Is it advisable for a child to travel by air after adenoidectomy?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 17 months old daughter booked in for grommets and adenoidectomy due to fluid in middle ear and recurrent ear infections. We are flying two weeks after the procedure. We will be visiting a place with bad air pollution. Will she be more at risk of respiratory infection with no adenoids?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

At a place with bad air pollution, one's respiratory mucosa tends to get excoriated and irritated due to the harmful contents in the air. This can make the area supple and raw and more prone to bacteria and viruses in the surroundings. Having removed adenoids does not make your kid very susceptible to respiratory infections although theoretically adenoids are supposed to help contain infection by acting as a portal of immunity for harmful organisms entering through nose and throat. But at two weeks post surgery, the area will still be slightly raw and healing would not be complete. Hence, that can cause more susceptibility to environmental pathogens. I suggest you take a good course of antibiotics post surgery and during the hospital stay. Take a course of antibiotics for the baby with you and start when you feel she is developing an infection during your trip. Take decongestant nasal drops sprays and Tylenol for fever relief. Avoid areas of frank dust and pollution. Stay away from direct cold winds and Aircon air. If feasible put a face mask for the baby. The mother also should stay healthy as much as possible and follow all precautions to not develop an infection or allergy.