What are adenoids? Adenoids, also called pharyngeal tonsils and proliferators, are lymphoid structures similar to the tonsils, which are attached to the base of the nasopharynx at the junction of the parietal and posterior walls, between the two pharyngeal fossae. It looks a little like a peeled orange. The dangers of adenoid hypertrophy Adenoid hypertrophy in children is more common in clinical practice and has attracted more and more attention from parents and doctors. The adenoids are generally largest at the age of 6 or 7 and gradually degenerate and shrink at the age of 10 or so. The adenoids are often enlarged and enlarged by repeated colds, and then they do not shrink when the cold gets better. Because of the location of the adenoids, their enlargement can cause a series of nasal, pharyngeal and ear symptoms. Adenoid hypertrophy or concomitant tonsillar hypertrophy in children can cause obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome. The symptoms of this disorder are sleep snoring with breath-holding (i.e., apnea) and open-mouth breathing. The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children is about 0.7%-3% average 2%, mainly occurs in 2-6 years old, apnea, hypoxia will affect the growth and development of children to varying degrees, such as causing abnormalities in respiration, development, neurocognition, etc., and even cause sudden death in children in serious cases. Long-term breathing through the mouth, under the impact of airflow, the hard palate is high arched, which will make the facial development deformed, appearing short and thick upper lip cocking, lower jaw sagging, nasolabial groove disappeared, upper incisors protruding, poor bite, etc.. Due to the restricted movement of facial muscles, the child’s face lacks expression, which is called “adenoid face” in medical science. The enlarged adenoids and tonsils can obstruct upper airway breathing, making children prone to recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, rhinitis and sinusitis, resulting in further enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids, forming a vicious circle that is not easily relieved. Adenoid hypertrophy in children also causes inflammation of the nasal cavity and sinuses that cannot be easily drained, compression or obstruction of the eustachian tube (the passage between the middle ear cavity and the nasal cavity) inflammation of the adenoids themselves, and poor elasticity of the eustachian tube cartilage in children, all of which can cause exudative otitis media. According to clinical statistics, children with obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome should be more alert to oozing otitis media. What kind of children need adenoid surgery? Indications for adenoid surgery 1. Frequent snoring, breath-holding and poor breathing; 2. Frequent colds with rhinitis and sinusitis that do not easily heal; 3. Secretory otitis media with adenoids compressing the eustachian tube or inflammation of the adenoids themselves and otitis media that do not easily heal. How to perform adenoids surgery At present, they are treated by minimally invasive surgery: low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation under the direct view of nasal endoscopy. There is minimal bleeding, little trauma and quick recovery.