Your child needs an operation called an adenoidectomy to take out their adenoids. Adenoids are lumps of tissue, up behind the nose. You cannot see your child's adenoids when looking in the mouth.

About the treatment

Removing enlarged adenoids

Your child may have had enlarged adenoids since birth, or they may have grown too large from repeated infections. Enlarged adenoids can interfere with your child's breathing, especially at night when they are sleeping. Taking out adenoids improves breathing.

Enlarged adenoids can also affect the tubes that connect the middle ears and the back of the nose. If your child often has ear infections, an adenoidectomy may help them have fewer ear infections.

An otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon will do the surgery. An otolaryngologist (say: OH-toe-lar-ing-GOLL-oh-jist) is a doctor who specializes in problems of the ears, nose and throat.

Preparing for the treatment

Before the operation

Several hours before the operation, your child will need to stop eating and drinking. The doctor or nurse will tell you when your child must stop eating and drinking.

Treatment

Surgery to remove the adenoids

The doctor will give your child a special sleep medicine called a general anaesthetic. This will make sure your child sleeps through the operation and does not feel any pain. While your child is asleep, the doctor will take out the adenoids through your child's mouth. Your child will not get stitches. The operation will take between 20 and 45 minutes.

You will be able to see your child as soon as they are fully awake

After the treatment

Several hours before the operation, your child will need to stop eating and drinking. The doctor or nurse will tell you when your child must stop eating and drinking.

Treatment

Surgery to remove the adenoids

The doctor will give your child a special sleep medicine called a general anaesthetic. This will make sure your child sleeps through the operation and does not feel any pain. While your child is asleep, the doctor will take out the adenoids through your child's mouth. Your child will not get stitches. The operation will take between 20 and 45 minutes.