Ear, Nose and Throat
Date of Issue: February 2025
Review Date: February 2026
This information has been developed to supplement the information the Doctor or Healthcare Practitioner has already given you.
If the review date has passed, the content will apply until the next version is published.
What is it?
Adenoids are small glands at the back of the nose, they are there to help fight germs.
Your body can still fight germs without the adenoids. They are only removed if they are doing more harm than good.
Why take them out?
Sometimes, children have adenoids so big that they block their nose, meaning they must breathe through their mouths. This causes them to snore at night, and some children even stop breathing for a few seconds while asleep.
The adenoids can also cause ear problems by blocking the tube which joins the nose to the ear.
Does my child need to have their adenoids out?
Your adenoids get smaller as you grow, so you may find nose and ear problems get better with time. Only you and your child can decide if their breathing or ear problems cause enough bother.
Other procedures
If we take out the adenoids because of ear problems, we may put in grommets at the same time. If your child has sore throats or stops breathing at night, we may take their tonsils out at the same time. This will always be discussed with you prior to the operation.
The operation
Your child will be asleep under general anaesthetic. The adenoids will be removed through the mouth or nose. This procedure takes around 20 minutes, but your child will spend about an hour in the operating department until they are fully awake.
How long will they be in hospital?
Usually your child comes into the hospital the morning of the operation. In some cases, they may be able to get home the same day, however, some surgeons may prefer to keep children in the hospital for one night. Either way we will only let your child home when they are eating and drinking and feeling well.
After the operation
Your child may have a sore throat for a few days. It is normal to have sore ears after the operation to remove the adenoids, as the throat and ears have the same nerve supply. It does not mean that your child has an ear infection. We recommend regular paracetamol and ibuprofen for about a week after the operation.
Return to school
Keep your child off school for a few days after the operation. Rest at home, away from crowds and smoky places. Keep them away from people with coughs and colds. Your child may feel tired for a few days.
When to seek advice
Adenoid surgery is safe, but every operation has a small risk. Some problems are common to all operations, such as the possibility of bleeding and infection.
Bleeding
The most serious problem is bleeding. Most cases of bleeding after the operation get better with observation, however, a small number may need a further operation to stop the bleeding.
Bleeding can be serious and if it occurs your child must see a doctor. If it is a small amount of dark blood contact your GP, or NHS 24 if your GP is closed. If you are concerned about how much blood there is take your child to A&E.
A very rare complication is that it may cause some fluid to leak from the nose when drinking. Even if this occurs, it usually settles by itself.
Damage to teeth
There is a small chance we may chip or knock a tooth out during the operation, especially if it was already loose. Please let us know beforehand if your child has any loose teeth.
Nausea and vomiting
Some people are sick after the operation, this usually settles quickly.
Contact
ENT Head and Neck Unit
Victoria hospital
Hayfield Road
Kirkcaldy
KY2 5AH
01592 648008
Accessible formats
If you require this information in a community language or alternative format such as Braille, audio, large print, BSL, or Easy Read, please contact the Equality and Human Rights Team at: email: fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot or phone 01592 729130. For people with a hearing or verbal impairment you can also contact the team through the NHS Fife SMS text service number on 07805800005.
