Adenoids are lymphoid tissues located at the back of the nose, and when they become enlarged, they can obstruct the airway, leading to various symptoms such as recurrent infections, nasal congestion, snoring, and sleep disturbances.

My young patient, Sita, presented to me with a history of recurrent infection. She had been taking antibiotics on & off for more than a year. Despite multiple visits to various doctors, her underlying issue remained undiagnosed, leading to ongoing discomfort and distress for her and her family.

After a thorough evaluation and diagnostic tests, it became evident that she was suffering from severe adenoid hypertrophy.

I advised an adenoidectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the enlarged adenoids. The decision to proceed with surgery is never easy, especially when it involves a young patient.  The patient, cute as she was, was adamant to not to undergo surgery.

  I loved the fact that the parents were concerned with having the child understand and participate, versus just forcing her to go through the procedure. 

Patiently counselling her, working through her fears one-by-one, I could see finally a smile forming on her face.

The surgery was successful, and I’m delighted to share that Sita is now enjoying a healthy life free from the constant burden of infections and discomfort.

Key takeaways from Sita’s case:

1. Timely diagnosis and intervention is critical to management of Adenoid Hypertrophy. 

2. Being careful about a pattern of sickness in your child and giving accurate history to their physician. [Sita was constantly feverish for more than a year]

3. It is important for us to gift our youngest patients the dignity that they deserve. We need to counsel them through their fears, rather than simply taking consent of the parents.