Correlation of Hypertrophic Adenoids and Tonsils with Craniofacial Growth, Occlusion, and Breathing Habit in 4-12-year-old Children.

Aim and background: To evaluate and compare growth and development, breathing habit, and occlusion in children with and without hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 78 participants, aged 4-12 years, with 52 children with adenoid/tonsillar hypertrophy (group I) and 26 healthy children (group II). For each participant, a detailed history of respiratory obstruction or infection was recorded, followed by an orthodontic evaluation. A lateral cephalogram was taken for airway space and cephalometric analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were computed using SPSS software version 21. Results: Children with hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils showed a higher incidence of repeated tonsillitis (73.07%) and otitis media (17.3%). On assessing breathing patterns, 88.4% had the mouth breathing habit and 11.5% had the oronasal breathing habit. However, the difference was not statistically significant ( Conclusion: Adenoid or tonsillar hypertrophy in children results in altered skeletal growth patterns, showing a higher tendency of increase in anterior facial height, dolichofacial profile, change in breathing patterns, and malocclusion in children. Clinical significance: Hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils are the most common cause of respiratory obstruction in children. Such cases, if diagnosed at an early stage, can be dealt with in a holistic approach to not only intervene but also prevent growth-related problems in children. How to cite this article: Jaiswal V, Deshpande AN, Shah Y,