Tonsils And Adenoids
The Connection Between Tonsils And Adenoids And Infections
For decades, having your tonsils and adenoids removed during childhood was akin to a rite of passage. Now, however, unless an infection is detected, and it is imperative that they be removed, most children today will reach their teens and into adulthood with their adenoids and tonsils intact. And, why not, when both of these organs play such an important part in preventing many of the childhood diseases that affect the upper respiratory system?
Want to learn more about how tonsils and adenoids can affect the immune system and the health of your child? We at Pediatric Partners have only your child’s best interests at heart, and will do what we can to keep them as healthy as possible, call us today.
Understanding Tonsils and Adenoids
The tonsils are located at the back of your throat, at either side of it. The adenoids are located a little higher up in your throat, positioned between the back of your nasal passages and the top of the throat. Both of them function similarly to lymph nodes, collecting foreign matter as it passes through the sinuses or throat, and preventing them from reaching the lungs and the rest of the respiratory system. Most of the infections that your child might possibly catch during their developing years are viral in nature, meaning that they are airborne, and easily passed from child to child. The rest, around ten percent, are bacterial, and can come from many sources, including food.
It is normal for a child to have enlarged tonsils, but unless they have a fever or a sore throat or they have difficulty swallowing, these may not be necessarily infected and do not need to be removed. Unlike the adenoids, which can only be seen by either an X-ray or an endoscope, the tonsils are easily viewed by shining a light at the back of your child’s throat, and if they appear red, inflamed, or show signs of infection with pustules or abscesses, then it may be time for them to be removed.
When Trouble Occurs
The adenoids are most often affected by bacteria, and when they are inflamed, can cause ear infections to develop, because they are located very near the Eustachian tubes, and may interfere with their drainage by blocking them, if swollen. If putting tubes in your child’s ears does not ease the reoccurrence of infections, then it may be necessary to do what is known as adenoidectomy. Some doctors may consider removing the adenoids at the same time as placing surgical tubes in your child’s ears, if they believe that their removal will cut down on the possibility of another serious ear infection occurring.
Sleep apnea can have its root cause in overly large tonsils and adenoids blocking the airway during sleep, causing momentary lapses in breathing. If your child develops severely bad breath, it may be because food particles have become trapped in the tonsils, and hardened. If gargling with salt water does not clear it up, surgery is then in order.
Tonsils And Adenoids
The Connection Between Tonsils And Adenoids And Infections
For decades, having your tonsils and adenoids removed during childhood was akin to a rite of passage. Now, however, unless an infection is detected, and it is imperative that they be removed, most children today will reach their teens and into adulthood with their adenoids and tonsils intact. And, why not, when both of these organs play such an important part in preventing many of the childhood diseases that affect the upper respiratory system?
Want to learn more about how tonsils and adenoids can affect the immune system and the health of your child? We at Pediatric Partners have only your child’s best interests at heart, and will do what we can to keep them as healthy as possible, call us today.
Understanding Tonsils and Adenoids
The tonsils are located at the back of your throat, at either side of it. The adenoids are located a little higher up in your throat, positioned between the back of your nasal passages and the top of the throat. Both of them function similarly to lymph nodes, collecting foreign matter as it passes through the sinuses or throat, and preventing them from reaching the lungs and the rest of the respiratory system. Most of the infections that your child might possibly catch during their developing years are viral in nature, meaning that they are airborne, and easily passed from child to child. The rest, around ten percent, are bacterial, and can come from many sources, including food.
It is normal for a child to have enlarged tonsils, but unless they have a fever or a sore throat or they have difficulty swallowing, these may not be necessarily infected and do not need to be removed. Unlike the adenoids, which can only be seen by either an X-ray or an endoscope, the tonsils are easily viewed by shining a light at the back of your child’s throat, and if they appear red, inflamed, or show signs of infection with pustules or abscesses, then it may be time for them to be removed.
When Trouble Occurs
The adenoids are most often affected by bacteria, and when they are inflamed, can cause ear infections to develop, because they are located very near the Eustachian tubes, and may interfere with their drainage by blocking them, if swollen. If putting tubes in your child’s ears does not ease the reoccurrence of infections, then it may be necessary to do what is known as adenoidectomy. Some doctors may consider removing the adenoids at the same time as placing surgical tubes in your child’s ears, if they believe that their removal will cut down on the possibility of another serious ear infection occurring.
Sleep apnea can have its root cause in overly large tonsils and adenoids blocking the airway during sleep, causing momentary lapses in breathing. If your child develops severely bad breath, it may be because food particles have become trapped in the tonsils, and hardened. If gargling with salt water does not clear it up, surgery is then in order.