Your child had surgery to remove the adenoid glands from their throat. These glands are located between the airway you breathe into through your nose and the back of your throat. Often, adenoid removal is done at the same time as a tonsillectomy, surgery to remove the tonsils.
Complete recovery takes about 1 - 2 weeks. If only the adenoids are removed, the recovery will typically be only a few days. Your child will have pain or discomfort that will slowly ease up. Your child’s tongue, mouth, throat, or jaw may be sore from the instrument that was used during surgery.
While healing, your child may have a:
If your child is bleeding in the throat or mouth, have them spit the blood out instead of swallowing it. Soft foods and cool drinks may help ease throat discomfort.
Some soft foods and drinks to try are Jell-O, pudding, pasta, mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, applesauce, low-fat ice cream, sherbet, yogurt, smoothies, scrambled eggs, popsicles, cool soup, water, and juice.
Foods and drinks to avoid are:
Your child’s doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics and pain drugs for your child. It is important to give your child these medicines because they will help your child recover faster. Give only the drugs the doctor recommends.
Avoid drugs that contain ibuprofen or aspirin. They may cause bleeding. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a better choice for pain after surgery. Ask your child’s doctor if it is okay for your child to take acetaminophen.
A few days after surgery your child may gently gargle with baking soda mixed with water. Ask your child’s doctor for other suggestions to help with pain or sore throat.
Call the doctor if your child has:
Adenoidectomy - discharge; Removal of adenoid glands - discharge
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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