Does your baby breathe through his mouth? Does he snore at night? Let's talk about adenoidectomy!

Does your little one often breathe through their mouth? Does he or she snore loudly at night? Or does he or she often get earaches or colds? The cause of many of these problems may be something you don't even think about. That is the child's "adenoids" becoming swollen and enlarged. Don't worry, this is a common occurrence for very young children. Let's talk about everything in simple terms today.

What exactly are adenoids?

Simply put, the adenoids are two small lumps of tissue located behind our nose, at the top of our throat. They're similar to tonsils. You can't see them when you open your mouth, because they're located above the roof of your mouth, inside your nose.

These adenoids are an important part of a child's immune system . They act like the guards of a house. They help to catch germs, such as viruses and bacteria, that come in when a child breathes and prevent them from entering the body.

But the amazing thing is, as the child grows older, usually around the age of 13, these adenoids shrink and disappear on their own . They are almost invisible in the body of adults.

So, if it's a good thing, why remove it?

Good question. Although adenoids are useful, they can sometimes be a problem. Frequent infections and allergies can cause these adenoids to swell and become larger. Some children are born with larger than normal adenoids.

What happens when they get this big? The airway, that is, the air passage behind the nose , starts to get blocked by these enlarged adenoids. It's like something getting stuck in a water pipe. That's when problems arise.

If your child continues to have these problems, your doctor may recommend an adenoidectomy. This surgery is usually done on children between the ages of 1 and 7 , as they will shrink on their own after that.

Doctor, how do you know exactly what this is?

When you take your child to a doctor, he or she will first ask you about your child's symptoms. Then they will do a test to check the condition of the adenoids. There are two ways to do this.

1. X-ray: An X-ray of the side of the neck can show how large the adenoids are and how much the airway is blocked.

2. Examination with a camera: Sometimes, a small camera is inserted through the nose and the adenoids are directly viewed. This allows for a very clear view of the condition.

After these tests, when compared with the child's symptoms, the doctor can decide whether or not surgery is necessary.

Let's learn about the operation (Adenoidectomy)

This is a very simple surgery that takes about 30 minutes. It is performed by an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT Surgeon).

How should I prepare before the operation?

Your doctor will give you a set of instructions before the surgery.

• About medicine:A few weeks before the surgery, the doctor will discuss the best and worst medications for your child. For example, you may be asked to stop taking blood thinners like aspirin and ibuprofen.
• Fasting: You will be asked not to eat or drink anything for a few hours before surgery. Follow the instructions exactly. An empty stomach is essential for anesthesia.
• Illnesses: If your child develops a cold or fever close to the surgery, tell the doctor. The surgery may need to be postponed for a few days.

What happens during the operation?

• First, the child is given general anesthesia . This means that the child is sound asleep until the surgery is over. The child will not feel any pain .
• After the child is asleep, the surgeon opens the child's mouth and removes the adenoids through it. Therefore , no visible incisions or stitches are made on the body .
• To stop bleeding from the area where the gland was removed, a heated instrument is sometimes used. This method is called electrocauterization .
• Sometimes, if the child's tonsils are also swollen and causing problems, they are also removed at the same time as this surgery. We call this a tonsillectomy . It is very common for these two surgeries to be done together.

What happens after the surgery?

After the surgery, the child will be taken to a recovery room. There, the medical staff will take good care of the child until he or she wakes up from the anesthesia. Once the child is able to breathe, cough, and swallow well, you will be allowed to see the child.

In most cases , you can go home the same evening as the surgery . However, you may need to stay in the hospital overnight if the doctor feels that the child needs to be observed for a little longer.

What are the benefits of this?

Removing the adenoids makes a child's life much easier.

• You will be able to sleep soundly at night, without snoring.
• Stop breathing through your mouth and start breathing beautifully through your nose.
• Frequent earaches and colds disappear.
• The child is refreshed and happy during the day.

How do you take care of your child after you get home?

After the surgeryThe child will recover completely within a week or two. During this time, you may experience some of these symptoms. These are normal, don't worry.

• Vomiting or nausea within the first 24 hours.
• Body heat and fever for the first day or two.
• Bad breath (may last for several weeks).
• Difficulty swallowing, sore throat.
• Breathing a little loudly while sleeping.
• Neck pain.
• Earache.

To control this pain, the doctor will prescribe liquid painkillers. They are easy for the child to swallow.

Usually, after about a week of rest at home, your child can return to school. Check with your doctor to be sure.

When should you call the doctor immediately?

Keep a close eye on your child after you get home. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

• If you have difficulty swallowing food or drink .
• If you continue to vomit without having anything to eat or drink in your stomach.
• If you still have a fever three days after surgery.
• If you cough up blood clots or vomit coffee grounds (this is very rare, but important to know).

In a situation like this, don't hesitate to take the child to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .