Adenoid Hypertrophy

The adenoid is a mass of lymphatic tissue located between the back of the nose and the throat. In most children, the adenoid enlarges during early childhood, shrinks as the child gets older and disappears by puberty. In some children, however, the adenoid continues to become larger and block the passage behind the nose, causing obstruction of the nasal airways. This is known as adenoid hypertrophy. If you suspect your child has adenoid hypertrophy, your doctor may send your child to a pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist to evaluate and possibly remove the adenoid.

Signs and Symptoms

• Breathing through the mouth
• Hyponasal sound to the speech (sounds like talking with a stuffed nose)
• Middle ear infections (from blockage of the Eustachian tube)
• Snoring

When to See a Specialist

An ear, nose, and throat specialist will help to determine whether a surgical procedure called an adenoidectomy may be helpful for your child. Some of the guidelines we follow in order to consider an adenoidectomy are:

• Adenoid hypertrophy (enlargement) causing mouth breathing, nasal blockage, snoring and/or restless sleep
• Chronic infection of the adenoid (sinus-like symptoms) despite adequate treatment
• Recurrent ear infections

Meet Our Pediatric Adenoid and Hypertrophy Specialists

Thomas Andrews, MD ENT / Otolaryngology

Dr. Andrews is a pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. He sees patients in the Brandon, Clearwater, Odessa, Sarasota, and Tampa locations of Pediatric Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Associates, PA and the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care location in St. Petersburg.

View Thomas’s Bio

Peter Karempelis, MD ENT / Otolaryngology

Dr. Karempelis is a pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. He sees patients in the Brandon, Clearwater, Odessa, Sarasota, and Tampa locations of Pediatric Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Associates, PA and the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care location in St. Petersburg.

View Peter’s Bio

Rose Trowbridge, MD ENT / Otolaryngology

Dr. Trowbridge is a pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She sees patients in the Brandon, Clearwater, Odessa, Sarasota, and Tampa locations of Pediatric Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Associates, PA and the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care location in St. Petersburg.

View Rose’s Bio

Kathleen Wasylik, MD ENT / Otolaryngology

Dr. Wasylik is a pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She sees patients in the Brandon, Clearwater, Odessa, Sarasota, and Tampa locations of Pediatric Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Associates, PA and the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care location in St. Petersburg.

View Kathleen’s Bio