Adenoid is a secondary lymphoid organ located in the nasopharynx. Its location plays an important role in the host defence of the upper respiratory tract. Adenoid hypertrophy is common in children of age 8–15 which cause symptoms ranging from mouth breathing, hyponasal speech, snoring, obstructive sleep apnoea long term sequelae of which could be neurocognitive abnormalities like learning difficulties and below-average intelligent quotient (adenoid facies----idiotic look), and a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity(e.g.: decreased right ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular hypertrophy). To name a few more patients with adenoid hypertrophy are more susceptible to get symptoms suggestive of chronic sinusitis, recurrent otitis media. Tonsils and Adenoids are usually larger in children but the trend to shrink as age progresses, making it all the more a reason to be conservative in the management of treating adenoid hypertrophy by employing corticosteroid nasal sprays.
Part of the book: Pharynx