Adenoid Infections

What are Adenoid Infections?

Your adenoids are a mass of tissue located high in the throat behind the nose and the roof of the mouth. Many of the germs that enter your body pass through the breathing passages, and they can infect your adenoids.

Adenoiditis happens when your adenoids are inflamed due to infection.

How Common are Adenoid Infections?

Adenoids shrink throughout childhood, so adenoiditis is more common in children. Although infected adenoids in adults are rare, infections aren't impossible. Adults with chronic infections in the throat, neck, or head are more susceptible to developing adenoiditis.

Symptoms of Adenoid Infections

Symptoms can vary, depending on the cause of infection, but may include:

Difficulty breathing through the nose
A "stuffy" sound when speaking
Noisy breathing
Recurrent ear infections
Snoring
Sleep apnea (breathing stops frequently while sleeping)

Schedule an appointment and get care.

Call (585) 758-5700

UR Medicine's Treatments for Adenoid Infections

Your doctor will review your symptoms, your medical history and perform a physical exam. They may give you a throat culture or strep test, an x-ray, or a blood test to find the cause of your infection.

Medication

Treatment options to reduce pain and swelling include:

Acetaminophen
Increased fluid intake
Throat lozenges
Nasal spray

Your provider will prescribe antibiotics if your infection is bacterial, not viral.

Surgery

If you have recurring infections that don’t respond to antibiotics, or if swelling is interfering with your breathing, your doctor may explore surgery to remove the adenoids.

What Sets Us Apart?

Pediatric otolaryngology at UR Medicine's Golisano Children's Hospital offers comprehensive medical and surgical ear, nose, and throat care for newborns, children, and adolescents. Our multispecialty approach to diagnosis and treatment offers expertise in a wide range of problems unique to or common in the younger patient. We treat more than 20,000 children and complete close to 2,500 surgeries each year in the Rochester region.

This team is supported by audiologists, speech and language therapists, allergists, and educators. Specialists in pulmonary medicine, critical care, hematology/oncology, and respiratory therapy are available to round out your care.