Adenoid Hypertrophy and Oral Breathing: A Case Report
Abstract
Background: Adenoids are lymphoid tissues located on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx and form part of Waldeyer’s ring. Adenoid Hypertrophy (AH) is a common condition in children, often resulting from recurrent infections and chronic antigenic stimulation. It can lead to nasal airway obstruction, resulting in mouth breathing, snoring, sleep-disordered breathing and even craniofacial changes if left untreated. The prevalence of AH in children varies between 34.5% and 70%, depending on diagnostic criteria and population studied.
Case Presentation: An 11-year-old boy reported to the ENT outpatient department with complaints of persistent snoring for one year, associated with mouth breathing and nasal obstruction. On clinical examination, the patient exhibited features of adenoid facies, including dull, expressionless appearance, open-mouth posture, sunken eyes, crowding and protrusion of anterior teeth, loss of nasolabial folds and a high-arched palate. Nasopharyngoscopic examination revealed Grade 3 adenoid hypertrophy. Lateral soft-tissue neck radiograph confirmed adenoid enlargement causing nasopharyngeal airway narrowing. The patient underwent endoscopy-assisted adenoidectomy with bilateral tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. Postoperatively, fluid was suctioned from the middle ear and the recovery was uneventful. On follow-up after three months, the patient demonstrated complete resolution of mouth breathing and snoring.
Conclusion: This case highlights the…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tryptophan Metabolism and Gut-Brain Homeostasis
- Rationale for a Multi-Factorial Approach for the Reversal of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and MCI: A Review
- Prioritized Research for the Prevention, Treatment, and Reversal of Chronic Disease: Recommendations From the Lifestyle Medicine Research Summit
- Relationship between sleep disorders and gut dysbiosis: what affects what?
- The role of CLOCK gene in psychiatric disorders: Evidence from human and animal research
- Genetic, Transcriptome, Proteomic, and Epidemiological Evidence for Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Polymicrobial Brain Invasion as Determinant Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.