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Enlarged adenoids

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Adenoids - enlarged

Treatment:

Surgical removal of the adenoids ( adenoidectomy ) will prevent complications, and will cure complications if they already exist from enlarged adenoids. Antibiotics may be used to treat tonsil, adenoid, and sinus infections when they occur.

Expectations (prognosis):

Full recovery is expected. Right-sided heart failure is reversible when the sleep apnea and airway obstruction are treated.

Complications:

Enlarged adenoids can cause health-threatening conditions such as chronic ear infections, sleep apnea , pulmonary hypertension , and right-sided heart failure .

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if your child has difficulty breathing through the nose. Call if the child has other symptoms discussed above.

• Review Date: 1/30/2007
• Reviewed By: Ravindra Uppaluri, MD. Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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