what are adenoids

Adenoids are a mass of lymphoid tissue located behind the nasal cavity, in the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx where the nose blends into the throat. They are part of the immune system that helps trap and recognize pathogens such as bacteria and viruses entering through the nose and mouth, producing immune cells to fight infections. Adenoids are especially important in young children and usually begin to shrink after about age 5, often disappearing by the teenage years. They work with the tonsils to filter germs and produce antibodies, contributing to the body's defense system during early childhood.