Adenoids or cold?

Adenoids are constantly in the path of germs so infections are common which, in turn, can cause ear and breathing issues. But with the main symptoms mimicking those of a common cold, how do you know when your adenoids are the culprit?

 

First things first where are my adenoids?

Commonly confused with the tonsils, adenoids are small lumps of soft tissue found at the back of the nose in children. As part of the immune system they can be instrumental in fighting infection.

Whilst everyone is born with adenoids they start to shrink when you reach the age of 5 – 8. By the time you are a teenager they have usually disappeared entirely.

What happens when they are infected?

Infections cause your adenoids to swell up again. Common symptoms of infected adenoids are easy to confuse with the common cold.

According to Better Health these symptoms can include:

• breathing through the mouth
• snoring when asleep
• talking with a 'blocked nose' sound
• the inability to pronounce certain consonants, including 'm' and 'n'
• dry and sore throat because of breathing through the mouth (this is often a problem in the morning after sleeping with the mouth open)
• yellow or green mucus coming from the nose.

How do I know if its adenoids or a cold?

Infections of adenoids can cause a variety of complications that set them apart from a common cold

• Middle ear infections: due to the position of the adenoids, right at the end of the tubes from the middle ear to the throat, infections can easily spread up to the ears. This can affect hearing and balance.
• Glue ear: swollen adenoids can block the Eustachian tubes which results in a build-up of sticky mucus. This also affects hearing.
• Sinusitis: the infection of the air-filled cavities of the skull.
• Chest infections: bacteria or viruses from your adenoids can infect other sites such as the bronchi or lungs.
• Vomiting: swallowing large amounts of pus produced by the infection may happen overnight whilst sleeping which can lead to vomiting in the morning.

If you or your child experiences any of these whilst also suffering from cold-like symptoms it’s worth seeking advice from your doctor who can advise on the best course of treatment.

What are the treatment options for this?

Often the treatment for adenoids depends on the effects they are having. Antibiotics are often used to treat the chest infection, ear infection or sinusitis caused by the infected adenoids.

If you or your child suffers from recurrent infections that are interfering with hearing or breathing your doctor may advise you to undergo an adenoidectomy.

This is a surgery performed under general anaesthetic. Although relatively straightforward, post-operative complications can include vomiting, difficulty swallowing, pain and bleeding.

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