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Enlarged adenoids

Condition Overview:

They're a mass of tissue, located in the passage that connects the back of the nasal cavity to the throat. Adenoids, which are also called nasopharyngeal tonsils but are separate from the tonsils in the throat, filter out bacteria and viruses entering through the nose and produce antibodies to help the body fight infections.Because adenoids trap germs that enter a child's body, adenoid tissue sometimes temporarily swells as it tries to fight off an infection.

There are several symptoms associated with enlarged adenoids. You may notice that your child:
complains of difficulty breathing through the nose
is breathing through the mouth
talks as if his or her nostrils are pinched
breathes noisily
snores while sleeping
stops breathing for a few seconds while sleeping (called sleep apnea)

If you think your child has enlarged adenoids, see your child's doctor who may:

Ask your child how things feel in his or her ears, nose, and throat, and then take a look at these parts.
Listen to your child's breathing by using a stethoscope.
Feel your child's neck near his or her jaw.