Does a child sleeping with their mouth open indicate enlarged adenoids?

Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
Updated on March 06, 2025
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The mouth and nose are two organs of the human body used for breathing. Normally, breathing is done through the nose, but when the nose is blocked, mouth breathing occurs. Therefore, mouth breathing is a sign of respiratory discomfort and nasal congestion. Common causes like acute and chronic rhinitis, upper respiratory infections, enlarged tonsils, enlarged adenoids, and nasal foreign bodies can all lead to children sleeping with their mouths open. Thus, a child sleeping with an open mouth does not necessarily indicate enlarged adenoids. If a child experiences nasal congestion, snoring, or mouth breathing for more than a month, it is advisable to consult an otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) for a timely examination.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Can you drink milk with enlarged adenoids?

Patients with adenoid hypertrophy can consume milk. The adenoids, also known as the pharyngeal tonsils, are a common ENT disorder, occurring mostly in children. The adenoid tissues become hyperplastic and active, blocking the posterior nasal passages and causing symptoms such as snoring during nighttime sleep, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sinusitis. When adenoid hypertrophy occurs, surgery is primarily used for treatment. In terms of diet, patients can consume milk and eggs, but should avoid cold and spicy foods to prevent exacerbating the swelling and congestion of the adenoids.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How is adenoid hypertrophy surgery performed?

The adenoid is a lymphoepithelial tissue located in the nasopharyngeal region. Enlargement of the adenoid can block the nasal passages, leading to snoring and sleep apnea, often requiring surgical removal of the adenoid. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Firstly, we use a catheter to suspend the soft palate to expose the adenoid tissue. Then, using a nasal endoscope, with the right hand holding a plasma knife, the enlarged adenoid is ablated. The surgery involves inserting the nasal endoscope and adenoid knife through the mouth. The procedure is relatively short, lasting about five to ten minutes. There is very little bleeding after the surgery, making it truly a minimally invasive procedure.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can people with adenoid hypertrophy eat mangoes?

The adenoids are lymphoepithelial tissue located in the nasopharyngeal area, with adenoid hypertrophy mainly occurring in children, though it occasionally occurs in adults at a lower incidence rate. Clinically, adenoid hypertrophy is primarily caused by adverse stimulations such as allergic factors and repeated bacterial infections, with symptoms commonly including nasal congestion, snoring during sleep, and mouth breathing. For children, surgical removal is often necessary, currently performed mainly through plasma ablation. Generally, patients with adenoid hypertrophy can consume mangoes, as there are no absolute contraindications. However, if the patient also has a mango allergy, then they must avoid eating mangoes. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze each patient's specific situation.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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The difference between adenoid hypertrophy and rhinitis.

Adenoid hypertrophy and rhinitis certainly have their differences. The adenoid is a lymphoepithelial tissue located in the nasopharynx, and its enlargement can block the posterior nasal aperture, leading to nasal congestion. Rhinitis refers to the inflammation of the nasal mucosa, where the mucosa becomes congested and swollen, leading to narrowing and obstruction of the nasal cavity. There are fundamental differences between them. The clinical treatment for rhinitis primarily involves medication, while the treatment for adenoid hypertrophy mainly involves surgical removal. In the early stages of adenoid hypertrophy, some medications can be used, but the effectiveness of medical treatment is often relatively poor and rarely controls the progression of the condition, so surgery is primarily used. Clinically, it is often seen that rhinitis and adenoid hypertrophy coexist, which requires doctors to differentiate and determine whether the nasal congestion is caused by adenoid hypertrophy or rhinitis.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can adenoid hypertrophy recur after removal?

The adenoid is located in the lymphatic epithelial tissue of the nasopharyngeal area. Enlargement of the adenoid can block breathing and obstruct the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube, leading to secretory otitis media, and may result in secondary infections of the sinuses. Therefore, for symptoms such as snoring and hearing loss that occur simultaneously after adenoid enlargement, surgical removal is performed. The adenoid does not have a complete capsule, so it is only possible to remove the adenoid tissue as much as possible, and it cannot guarantee the complete removal of all adenoid tissue. Therefore, there is a small rate of recurrence after adenoid removal, with a recurrence rate of about 0.5%, meaning that the recurrence leading to the reappearance of symptoms is around 0.5%. Whether further treatment is needed after recurrence requires an in-person assessment at a hospital.