Adenoids are lymphoid tissue found at the back of the nose
Enlarged adenoids can make it difficult to breathe through the nose. Patients often snore and may suffer from sleep apnoea.
Adenoids are found at the back of the nose. They are composed of lymphoid tissue, similar to the tonsils. They form part of the immune system and help to fight infection. They start growing from birth and are at their largest when a child is between three and five years old. They start to shrink again around seven years of age and by early adulthood they have usually disappeared.
They can become swollen or enlarged due to upper respiratory tract infections or allergies.
The adenoids can be removed through the mouth under general anaesthetic (Adenoidectomy). The operation takes about ten minutes and can be performed as a day case.
