Adenoids are clumps of lymphatic tissue, which help fight infections. They are positioned at the back of the nasal passages near the Eustachian tube. The tube connects the back of the nose to the middle ear. This tube helps ventilate the middle ear and keeps the air pressure stable in the ear. Adenoids can become a problem when they are large or infected and swollen. Such adenoids, besides blocking the nose, can become a problem and affect the Eustachian tube function. These adenoids can play a role in causing middle-ear infections.
Adenoids in Children
Adenoids shrink as the child gets older. Younger children are at risk for getting middle-ear infections. This happens because they have enlarged adenoids and because of shorter and wider Eustachian tubes, which make it easy for germs to enter the middle ear.
Glue Ear
Large adenoids can interfere with the opening of the Eustachian tube. The block in the tube leads to fluid buildup in the middle ear. This condition is called glue ear, which can make it difficult for the child to hear well and can cause speech and language problems.
Middle-Ear Infections
Adenoids can become swollen and infected. The infection from the adenoids can spread to the Eustachian tube, according to the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders. Children also have shorter Eustachian tubes, which makes it easy for bacteria to enter the middle ear. The bacteria then enter the middle ear through the Eustachian tube, resulting in pus formation and an infection in the middle ear. The middle-ear bones do not move freely, resulting in hearing loss. Adenoids, therefore, can lead to chronic ear infections. Doctors recommend adenoid removal for chronic ear infections.
Role of Adenoid Removal
A child who experiences ear infections five or more times a year and three or more times in a two-year period, or has an ear infection that interferes with school, will benefit from adenoid removal, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Removal of adenoids reduces the frequency of ear infections, besides letting the child breathe better.
Ear Tubes with Adenoidectomy
Adenoids causing recurrent earaches and buildup of fluid will need adenoid removal and ear tube surgery. Tubes are inserted into the eardrum after making an opening into the drum. The tubes help with fluid drainage from the middle ear and improve the child's hearing. The ear tubes are inserted before adenoid removal.
