Adenoids, also known as pharyngeal tonsils, are a mass of lymphoid tissue located in the back of the throat, behind the nose and above the roof of the mouth. They are part of the immune system and help to protect the body against infections by trapping and filtering bacteria and viruses that enter through the nose and mouth.
Adenoids are most prominent in children and begin to shrink during adolescence. They are usually not visible without specialized equipment, but if they become enlarged, they can cause problems such as difficulty breathing, snoring, and chronic infections. In some cases, surgical removal of the adenoids may be recommended to alleviate symptoms.
