infections.