Adenoiditis in Children

A collection of lymphoid tissue known as the tonsil, adenoid pad, or adenoids is situated on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, just above the level of the soft palate. Waldeyer’s ring, a circumferential collection of lymphoid tissue that surrounds the upper aerodigestive tract, is comprised of the adenoids, faucial tonsils, lingual tonsils, and tubal tonsils of Gerlach and was named for Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried von Waldeyer-Hartz, a German anatomist at the turn of the twentieth century. These tissues work together to form an essential aspect of the developing human immune system. IgA antibodies are produced by the immune cells of Waldeyer’s ring once they come into contact with antigens presented through the oral and nasal canals. Researchers believe this “priming” of the immune system occurs throughout early childhood. The adenoids are located on the wall of the nasopharynx behind the nose. In the 16th week of pregnancy, lymphocytes infiltrate the subepithelial space. The adenoids, palatine tonsils, and lingual tonsils comprise the Waldeyer ring of lymphoid tissue in the oropharynx and nasopharynx. The adenoids are initially small, but they gradually grow in size. Like the tonsils, they keep growing until a child ages seven. Symptoms associated with the adenoids, including snoring, nasal airway blockage, and blocked breathing during sleep, often emerge between 18 and 24 months. Symptoms often subside as a kid reaches school age, and by the time they reach their adolescent or teenage years, their adenoids are usually tiny enough to cause any problems.