Question
My son is six weeks old, he always has a stuffy nose and breathing difficulties. An X-ray showed that he has adenoid hypertrophy, blocking 1/4 of the airway, and he is significantly smaller in stature than other children. Do I have to remove the adenoids?
Answer
If there is adenoid hypertrophy, it depends on the degree of airway narrowing. If it exceeds 50% or more, surgery is usually recommended. The tonsils should be assessed to see how severe they are; if they are at a third-degree enlargement with fibrosis, treatment can be considered. If the condition is not as severe, they can be kept for now as this is the first line of defense. Generally, after the age of ten, tonsillitis episodes tend to decrease as the child’s immune system becomes more robust.