At their best, adenoids protect your child by filtering bacteria and viruses that enter the nose, and by producing antibodies to fight off infections. But, in trapping germs, adenoids can become an inflamed and swollen mass of tissue — turning your child into a mouth-breather. “Swollen adenoids sit like a cork behind the nose, blocking it so that it's impossible to breathe through the nose,” explains Margaretha L. Casselbrant, MD, PhD, director of the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital.
Children who breathe only through their mouths can develop a facial deformity known as “adenoid facies.” Removal of the adenoids is the usual treatment, but orthodontic surgery and braces may become necessary, she says. Discuss what to do with your child’s pediatrician.
Good news: As children grow, adenoids shrink, almost disappearing by the teens.
Learn more about adenoids at www.chp.edu/ent