Hi In fact, the adenoids tend to shrink after early childhood, and by the teenage years they often almost disappear completely. Generally, you can have your tonsils and adenoids removed without increasing your risk of infection. Swollen or enlarged adenoids are common in children. Causes include: -Infections with viruses or bacteria. Once an infection clears, the swelling often goes down but sometimes the adenoids remain enlarged. -Allergies. -Often there is no apparent cause. You can start an antibiotic such as Amoxicillin for 7-10 days along with chlorpheniramine for decongestant effect and acetaminophen if fever. In case, she doesn t respond, consult your ENT specialist. Surgery may be recommended if your child has one or more of the following: -difficulty breathing -sleep apnea -recurrent infections -ear infections, middle ear fluid, and hearing loss requiring a second or third set of ear tubes Having your child s adenoids removed is especially important when repeated infections lead to sinus and ear infections. Badly swollen adenoids can interfere with the ability of the middle ear space to stay ventilated. This can sometimes lead to infections or middle ear fluid causing a temporary hearing loss. So kids whose infected adenoids cause frequent earaches and fluid buildup might also need an adenoidectomy at the time of their ear tube surgery. For further questions, do contact us.