Adenoids sit behind the nose. When enlarged or inflamed, they can contribute to blocked nose, mouth breathing, snoring and sometimes night cough.
Severe breathing difficulty, chest indrawing, blue lips, drowsiness, poor feeding, grunting, pauses in breathing, persistent fast breathing, low oxygen — these are not for online review. Go to in-person pediatric emergency care.
What parents usually notice.
- Mouth breathing and blocked nose
- Snoring or restless sleep
- Nasal speech or recurrent ear problems
- Night cough from post-nasal drip or mouth breathing
Common reasons doctors think about.
- Adenoid hypertrophy
- Allergic rhinitis
- Recurrent infections
- Combination of adenoids, tonsils and allergy
What a pediatric pulmonologist checks.
- Sleep history and videos
- Nasal obstruction and allergy pattern
- Ear/hearing history
- ENT evaluation, sleep study or medical therapy depending on severity
What not to do blindly.
- Do not assume every adenoid needs surgery
- Do not ignore sleep apnea symptoms
- Do not treat repeated nose blockage only as cold
- Do not miss asthma/allergy overlap
Related guides.
Snoring is a sound, not a diagnosis. The important question is whether it is frequent and affecting breathing, sleep quality, growth, learning, or beh...
Occasional mouth breathing during a cold is common. Persistent mouth breathing—especially during sleep—should not be dismissed as just a habit....
Allergic rhinitis causes repeated sneezing, itching, runny or blocked nose, and can interact with asthma and sleep-breathing symptoms....