Lymph tissues on both sides of the tongue root are called tonsils. They usually grow at the age of 4-5, depending on the infections, but they tend to shrink at a later age. They play an important role in the body’s defense mechanism, but if frequent infections are not timely intervened, they can be harmful and lead to developmental delay or organ damage.
The lymph tissue located behind the nose in the area called the nasal cavity is called adenoid. There may be inflammations in this tissue as well, but the main thing is its growth. Structurally, the airway is narrower in children. Excessive growth of adenoid on the airway causes difficulties in breathing. When the nasal passage is blocked, the child begins to breathe and snore. This may even cause breathing to stop while sleeping. While the child sleeps, it changes frequently in bed, sweating and grinding may occur. If the solution is not provided, regression in growth and development, restlessness, excessive mobility, aggression, dental caries due to mouth breathing, elevation in the palate and prolonged forward face; facial deformities and speech disorders may occur due to the lower jaw being relatively smaller.
If viral upper respiratory infections recur frequently, middle ear inflammations frequently recur, or respond late to treatment, the possibility of adenoid enlargement and infections should be considered. It is frequently encountered with tonsil and adenoid growths. This causes problems to appear earlier and become more obvious.
Tonsil and adenoid surgeries are frequently performed in ENT clinics. In order to decide on the need for this surgery, the following criteria should be considered:
o Obstruction of the upper respiratory tract due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids, accordingly, severe swallowing difficulties, sleep disorders and heart problems, tooth-facial development disorders, incontinence, decreased school success, behavioral disorders,
o Obstructive sleep apnea; breathing stopped several times during sleep,
o Despite adequate drug treatment, having febrile tonsillitis more than five times a year or three or more times in the past two years,
o Recurrent abscess (peritonsillar abscess) formation around the tonsil,
o Recurrent seizures due to high fever,
o Malignant tumor suspicion, unilateral tonsil enlargement,
o Bad breath, tonsil stones, sore throat that does not respond to drug treatment, sensitive neck lymph node inflammations.
